Which axle is better, Lippert or EZ Lube?

IchLiebeBier · 08-02-2016, 11:57 AM

So, before I begin...yes, I should have checked when I bought the trailer, but I assumed I was getting what was on the invoice. Plus, we didn't get to camp much last year, so I didn't do any maintenance on the axles (still low mileage).

Anyway, last week I had the annual safety inspection on the trailer. It passed, and the tech said he recommended I get the bearings repacked soon. I told him thanks and I would mess with it myself, because my sales invoice listed EZ Lube axles on the trailer.

That weekend, I pop off the plastic hub to verify my grease gun would fit the zerk, and much to my surprise, I have non-EZ lube lippert axles.

So, before I call Forest River and/or the dealer (who I wasn't impressed with anyway), should I raise enough of a stink to get the axles swapped for EZ Lubes, or are the lippert axles better anyway?

Opinions, please...

Thanks.

**Bama Rambler** · 08-02-2016, 12:06 PM

The general consensus is that you shouldn't rely on the EZ-Lube system anyway, so I probably wouldn't raise too much ruckus about it.

I would however, let both the dealer and FR know about it if it's specifically listed on the build sheet.

IchLiebeBier · 08-03-2016, 03:53 AM

That's what I was thinking, too.

Thanks.

MarcS · 08-04-2016, 12:39 PM

If I didn't have the EZ lube system, I would have installed bearing buddies.

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IchLiebeBier · 08-04-2016, 01:41 PM

I thought about that, but my understanding is that the bearing buddies are really only useful to keep water out of your bearings by putting a barrier between them and the water.

I don't know if they're effective at getting grease around the bearings well enough to be worth the cost/hassle. But I don't know.

Teamfour · 08-04-2016, 01:47 PM

Do yourself a favor and pack the bearings the old fashioned way - by hand. I have the EZ Lube axles and just don't trust using a grease gun to lube them.

dalford · 08-04-2016, 01:52 PM

How often do you need to maintenance the bearings? I don't ever remember doing it on my vehicles. Why on a trailer is it more often an issue? Just wondering...

OldCoot · 08-04-2016, 01:59 PM

Bearing Buddies are only for trailers WITHOUT BRAKES.

MarcS · 08-04-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Bearing Buddies are only for trailers WITHOUT BRAKES.

I didn't know that, thank you for the clarification.

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5picker · 08-04-2016, 02:13 PM

Bearing Buddies, while in principle are similar (pump grease in the cap) they are VERY different.

EZ lube has a cavity/tunnel machined in the axle spindle to allow the grease from the cap to return to the lube point without pushing past the rear seal. (if you are lucky!)

Bearing Buddies simply push the grease past the front & rear bearings through the hub and out the rear seal. The idea is to push out any water (such as in a boat trailer) with the grease. As OldCoot said... do not use on axles with brakes.

To answer your question, I would bring it to the dealer's and possibly the factory's attention if it specifically called out EZ Lubes but I would simply pack the bearings on the axles you currently have by hand. Way better.

Who's to say during axle replacement you wouldn't get into additional problems like alignment, fitment, etc.?

IchLiebeBier · 08-04-2016, 02:37 PM

Thanks for all the replies folks. I appreciate it.

Brother Les · 08-04-2016, 02:53 PM

EZ lube is not an axle 'name'....

I have Lippert Axles and they have the EZ lube zerks on them.

IchLiebeBier · 08-04-2016, 03:15 PM

I thought all EZ lubes were Dexter branded.

Does your lippert have a solid aluminum dust cap over the zerk, or just the rubber dust cap?

My axle has the solid dust cap, but I didn't take it off. The tech told me it wasn't an EZ Lube.

EDIT: looks like this https://store.lci1.com/dust-cap-non-...and-3-5k-dc200

Witch Doctor · 08-04-2016, 03:23 PM

I didn't see anyone post this unless I missed it, FR will do nothing, they have a little catch everything in there specs and what you really get, That's "They are allowed to change anything without notification". I like my EZ-LUBE never had a problem in 4 years, people blow this out of proportion just as they blow the rear seal off. Keep what your unit came with and pack the bearings which ever way you choose....

Brother Les · 08-04-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IchLiebeBier

I thought all EZ lubes were Dexter branded.

Does your lippert have a solid aluminum dust cap over the zerk, or just the rubber dust cap?

My axle has the solid dust cap, but I didn't take it off. The tech told me it wasn't an EZ Lube.

EDIT: looks like this https://store.lci1.com/dust-cap-non-...and-3-5k-dc200

https://store.lci1.com/axle-straight...ous-sizes-p320
https://store.lci1.com/dust-cap-lube...nd-3-5k-dc200l

Here is the Lippert beam and dust cap for the ez lube. there is a rubber plug that goes in the hole of the cap.

f5moab · 08-04-2016, 04:28 PM

There are quite a few who have the EZ or Ultra lube (same thing) on axles and have had great luck, I'm one!
I would complain for sure.

RSchleder · 08-04-2016, 04:58 PM

I'm done with my EZ lub system. I performed the "greasing" exactly like the spec calls, jacked up the wheels and hand turned them slowly while gently squeezing grease into the zerks and guess what? Grease ALL OVER my brakes on 2 of the 4 hubs. Had to take hubs off, clean everything up with brake cleaner, and hand pack. Never again!!!!!

Scotty · 08-06-2016, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSchleder

I'm done with my EZ lub system. I performed the "greasing" exactly like the spec calls, jacked up the wheels and hand turned them slowly while gently squeezing grease into the zerks and guess what? Grease ALL OVER my brakes on 2 of the 4 hubs. Had to take hubs off, clean everything up with brake cleaner, and hand pack. Never again!!!!!

And I also removed the stupid self adjusters. They used to work somewhat on cars/trucks with drum brakes, but I had issues from day one with them on my Hemi. Purchased the regular adjusters from LCI and kept the self adjuster parts in case I ever trade and the new owner wants them. I can crawl under, jack each wheel up and adjust the brakes myself, and I am 71.

PhoneDude 8289 · 08-06-2016, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamfour

Do yourself a favor and pack the bearings the old fashioned way - by hand. I have the EZ Lube axles and just don't trust using a grease gun to lube them.

X2, I'm with Team four. I'm also thinking about doing like Scotty and doing away with the self adjusters. I pull the hubs every year to check bearings and brakes anyway, everything gets cleaned up, looked at and bearings repacked.

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