Repacking EZ Lube bearings on Passport 2910BH

[jhomuth]

We've had our 2013 Keystone Passport 2910BH for a year now, and we're getting ready for a big trip after Thanksgiving. This is our second trailer with EZ Lube bearings; with our last trailer, we followed Dexter's recommendations on just shooting grease through the zerk fitting (not sure if I spelled that right...) until clean grease comes out. I've been reading more and more about how even though this is "acceptable", many people still prefer to repack the bearings and that's the route we'd like to take.

I am aware that we will have to purchase new seals. Are there any other parts to the bearings that will also need to be replaced during the process? My husband contacted someone at Dexter and when he replied via email with our seal model numbers, he didn't indicate that there were any other parts that would need to be replaced. I would just hate for my husband to get the trailer jacked up, and get into the thick of it, only to realize we don't have all that we need. He is pretty sure it's just the seals, but I wanted to double check here before he starts.

Thanks!

[wrvond]

Cotter pins. You need new ones.

[jhomuth]

Mike, I agree that they probably don't need to be done every year. We've never done them every year with any of the 3 trailers we've owned. This will be the first time with this trailer. We've had it a year, and I'm not sure how long the dealer had it on his lot (not too long I'm sure), but I figure we'll do it this time to make sure all looks good and then go to every 2-3 years. Glad to see I'm not alone in not trusting the zerk fittings 100%.

Shadow Catcher, thanks for the brand name references. We won't be replacing the bearings this time, but I'll hang onto those names for future reference.

[mikeb9550]

I'm not sure why they say to do them every year??? My cars that have the same type of bearings go for 10s of thousands of miles (years) before being repacked. Every time I have done it, they have looked like new. I now do them every 2 or 3 years.

If you shoot it in the fitting there are two issues. One is that the seal fails and you get grease on your brakes. This happened to me. The other is you have to pump a ton of grease to get it to push out through your your back and front bearing. I have done it both ways and now just take them off every 2-3 years and manually pack them. I think it saves me time in the long run and I can inspect the bearings while I have it apart.

[Shadow_Catcher]

When I did ours this year I replaced the bearings. There are different grades of bearings and even Dexter uses those made in China. My experience with so many things made in China is a bit less than optimal. I used Timken and Amsoil synthetic grease and other than adjusting brakes (how many remember this need s to be done)I still have a tool for adjusting, I don't plan on doing it again for years. Unless you are fording streams not much need. I did keep the old bearings for emergency use.

[69_Avion]

Better safe than sorry. Enjoy your trip.

[jhomuth]

Great, thanks for the replies. With our last trailer, we just used the zerk fittings (granted we only had that trailer for 3 years before it was totaled by insurance for hail damage, so we only added grease a few times.) But given that repacking isn't a big job for someone handy like my husband, and after reading about even just one or two cases of damaged seals, I just figure repacking is the way to go for us. We have 5 kids, a long trailer, and take a 3 week, 3000 mile trip annually, so there are some things, like this, that I get a little paranoid about.

[69_Avion]

It is a decent system if done per the instructions of spinning the wheel while you are applying the compatible grease.

As stated above, get the double lip seals.

[coolbreeze01]

Greasing the EZ Lube Zerk fittings per instructions, has worked as advertised for me, on several trailers for over 25 years and thousands of miles. Good luck.

[mbopp]

Unless he finds something wrong when he pulls the wheels new seals and a tub of grease should be all he needs. Dexter uses a "double lipped" seal on the EZ-Lube axles and I prefer using the genuine Dexter part.

There's a list of approved greases on Dexter's website. I'm using Valvoline GM-spec grease since I can get it in a tub for packing the bearings and also a cartridge for loading into my grease gun.