|
|
08-09-2017, 06:10 AM
|
#21
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
|
Expert reply Dexter axle grease
found this on etrailer dot com
Quote:
Question:
While searching for compatible greases for my Dexter axle, I read on their website they use a lithium base grease. However when I checked your recommendation you say to use a urea base. Is it wise to mix the two or are you saying to completely change the grease type?
asked by: Jeff
Expert Reply:
Red lithium grease such as # L10321 or # L11390 is one we use often here for installations and it is compatible with other Lithium formulas. I have included a link to our help article that covers grease compatibility.
There are greases that are not compatible with each other. A polyuria LUB-LM Type grease is compatible with most other greases which is why it is recommended. The only greases that it is not compatible with are Barium Complex and Bentonite Clay. It is compatible with lithium greases. Or if you wanted to stick with lithium that is fine too.
If you do use a different grease I would go ahead and completely remove the old grease anyway just to be on the safe side. Using brake cleaner to clean out bearings (if not replacing them) is a good way to get the grease out from the inside of a bearing.
expert reply by: Michael H
|
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 06:28 AM
|
#22
|
Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,457
|
For me I keep a log on trailer miles and when I get to 6000 miles I have the bearings repacked. This could be once a year or every other year depending on our travels. If I do not get to 6000 with in two years then I repack also. Just a goo PM practice. Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 07:15 AM
|
#23
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,223
|
This issue sorta discussed in another thread. The picture below is a brake assembly off an axle that had never been greased after it left the factory. Most comments there say the damage resulted from overgreasing at the factory.
__________________
BIRDS AREN’T REAL
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 08:10 AM
|
#24
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ayden, NC
Posts: 185
|
It was mentioned above that automotive wheel bearings are sealed. So the question is are there sealed replacements available for trailer axles.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 08:20 AM
|
#25
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,330
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
You go on thinking that a hand grease gun is safer to use with EZlube axles if it makes you feel better
And front bearings on modern vehicles are sealed, rv bearings are not.
|
Nobody says you HAVE to follow the manufacturer's instructions if you feel you know better. They're your axles.
As for RV bearings not being sealed? You're right, except for the ones that are. Dexter also makes axles with sealed bearings that have to be pressed out and the replacement pressed back in, just like FWD wheel bearings.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 08:22 AM
|
#26
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 340
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ripley711
Save yourself the trouble and don't use the zerks at the end of the axle. The grease tends to blow out the grease seal and fill the drum. Do yourself a favor and pull the drum, inspect the brakes and grease the bearings the old way, handpacking each race. You will be happy you did. You will need new grease seals and they can be bought at etrailer.com. Safe travels.
|
X2
__________________
Les & Heidi Kramer
2021 Jayco Melbourne 24L
Olmsted Township, OH
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:28 PM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ripley711
Save yourself the trouble and don't use the zerks at the end of the axle. The grease tends to blow out the grease seal and fill the drum. Do yourself a favor and pull the drum, inspect the brakes and grease the bearings the old way, handpacking each race. You will be happy you did. You will need new grease seals and they can be bought at etrailer.com. Safe travels.
|
X2^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ALL correct and GOOD ADVICE!
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:28 PM
|
#28
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: N GA Mtns
Posts: 111
|
Grease those things as soon as you get a chance. The factory is likely to have put barely enough in them. Better safe than sorry
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:31 PM
|
#29
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffnick
It's not likely you can blow out seals using a hand grease gun with an E-Z Lube axle. The grease you put in the zirk enters the hub behind the inner bearing, pushing existing grease out of the hub around the zirk.
|
NOT TRUE! BAD ADVICE!!
I have had two campers, both used, and BOTH had the brake drums full of grease from being over lubed with a hand grease gun. Had to replace all 4 sets of brakes on one and 2 out of 4 on the second.
I also found an outer race spinning in the drum which would NEVER have been discovered until the tire left the axle if I had relied on the zerk fittings to grease the wheels.
