Dexter Axles

[Bluedog]

Most newer trailers come with Dexter EasyLube Axles. These are supposed to simplify the requirement to lube the bearings every 12 months by applying grease to the Zerk fitting. However, most "experts" recommend removing the hub and pack the bearings manually.
I did that on my previous trailer with standard hubs and fail to see any advantage to say there is an improvement in servicing.

[Cummins12V98]

" I don't use the silly things, they are nothing more than a sales gimmick."

Worked well for me for 5 years full timing. Grab the outer edges of the tire and do a push pull for play and pump the grease while spinning the tire. Never a spec of grease passed the seals. I changed to Oil Bath last year and happy with that using US Made National Oil Bath seals.

When I pulled them apart to do the OB the bearings looked great but that's a given since I used AMZ/OIL full synthetic grease. 😉

Would I use the system on drum brakes? NO, but I will never own drum brakes again.

[Lynnmor]

Bluedog wrote:
arings on cars.

It looks like the EZ Lube is a different breed of cat. From what I have gleaned from the Internet is that the inner bearing doesn't come out like the old style but requires a tool to break it loose.

EZ Lube is simply a hole drilled in the spindle with a grease fitting in the outer end. A hole is drilled in between the grease seal and the inner bearing to connect with the center hole. No other changes have been made to the spindles except for a change in the retainer (cotter pin) so it allows for the grease fitting. Some grease may push out of the grease seal causing brake contamination, many seals and sealing surfaces are less that perfect. In order to get fresh grease thru the outer bearing, you need to pump a considerable amount to flush the inner bearing, fill the cavity and then flush till fresh grease goes thru the outer bearing. I don't use the silly things, they are nothing more than a sales gimmick.

[Bluedog]

My old trailer had regular (old fashioned)bearings and I hand packed them every few years. Had plenty of experience from bearings on cars.

It looks like the EZ Lube is a different breed of cat. From what I have gleaned from the Internet is that the inner bearing doesn't come out like the old style but requires a tool to break it loose.

I assume that removal of the hub is about like the old ones with a retainer and nut.

Haven't seen any decent instructions on the job but I am a little hesitant to tackle it without knowing what I am doing. All you see is hit the Zerk with a grease gun and you are good to go. Question is how far?????

Anybody have any suggestions or pointers?

[falconbrother]

I use them as advertised and they work great. I'm not pulling those hubs to outsmart the engineers, unless the rubber plug fails and there's evidence of contamination.

[ferndaleflyer]

Lynmor I doubt that you know any more about working than I do---That being said you have a lot of nerve to call me or anyone else clueless just because we didn't do it your way.

[Dusty_R]

I bought a new tandem axel trailer, and one of the tires was wearing one side of the tread. I found that U-bolts on that end of the axel had not been tightened to the leaf spring and had slid a little on the spring, and had worn those U-bolts. I put new U-bolts on it, and made sure they were tight.
That was 10 to 15 years ago, and I'm still using that trailer.

[whjco]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I have a 1999 tri axel trailer outside that has well over 100,000mi on it and just went on an 1100mi trip. It weighs around 10,000lbs loaded and the Dexters have NEVER been greased or failed.

I have EZ Lube axles but always periodically remove, clean, inspect and hand repack all of my trailer bearings no more than every couple of years. I recently pulled the bearings on my trailer I use for transporting my railroad motorcar and the trailer had been sitting for about a year. Condensate in one of the bearings had created a rust spot on the race and on a couple of the bearing rollers. Had I not found this, I could have ended up on the side of the road with a bearing failure.

There's no substitute for proper maintenance.

[ferndaleflyer]

Here is one for you. My friend has had tires blowing on one side of his trailer on about every long trip. Even changed one of the axels. I recently while following him noticed that one of the rear tires was wobbling. Loose wheel, no. bent rim no. Loose or worn bearing, no. So repacked bearings and re installed wheel, still wobbled. Put another wheel on it, still wobbled. Removed the drum assembly from the other axel and installed it on that axel---wobble GONE. Cleaned the drum bearing area real good and discovered that the milled, drilled, whatever wasn't machined correctly. Put on a new drum and problem was gone. Trailer was 6 years old--China drum?

[Lynnmor]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Really?

Yes, really. Unless you actually do the work and know what is going on, you will remain clueless.

[ferndaleflyer]

Really?

[Lynnmor]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I have a 1999 tri axel trailer outside that has well over 100,000mi on it and just went on an 1100mi trip. It weighs around 10,000lbs loaded and the Dexters have NEVER been greased or failed.

Your trailer was built before the bottom of the barrel Chinese bearings were used. I have had the cheap junk bearings fail in less than 8,000 miles and actually were beginning to fail at the first revolution because of defects. I hope that others ignore your lack of maintenance and do the right thing.

[jodeb720]

I have them on my 5er - and annually pull and inspect them.
the rubber plug on them routinely breaks down and I have to replace it.

A couple of years ago, i had checked the plugs and they were ok, but when I arrive at my destination, two had broken and that meant dirt could have contaminated the bearings.

Off came the tires, repacked the bearings after a good cleaning to be sure no dirt got inside of them.

I like the idea, but in reality the old school checking and packing annually reduces the amount of excess grease the will expand with heat to a minimum. And, as others have said, it'll foul your drum brakes if it expands too much.

[Vintage465]

I was originally really please to see EZ-Lube set up. Seems really nice to just jack up the axle spin the wheel and gently grease up. But the reality is the hub is full of grease causing it to heat up as you bomb down the road. There are "in my opinion" a couple factors that can cause fouled brakes due to grease. 1. Hot day, all day driving. That hub gets hot and the pressure causes the grease to force out at the path of least resistance. 2. If you have a lot of miles on your grease seals, then go on a long drive on a hot day, I think it increases your odds of fouling the brakes. 3. I hear the little rubber plug in the dust cap is suppose to be the pressure relief, but.......I think that's a pipe dream. I lost three of four sets of brakes to this and I will be packing my wheels by hand. For all you guys that have never had an issue.....great for you. Glad it works for you but it just costs me money I'd rather spend on something fun.

[ferndaleflyer]

I have a 1999 tri axel trailer outside that has well over 100,000mi on it and just went on an 1100mi trip. It weighs around 10,000lbs loaded and the Dexters have NEVER been greased or failed.