Dexter 8k axles, nev-r-lube bearings

[MSGTRETIREDCSP]

I went out today to check brakes and bearings. After removing dust cap to nev-r-lube bearings, I thought I would ask the guys that have performed this maintenance before.

Would I be better off just replacing the bearings and hub with bearings that I can visually inspect and service myself? What kind of life can a person expect to get out of the nev-r-lube bearings?

After looking at e-trailer, I notice they also have oil-bath. Is there any advantages to those?

What kind of job am I looking into by tearing into the nev-r-lube, just so I can inspect the brakes. I've done plenty of plain ol' bearings, but I've not ever done these.

I've probably towed this trailer 7k miles and the previous owner even less.:h

[RustyJC]

fj12ryder wrote:

RustyJC wrote:
The reason DRV migrated from oil bath back to grease-packed bearings has nothing to do with lubrication performance (the oil bath is superior) but rather with customer gripes about streaks of oil vapor/brake dust on their nice, shiny aluminum wheels. Personally, I'll wipe down the wheels as required to get the superior lubrication of the oil bath hubs.

Rusty

Do you know this as facts or is it just conjecture on your part?

Yes, I know that oil bath bearings offer superior lubrication as compared to a grease packed bearing. That's why they are used in the hubs of Class 8 trucks and trailers.

I've owned DRVs since 2004 and am active on the DRV forums - I saw the whining over wheel streaking, the many replacement bearing caps and O-rings DRV sent out only to have the same customers complain again because there was a black streak on their wheel. If you're asking if I was in the conference room in Howe, Indiana when the decision was made to go back to grease packed bearings, no, I wasn't, but I saw the situation that led to the decision as an outside observer.

Rusty

[Veebyes]

6 years, over 100,000 miles, no issues. Part of the rest stop routine is often a touchy feely of lug nuts for heat.

[laknox]

RustyJC wrote:
Just a question - when is the last time you pulled the front hubs and repacked the wheel bearings in your car? Sealed bearings replaced the "pull and pack" bearings many years ago in most automotive applications.

Rusty

Because people are driving/riding in cars and trucks, the bearings are probably 10x better quality than those used in towables. =Highly= unlikely that an RV bearing failure would lead to an injury or death; not so with motor vehicles.

Lyle

[fj12ryder]

RustyJC wrote:
The reason DRV migrated from oil bath back to grease-packed bearings has nothing to do with lubrication performance (the oil bath is superior) but rather with customer gripes about streaks of oil vapor/brake dust on their nice, shiny aluminum wheels. Personally, I'll wipe down the wheels as required to get the superior lubrication of the oil bath hubs.

Rusty

Do you know this as facts or is it just conjecture on your part?

[mbrower]

I have the never lubes on mine with disc brakes and never had a problem. I do carry a spare hub and spare bearing and check temps every time I stop. I have been left stranded twice by greasable bearings so they can fail too. I've never had a bearing fail that didn't show warning signs first.

[RustyJC]

The reason DRV migrated from oil bath back to grease-packed bearings has nothing to do with lubrication performance (the oil bath is superior) but rather with customer gripes about streaks of oil vapor/brake dust on their nice, shiny aluminum wheels. Personally, I'll wipe down the wheels as required to get the superior lubrication of the oil bath hubs.

Rusty

[marspec]

golf_bears wrote:
MSGTRETIREDCSP,

There is a reason DRV has migrated from Never-Lube to Oil-Bath to Greaseable bearings. Think about it????

Being the sceptic that I am I'm thinking the greaseable bearings are the least expensive. BTW I've had a greaseable bearing fail.

[golf_bears]

MSGTRETIREDCSP,

There is a reason DRV has migrated from Never-Lube to Oil-Bath to Greaseable bearings. Think about it????

[Irelands_child]

Nevr-lube bearings cannot always be side of the road replaced. If a bearing fails, you will often have to wait for Dexter to ship out a new drum and bearing assembly. If it's bad enough, damaging the spindle (common failure mode) you then have to wait for them to build you a new axle then ship to wherever you are stranded. Yes, there is always that possibility that you can press out the damaged bearing capsule and install a replacement. That is if you have a 20 ton or larger(better)arbor press available. In my case with our last 5er, I chose to replace the axles with E-Z Lube as the Nevr-Lube cannot be retrofitted. This is a photo of a Nevr-Lube just before failure:



An E-Z Lube spindle - and note as to why the Never-Lubes axles cannot be retrofitted to E-Z Lube:

[marspec]

Had Never Lubes on 05 Carriage Cameo for 79k miles and now on 13 Lifestyle with 8K axles approaching 40k. No problems.

[RustyJC]

Just a question - when is the last time you pulled the front hubs and repacked the wheel bearings in your car? Sealed bearings replaced the "pull and pack" bearings many years ago in most automotive applications.

Rusty

[Pipeman]

I "had" never lubes on my 2009 5er. This past summer while heading out to Alberta, the left rear brake drum broke up and the only thing left was the part that held the wheel studs. When a repairman came to the 5er where we were in a campground in Edmonton, he found the bearing to be damaged. He tried to get a new drum and bearing but Lippert told him they didn't make parts for that axle anymore. So got rid of the never lubes and got 2 new Dexter axles with bearings that can be greased when needed. The summer before last, my repairman, here, was able to change out the never lubes and one fell apart in his hand. I have never liked having them because I could never grease them myself.

[Peg_Leg]

My mower deck has sealed bearings. I've replaced them twice and many other sealed bearing when I was working. I love the thermal guns so I can check the wheels at every stop, greatest tool for a road failure ever. Just did a repack a couple of weeks ago. I'm really looking into disc brakes though. I could pop a top and remember the good old days.

[laknox]

MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
I went out today to check brakes and bearings. After removing dust cap to nev-r-lube bearings, I thought I would ask the guys that have performed this maintenance before.

Would I be better off just replacing the bearings and hub with bearings that I can visually inspect and service myself? What kind of life can a person expect to get out of the nev-r-lube bearings?

After looking at e-trailer, I notice they also have oil-bath. Is there any advantages to those?

What kind of job am I looking into by tearing into the nev-r-lube, just so I can inspect the brakes. I've done plenty of plain ol' bearings, but I've not ever done these.

I've probably towed this trailer 7k miles and the previous owner even less.:h

For my situation, I would not buy a trailer with Nev-R-Lube axles. Read too many horror stories about them and really don't feel like I should carry an entire spare =hub= in case one goes away. 'Sides, I'm not likely to ever have a FW that heavy, so lighter axles with EZ Lubes are just fine for me.

As far as oil bath bearings, we were told by our "hitch guy" that, while they are superior for heavy loads, they are susceptible to leaking if you don't use them very often. We recently purchased a 23k GVW GN utility trailer and really considered one with tandem duals, but the fact that they were only available with the oil bath bearings made a triple-single rig the only real choice. This is, frankly, a "toy hauler" to take antique tractors to club shows and displays, so miles traveled and frequency of use were definitely considerations.

Lyle

[time2roll]

Inspect for excessive play or loss of lubricant.
If still concerned carry an extra set. Often easier to find someone to turn a wrench than to find the part.