Hey all,I'll be picking up my Passport 2400BH on Monday. i have a question about the Ez-lube axles, which I am assuming are just like bearing buddies. How does the grease reach the inner bearing when you lube it?Chris

EZ Lubes are different than bearing buddies. The grease flows to the rear bearing first.I'm sure someone will post a diagram for you.

coolbreeze01 wrote:EZ Lubes are different than bearing buddies. The grease flows to the rear bearing first.I'm sure someone will post a diagram for you.Wow, well that sure is "Ez" ;)

As stated the grease goes to the inner bearing, and then the outer bearing thru heat and hub design. Ez lube axles make it too easy to over grease the bearings, which can be as bad as under greased. Many recommend ignoring the zerk fitting and just doing proper packing annually. Even my axle manual states that the ez lube fitting does nothing to extend the standard packing service interval.

AH64ID wrote:As stated the grease goes to the inner bearing, and then the outer bearing thru heat and hub design. Ez lube axles make it too easy to over grease the bearings, which can be as bad as under greased. Many recommend ignoring the zerk fitting and just doing proper packing annually. Even my axle manual states that the ez lube fitting does nothing to extend the standard packing service interval.That is funny, what is the point then. According to this video from Dexter, it is a "Complete repack".Click here

Dexter EZ LubeGrease goes thru the port to the rear bearing, thru the rear bearing to the center of the hub, fills that area and then goes thru the outer bearing, and out the front. Takes a lot of grease (half a tube per wheel?), but that is the only way the outer bearing gets new grease to it. A few pumps does nothing for the outer bearing.Word of caution. Some who have used it have pushed grease thru the inner grease seal and on to their brakes.If you do it, use a manual grease gun, pump the grease very slowly while constantly turning the wheel (that makes the grease flow thru the inner bearing better and lessens the chance of over pressure on the seal), pump until you see new grease come out the front. I use a hi-temp red grease recommended by Dexter. The red makes it easier to see when new grease is coming out the front, indicating that most all the old grease has been pushed out. Check Dexter service manual for recommended greases.

Question about Eazy lube axles | Good Sam Community

bid_time
Nomad II
Aug 26, 2014
LarryJM wrote:
bid_time wrote:

Did I sum that up correctly?

NO, NO, NO ... you are so far off it's hopeless. But, I also bet you believe what every trailer and car saleman tells you too and since a HUGE number of OEMs use GY Marathon ST tires you believe those are the best tire going since they wouldn't put something on that isn't the "cat's meow" on a trailer would they. :R

Larry
No they put GY Marathons on because they are cheaper, quit the opposite of what I said.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2014
bid_time wrote:

Did I sum that up correctly?

NO, NO, NO ... you are so far off it's hopeless. But, I also bet you believe what every trailer and car saleman tells you too and since a HUGE number of OEMs use GY Marathon ST tires you believe those are the best tire going since they wouldn't put something on that isn't the "cat's meow" on a trailer would they. :R

Larry
hddecker
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
djsamuel wrote:
Is a new rear seal required every time the bearings in the EZ Lube hub are removed and hand packed?

Yes, unless you have some way of getting the old seal out without it becoming misshapen.

Also the seal is going through untold numbers of heat cycles that take their toll on the rubber. It gets hard and becomes much easier to damage when putting the drum back on.
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
djsamuel wrote:
Is a new rear seal required every time the bearings in the EZ Lube hub are removed and hand packed?
I would. It also is supposed to be a special double lip seal... A regular one will fit, and that may be the cause of some of the failures that occur.
bid_time
Nomad II
Aug 25, 2014
oops -d-d-d-double post
bid_time
Nomad II
Aug 25, 2014
So let me see if I got this right. A manufacturer goes through all the extra expense of machining holes, adding threads and installing grease zerks; and in the end a lot of people are sitting along side the road with frozen wheel bearing and expensive repairs. And what does the manufacturere do, he keeps on putting the extra time and effort in to manufacture e-z lube for at least 15 years and counting.

And now you want me to believe the manufacturer either doesn't know about all these failures; or they just want to continue to spend all that extra money on something that doesn't work and is causing a lot of problems.

Did I sum that up correctly?

And I must say, I just haven't seen the bearing failures sitting alongside the road in my travels. And secondly I haven't any first hand knowledge of any.

I pull my drums and check my brake shoes when I think it's time. But these people that think e-z lube has no useful purpose, well real life doesn't seem to be supporting your views.
djsamuel
Nomad
Aug 25, 2014
Is a new rear seal required every time the bearings in the EZ Lube hub are removed and hand packed?
westend
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
Larry wrote:
In any event any minor mistakes still doesn't change the bottom line that this feature is not worth the effort or HUGE amount of grease and is frought with potential downsides, blowing out the grease seal only being one.
The truth!
I'm now old enough to barely remember packing a lot of axle bearings. Back in the day, all cars and light trucks had serviceable front axle bearings. There were no Bearing Buddies or EZ Lube axles (well maybe I just didn't see any). Some trucks had a zerk on the dust cap.

The overheating-from-hub-filled thing I've never seen. I've seen many hubs packed with different layers of gnarly grease and water trapped among them but most have the bearings working alright if the bearing was properly packed. This tool takes all of the guess work out of packing bearings. If done on a reasonable schedule and using today's modern greases, there is little need for adding grease into the bearing, IMO.
AH64ID
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
BB_TX wrote:
As far as overheating due to being full, it does not happen. I have towed mine thru Texas/NM summer heat of 105+ and the hubs do not get hot. Myth.

There isn't a way to check the bearing temp with everything installed. With an overfilled hub the hub will be cooler than the bearing and it's the bearing temp we are concerned with. It would be very easy to get a false sense of security if the heat cannot leave the bearing as fast.

LarryJM wrote:

Unfortunately the Timken website in their FAQs Timken FAQs specifically state:

Always follow original equipment manufacturers’ recommendations regarding grease purging and correct replenishment amounts

so Dexter's information and directions trump anything Timken might say to the contrary.

CHECKMATE:p:B

Larry

DOH :B

Like I said, in the end do what you are comfortable with.

One thing that may help over-greased bearings is their size.A 5,200lb Al-Ko uses the same bearings as the 7K unit, and the inner is also the same as the 8K. So while a 5,200lb axle may be at it's limit the bearings are far from it so less heat is generated in the first place.
NanciL
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2014
I am on my second trailer with the EZ lube, and that is all I use.
I have never had a problem.
As soon as I see the new grease coming back out I stop.

I think it is imperative that no matter which method you use, you should do a walk around at every gas stop or pit stop and feel each hub for overheating

The EZ lube bearings are put there to make life easier and a lot less messier and that is why I use them

Jack L

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