Forum Discussion

rockwind1's avatar
rockwind1
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2017

rear axle hub flinging grease on rim and tire, need advice

i have a 2007 attitude fsakg33 fifth wheel, triple axle. i learned years ago about the little rubber cap that comes off the hub and there is a zerk. so i use quality synthetic grease and pump it till it starts oozing out of the bearing. been doing it for years but recently i noticed the grease on my back axle seemed to become very liquid and escape and gets flung all over the rim. i actually had one of the caps come off and that really made a mess. i fixed it though. but i have only noticed it on the back axle, but i also noticed this trip that my trailer brakes aren't working as effectively as they had in the past. see pics. any thoughts from folks?

since it is only the rear axle, on both sides it is odd. been treating all the axle's the same for years. my thought are that maybe the brakes are heating up more and liquifying the grease more so that it can escape the seals,,,,,but i am hoping someone here knows for sure. thanks! please see youtube video of the rims and tires here are two links to the same video https://youtu.be/lMn9JmVLbVE

kevin's rear axle rim with grease all over it
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Sep 03, 2017
    Blown seals.........
    Brake/wheel bearing-seal job

    Then STOP using those dang zerk fittings and PUMPING grease

    Hand pack once a year/12000 miles
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 03, 2017
    Now that the brakes are failing the assembly needs to be pulled apart cleaned up and rebuilt. Hand pack the bearings during re-assembly and stop using the zerks. Book calls for this annually and IMO once done correctly every 5 years or 30,000 is fine.
  • bobsallyh's avatar
    bobsallyh
    Explorer II
    Sep 03, 2017
    OLD-Biscuit, just another EZ Lube horror story! Marketing, marketing.
  • rockwind1's avatar
    rockwind1
    Explorer II
    Sep 03, 2017
    well ****! makes sense. guess i have a job ahead of me. thanks. i gotta tell you, i really liked that ez lube thing. used to pak bearings growing up. in fact, when i initially got trailer 5 or so years ago, i initially went thru and started to hand pack them but once i figured out the ezlube thing, i thought it was great. i am not looking forward to packing bearings on 6 wheels everyyear!!!!!! i like time2roll idea
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Sep 03, 2017
    bobsallyh wrote:
    OLD-Biscuit, just another EZ Lube horror story! Marketing, marketing.


    Like lots of other things, the product isn't the issue as much as not knowing how to, or misusing the product.

    When used properly the EZ lube system is fine, but like everything else, most believe 'more is better' is the way to go.

    The spring is pretty feeble, just enough to keep grease in the bearings. If however you keep pumping on the grease gun you create a hydraulic force that overcomes the seals quite easily.

    If you follow the instructions the spring-loaded piston can't possibly create enough force to do anything but keep the bearings greased.
  • down_home's avatar
    down_home
    Explorer II
    Sep 03, 2017
    I use a heat gun to check bearings and tires.
    When we had our boat trailer. The bearings got very hot and liquified the grease and swelled the rubber cap outward and leaked.
    i really didn't notice until I was bringing the trailer out of the water from launch and a lot of steam coming from it.
    After it cooled I pulled the rubber cap out and the grease was bured or at least black. I filled it back up, not over filled it, it new grease, a red high quality grease from Exxon.
    Limped home and pulled it apart. The Chinese bearing, the outer race was not one piece and separated and some messed up bearings showing never were completely finished, in my opinion. too them to Dixie Bearing ang got US, at the time, Timken set to reinstall, along with new seals.
    The Person working the counter looked at them and told me they were Chinese and the characteristics in their makeup up identifying how they were mad inferior and not good grade of metals, at the time. In 88, I had no idea Americans were using Chinese bearings or even that the Chinese made any.
  • Ralph_Cramden's avatar
    Ralph_Cramden
    Explorer II
    Sep 03, 2017
    JaxDad wrote:
    bobsallyh wrote:
    OLD-Biscuit, just another EZ Lube horror story! Marketing, marketing.


    Like lots of other things, the product isn't the issue as much as not knowing how to, or misusing the product.

    When used properly the EZ lube system is fine, but like everything else, most believe 'more is better' is the way to go.

    The spring is pretty feeble, just enough to keep grease in the bearings. If however you keep pumping on the grease gun you create a hydraulic force that overcomes the seals quite easily.

    If you follow the instructions the spring-loaded piston can't possibly create enough force to do anything but keep the bearings greased.


    What spring loaded piston?

    EZ lube is a drilled axle with a zerk on the end that allows grease to be forced into the rear bearing, through the hub cavity, and then through the outer bearing. There is no spring or piston. All pressure is provided by the grease gun.

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