EZ Lube bearings

[Bayley]

I'm sure I'm not the first to ask this question but I couldn't find any threads that address it.
I have EZ-lube axles on my Arctic Fox 5'er. Is it safe to simply grease the bearings frequently with a grease gun or do I need to pull the wheels and manually repack the bearings. I guess I don't really trust the "EZ Lube" idea.
any help is appreciated!
Thanks,
Tony

[Cummins12V98]

RustyJC wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
From what I was told the new MobileSuites do not come with oil bath bearings. They are greasable. So does that make them EZ lube? Mine will be on the MorRyde system with Kodiak Disk Brakes.

That's an interesting point. The DRV Website still shows the oil bath bearings, but I understand that they went to grease-packed bearings in May 2014 (after our unit #6972 was built). I guess if I were ordering a new one and preferred one or the other, it would be something I would make clear with the dealer and/or Kyle @ DRV.

Since they made the switch after our unit, I don't know if the grease-packed bearings would have the EZ Lube cover or not.

You'll love the MorRyde independent suspension and Kodiak disc brakes - that's what our MS has and is a great leap up from the Dexter solid axles and electric drum brakes we had on our 2004 MS.

Rusty

I have the Kodiak disk brakes currently on our 07.5 MS and they are great!

Rolling Retreats recommends staying with the factory standard and you use a grease gun to lube the wheels. So I was wondering are all that require a grease gun EZ Lube?

I am not sold on the idea of using a grease gun. I have no problem just repacking the bearings on an annual basis. Maybe I will ask if they just send it out old school way!

[aruba5er]

First thing, Knock off the grease cap. Then raise the vechicle so the tires can be spun. Slowly grease the zerk and watch to see that grease comes out the front near the spindle as you turn the tire. If no grease is coming out the end near where you are squirting the grease, STOP. You may have a blown seal. I think that greasing all the time is totally unnecessary. My car has 133k on it and nothing has ever been greased. By pulling the wheels you can inspect the brakes. For those who are old enough,remember back when AAA paid to have your brakes adjusted every 5000 miles. I would worry more about brakes than bearings. I kinda like to stop when needed. I don"t want grease on my brake shoes. (Thats why I threw those stupid drum brakes out and now have Hyd Disc)

[RustyJC]

My opinion is that the oil bath bearings, as far as lubrication is concerned, are superior to the grease-packed bearings. The complaint about oil-bath bearings is that they can sometimes be a little messy - if I'm on a trip where I've given the disc brakes a good workout, I may have some streaking on a random wheel. The high temperatures generated by the disc brakes will sometimes push a tiny bit of oil around a hub cover o-ring or rubber fill plug, and this tiny bit of oil will pick up brake dust and make some black streaks on the nice, shiny aluminum wheel.

To me, this is no big deal. I routinely check the oil in my hubs and have yet to add any, so any oil loss is insignificant. I'll just wipe down the wheel and go on. To some other owners, however, having to clean a wheel every now and then seems to be a HUGE deal - thus, the change back to grease-packed bearings.

Edit: DRV will supply a kit to change the oil bath to grease-packed bearings. It consists of hub covers and new seals. I suppose one could change the other direction from grease-packed to oil bath with the appropriate covers (with o-rings & fill plugs) and seals if desired.

Rusty

[justme]

I am told by engineers who design this stuff that oil bearings are superior to grease in some applications like trailer that are in frequent travel and high load and speed applications. Oil bath bearings will condense and oxidize (rust) if they are static for extended periods of times. Also, never use oil bath bearings on boat trailers.

[RustyJC]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
From what I was told the new MobileSuites do not come with oil bath bearings. They are greasable. So does that make them EZ lube? Mine will be on the MorRyde system with Kodiak Disk Brakes.

That's an interesting point. The DRV Website still shows the oil bath bearings, but I understand that they went to grease-packed bearings in May 2014 (after our unit #6972 was built). I guess if I were ordering a new one and preferred one or the other, it would be something I would make clear with the dealer and/or Kyle @ DRV.

Since they made the switch after our unit, I don't know if the grease-packed bearings would have the EZ Lube cover or not.

You'll love the MorRyde independent suspension and Kodiak disc brakes - that's what our MS has and is a great leap up from the Dexter solid axles and electric drum brakes we had on our 2004 MS.