The BEST way and the ONLY way I will do mine is the old fashioned, messy by hand............and I then KNOW it is not a problem any longer
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:36 PM
|
#30
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQGUY
It was mentioned above that automotive wheel bearings are sealed. So the question is are there sealed replacements available for trailer axles.
|
Yes, of course, any good bearing shop or even a tire shop will have or can get them
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:40 PM
|
#31
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
|
I assume when you say sealed, you mean the ones that are not easily serviceable and are meant to have no maintenance for 5 years. The axles you are referring to are the Vault hubs/axles. They are available on standard as well as torsion axles. Saw them on a few travel trailers that we were looking at recently.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 12:54 PM
|
#32
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
|
LLMRPh...
Quote:
So... I want to ask "the experts!" :-).
|
so you can now see that the "expert" opinions are all over the place... from get large tubes of grease and hand pack Before you ever go out and then every 6K miles, to "it's new, don't worry about it"...
you will have to decide what is good for you...
If I were you, I would ask a local tire shop to look at your RV axles and repack if necessary to ease any worries you might have, and as preventive maintenance. Also ask if they would show you the inner guts and the steps they took to get to where they as paid pros felt comfortable. Also find out what grease they used while doing the repacking so you can get some for your grease gun.
Good luck...
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:18 PM
|
#33
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdata
LLMRPh...
so you can now see that the "expert" opinions are all over the place... from get large tubes of grease and hand pack Before you ever go out and then every 6K miles, to "it's new, don't worry about it"...
you will have to decide what is good for you...
If I were you, I would ask a local tire shop to look at your RV axles and repack if necessary to ease any worries you might have, and as preventive maintenance. Also ask if they would show you the inner guts and the steps they took to get to where they as paid pros felt comfortable. Also find out what grease they used while doing the repacking so you can get some for your grease gun.
Good luck...
|
If you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, that is very good advice.
When I was younger we greased the front wheels on our cars the same way and they went 50,000 miles or so with no problems. Grease is not consumed so doing them every 3-5 years should be more than sufficient, once you know they are done correctly
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:32 PM
|
#34
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Orange Texas
Posts: 790
|
As rsdata said 'Opinions are all over the place". What you can not find by greasing only and not inspecting any damage or potential problems. Some will say they have never had problems. Only you can decide what is best for you.
I just removed, cleaned and inspected my brakes and do not use the ezlube option. Here is what I found:
First set in good shape, clean and not over greased.
Second wheel. Outer cone had spalling on the rollers. Prior to removing I heard a growl when spinning.
Third set. Both cones had spalling and a few chips. This wheel made NO noise when spinning.
Fourth wheel. When I removed the hub the brake magnet fell down. Upon inspection I found the bent section of the cam where the magnet and spring mounted to have broken off. No damage to the drum.
So. Two wheels with damaged cones and only one made noise. The wheel with the broken lever made no noise when spinning. No grease leakage behind the seals.
New brake assembly ordered. For 10 years I have kept a 2 sets of bearings in my camper. Never needed them until today.
__________________
2013 Crusader 330 MKS
2013 Chevrolet Silverado LT 2500 D/A
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:38 PM
|
#35
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
|
I bought a pontoon boat a few years ago that had the ez lube axles, I pulled all the wheels even though they sounded good. Every bearing/race had pitting because of water intrusion past the rear seal.
As Tiggeerdad said, good to pull the wheel occasionally to see how everything looks.
A while ago, I replaced the drum brakes on my boat trailer and put on Kodiac disc brakes with an electric/hydraulic controller. Almost think that would be a better set up than electric drum brakes on a travel trailer. Easier to inspect for grease leakage.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:39 PM
|
#36
|
Senior Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 288
|
I have the same axles. When I got our trailer I decided to replace all the Chinese bearing sets with good old USA Timken bearings. I hunted around and was able to get my hands on all I needed. I jacked up the rear right axle and pulled the wheel. Pulled the grease seal and drove out the bearing races and hand packed the new bearings and reassembled.
It took mast of a day to get one done. Of course, I had to be meticulous about removing all traces of the old (actually not so old) grease. Pulling the old seal was something else too. Hard to believe it would push out very easily.
