Ultra-Lube Axles and Bearings Procedures

[Herk7769]

Those rear lip seals work great. They will however fail, mostly from 3 reasons:

1) Heat - Overheated bearings can melt the lip seal allowing grease to run out
2) Pneumatic (air pressure) grease gun used on the Zerk fitting or using a "Zerk cleaning tool" to force dirt out of a bad Zerk. Replace or remove and clean a Zerk that won't take grease.
3) Ham fisted mechanic who damages the seal on the axle threads during hub install.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f5moab

Question. Even if the seal is held in place with an interference fit, doesn't it back up and contact the brakes assembly's backing plate? So it cannot move in that direction? I'm asking, just curious.

Guess I could go check the two I have in my going to the dump pile of metal parts.

No, it should not touch anything except the id of the hub and the spindle itself.

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I think we are talking about the grease coming out in the back.
The red is where I think you are talking about the grease coming out.
Also what grease are you using?

Thanks

That's not good ! You never want to see te grease come out in that red area. Around the zerk fitting is a rubber boot and that is where the old grease should come out.

Jim

[f5moab]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

No, it should not touch anything except the id of the hub and the spindle itself.

Yep. Just went out and checked my old set, didn't realize that the hold in the backing plate is a lot larger then the outer diameter of the hub.

[opfor2]

So how do I identify what type of axle's are installed on my FR Sierra Sport ?

[Scotty]

Originally Posted by opfor2

So how do I identify what type of axle's are installed on my FR Sierra Sport ?

Should be a white tag on the back side of each axle providing the manufacture and weight capacity. If not, have your VIN handy and call FR they can tell you.

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by opfor2

So how do I identify what type of axle's are installed on my FR Sierra Sport ?

If all you want to know is the type look under the trailer. If you see leaf springs, like most cars, it is a spring axel. No springs showing then it would be a torsion style axel.

Jim

[opfor2]

My 2005 Serra Sport came equipped with Hays Axel Inc. T53-3 axels. I can't seem to find any information on them did "Al-Ko" but them out?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by opfor2

My 2005 Serra Sport came equipped with Hays Axel Inc. T53-3 axels. I can't seem to find any information on them did "Al-Ko" but them out?

Have you tried here?

Al-Ko Kober replacement axles, parts.

[PhoneDude 8289]

When storing the RV for an extended time is it best to take the weight off the torsion axels having the swing arm in the unloaded position.

[itat]

A couple of weeks ago, my step-sister and her husband experienced a bearing failure on a back road with no shoulders. (They have a Crossroads Sunset Trail Reserve TT but probably the same axle manufacturer as FR uses.) Lots of smoke but fortunately no fire. CAA (Canadian version of AAA) was no help - no proper towing units anywhere near them. They limped it to a nearby house and got permission to park it there 'til they could get it properly moved to a brake/bearing service center. They had to replace the entire axle so it was a costly repair.

Suffice it to say that regular bearing service is absolutely necessary.

[Wags2237]

3 of the 4 zerts took grease fine, pushing out old grease and replacing with new. The 4th zert however, Struggled taking grease. I could barely squeeze the grease gun, a lot of resistance. I was able to get some new grease in and some old grease out before my hand went numb, but I don't think all of the old grease. I noticed the zert was a little loose. I also noticed when I first looked at zert, the old grease around zert seemed drier, just different than the other 3 zerts. Any ideas? Is it likely the bearings are bad? Thanks.

[clr]

Try cleaning the zerk well with a cloth. Gently push on the center ball of the zerk with a pointy object. If either of those does not work, replace the zerk with a new zerk very easy to do they just screw out.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Wags2237

3 of the 4 zerts took grease fine, pushing out old grease and replacing with new. The 4th zert however, Struggled taking grease. I could barely squeeze the grease gun, a lot of resistance. I was able to get some new grease in and some old grease out before my hand went numb, but I don't think all of the old grease. I noticed the zert was a little loose. I also noticed when I first looked at zert, the old grease around zert seemed drier, just different than the other 3 zerts. Any ideas? Is it likely the bearings are bad? Thanks.

I agree with the post that the Zerk is BAD, go buy 4 new ones at Napa or any other auto store. Your bearing is probably just fine, I have repalced 4 already.. By the way what grease are you using? I recommend highly Lukas Tacky RED 440 heat tested.

[Windywest]

I experienced the same problem with one of my grease zerks when I was injecting grease into the bearings a couple years ago. To make sure it was the zerk, I just removed one from the wheel beside it and screwed it in, it then took grease fine. The old zerk was plugged, so I just threw it away. Grease zerks are about $3 for 5 at any auto parts, Canadian tire, etc.. good to have a couple extra but make sure you get the proper ones.

[Wags2237]

I am using Lucas tacky red

[Wags2237]

New grease zerks did the trick. Thanks for your replies.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Wags2237

New grease zerks did the trick. Thanks for your replies.

Thanks for letting everyone know...

[ADVtraveller]

I have the Ultra Lube axles and I just pull the hub's and repack like a non Ultra Lube axle. I'm just not convinced that I won't blow out the rear seal considering the way grease carries and displaces pressure. Just my 2 cents.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by ADVtraveller

I have the Ultra Lube axles and I just pull the hub's and repack like a non Ultra Lube axle. I'm just not convinced that I won't blow out the rear seal considering the way grease carries and displaces pressure. Just my 2 cents.

This can always be a problem, I have never blown the rear seal in 4 years. I change the grease yearly using Lukas tacky RED or Green same grease. I use a hand pump and do it slowly with spinning the wheel. Hand packing is great but you still need to fill that whole cavity. You can buy double lip rear seals at Napa, which are better and stronger. With using different grease you can see when it is all changed, make sure you have a roll of paper towels with you. 2 years ago in Goshen Lippert changed my hubs, they said the grease that is prepack is like water and to change the grease. They know that it isn't good. I just had new tires put on they pulled the hubs checked all the brakes and the adjusted them, there was no grease anywhere in the hub....