Rusty

[Cummins12V98]

RustyJC wrote:
My current 5er uses oil bath wheel bearings (that's an entirely different subject), but my experience is that the EZ Lube bearing arrangement is fine for unbraked boat trailers where the intent is to flush water out of the bearing cavity and there are no brakes to contaminate, but where drum brakes are involved, I don't trust the EZ Lube approach - pull 'em and pack 'em. YMMV

Rusty

From what I was told the new MobileSuites do not come with oil bath bearings. They are greasable. So does that make them EZ lube? Mine will be on the MorRyde system with Kodiak Disk Brakes.

Thanks

[RustyJC]

My current 5er uses oil bath wheel bearings (that's an entirely different subject), but my experience is that the EZ Lube bearing arrangement is fine for unbraked boat trailers where the intent is to flush water out of the bearing cavity and there are no brakes to contaminate, but where drum brakes are involved, I don't trust the EZ Lube approach - pull 'em and pack 'em. YMMV

Rusty

[rhagfo]

Dtank wrote:

Norskeman wrote:
Have them - never use them. Too easy to over grease the bearing area.

Inspect the bearings and brakes every spring.

Best answer (above) and - OP,
the subject has been on here frequently in the past.

There are those who just do the EZ bearing lube.
However, over lubrication will "grease' you brakes!.:(

Search =
You should be able to find threads in the past 12 months and/or in the archives - for lots of varying opinions and more info.

.

X10 or so

Well us Old School types, think pumping more grease into a fixed space is a bad idea, it needs to go some place! Grease doesn't disappear from the bearing area unless you have a bad seal.

[Puddles]

C-Bears wrote:
I am getting ready to do my EZ-lube. I am taking the recommendation of a experienced farmer that has a similar model fiver as I do. He suggested raising each side and manually spinning the wheel you are slowly pumping grease into. There is a little more to it but not much.

Been there, done that... just a matter of time before the seal fails and you grease the brakes... Forcing grease thru the back bearing, filling the hub cavity, and then forcing it thru the front bearing is asking a lot of a grease seal... I have read (no article to quote) that an empty hub cavity can help get rid of some of the heat generated by braking. Good luck.

[Puddles]

Been there, done that... just a matter of time before the seal fails and you grease the brakes... Forcing grease thru the back bearing, filling the hub cavity, and then forcing it thru the front bearing is asking a lot of a grease seal... I have read (no article to quote) that an empty hub cavity can help get rid of some of the heat generated by braking. Good luck.

[C-Bears]

I am getting ready to do my EZ-lube. I am taking the recommendation of a experienced farmer that has a similar model fiver as I do. He suggested raising each side and manually spinning the wheel you are slowly pumping grease into. There is a little more to it but not much.

[Dtank]

Norskeman wrote:
Have them - never use them. Too easy to over grease the bearing area.

Inspect the bearings and brakes every spring.

Best answer (above) and - OP,
the subject has been on here frequently in the past.

There are those who just do the EZ bearing lube.
However, over lubrication will "grease' you brakes!.:(

Search =
You should be able to find threads in the past 12 months and/or in the archives - for lots of varying opinions and more info.

.

[justme]

Bayley wrote:
I'm sure I'm not the first to ask this question but I couldn't find any threads that address it.
I have EZ-lube axles on my Arctic Fox 5'er. Is it safe to simply grease the bearings frequently with a grease gun or do I need to pull the wheels and manually repack the bearings. I guess I don't really trust the "EZ Lube" idea.
any help is appreciated!
Thanks,
Tony

I have easy lube bearings and followed their maintained and grease type recommendations. I burned a bearing which cost me $1000 in emergency repairs in the middle of the Nevada desert. The problem was the bearings fatigued and the only way to detect fatigue is to manually inspect and pack the bearings. The Dexter bearing are made in China and I don't know if they are as good as Timken in quality, but fatigue is a problem in most trailers because the axles and bearing are at the margins in design.
To me Easy lube is nothing but market hype that give a false sense of security. Nothing replaces inspection and repacking at 6-10K miles or annually which ever comes first.

[Dog_Folks]

Bayley wrote:
I'm sure I'm not the first to ask this question but I couldn't find it.Thanks,Tony

A simple search on this site produced 9 pages and 168 responses.

Here in the LINK

Happy reading.