Anyway, after seeing how well put together the wheels came from the factory and how well greased they were from the factory, I decided to go ahead and follow the Dexter advice and pump grease into the zerks on the remaining three wheels while turning the wheel slowly. Barring a need to do it earlier, I will change out one set of bearings on the remaining three wheels each year until they are done.
For peace of mind, hold your hand against each brake drum after a 50 mile trip or so and see if it's too hot to touch. If not, you are probably okay. If it get's overheated... you have a problem.
Good Luck and Happy Camping.
__________________
2015 Flagstaff Super V 26VFKSS Emerald... SOLD
Now camping with a new SOB Winnebago pulled by a 2021 Ford Ranger.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:44 PM
|
#37
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
|
Quote:
I bought a pontoon boat a few years ago that had the ez lube axles,
|
unlike a boat trailer theoretically a camper's axles never get dunked into water... now I suppose it is possible if it is in a flood...
all boat trailers I have seen in 35+ years use Buddy Bearings that create a positive pressure of grease in the hub from a reservoir in the spring loaded fitting to keep out water... and YES those are easy to OVER grease and blow out the rear seal... happens all the time
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:47 PM
|
#38
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdata
unlike a boat trailer theoretically a camper's axles never get dunked into water... now I suppose it is possible if it is in a flood...
|
My point wasn't about water intrusion. Of course you won't have water intrusion on a TT. My point was I could spin all 4 wheels and they all sounded good.
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:54 PM
|
#39
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,330
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
I bought a pontoon boat a few years ago that had the ez lube axles, I pulled all the wheels even though they sounded good. Every bearing/race had pitting because of water intrusion past the rear seal.
As Tiggeerdad said, good to pull the wheel occasionally to see how everything looks.
|
The leakage more likely than not was caused by not greasing regularly. Remember the old Bearing Buddies that you "set" before you ran the trailer into the water. They had a spring that made sure there was grease against the seal so it would keep the water out.
Most greases have a corrosion inhibitor in them but it isn't a "forever" inhibitor. You need to regularly grease a hub with E-Z lube fittings, the instructions say to SLOWLY add grease and keep doing so until you see NEW grease coming out around the fitting. Not only is old grease flushed out (just like is done with a bearing packer in an Automotive Shop), it flushes out water that might have entered and all is replaced with fresh grease containing fresh rust/corrosion inhibitor.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
|
|
|
08-09-2017, 01:58 PM
|
#40
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Vermilion Parish, LOUISIANA
Posts: 330
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdata
first I also use the small 3 oz grease gun that TitanMike pictured, easy to use and throw it in a plastic bag and store in the trailer...
according to Lippert an axle mfg. video
https://youtu.be/qApOwOx1oN4
use any brand of lithium complex grease...
I know you said you had a Dexter, but axle grease type should be the same for all manufacturers...
caution do NOT mix grease types in the bearings... lithium complex and molybdenum MY NOT be the same type... would have to look at the packaging of the molybdenum
EDIT see post #12 for compatibility chart
You can usually find Lubrimatic brand at Walmart and most auto stores... 3 oz tubes. Buy several tubes when you find it and they will last for years. The right grease will usually say something like Wheel Bearing for disk or drum brakes on the package.
Get yourself a 4 to 8 ton Hydraulic jack from Harbor Freight and supplement that with some 2x4 wood about 6-8 inches long... you can use the wood to set on the ground under the jack for better footing on earth or stone driveways
the jacks pictured below came from walmart dot com... but any brand will do...
|
last week i purchased a 20-TON bottle jack from harbor freight for $32 with coupon. it picked up my 32' 3-slide 5th wheel easily. my smaller bottle & lever jacks did not pick it up enough. hope this helps
__________________
the faulks & prince
2012 Nissan Titan CC
Roadmaster Active Suspension, Firestone Airbags
2015 Rockwood 8289WS Diamond Pkg
2015 Puma 253FBS (sold)
2013 BMW R1200GSW
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|