This is why you repack the bearings on a new camper.

[timfromma]

Brand new camper and this is how the bearings came from the factory.

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Wow ! That's something else, Was there issues or you were just checking things out?

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Chris Pastuzyn

Wow ! That's something else, Was there issues or you were just checking things out?

No problems, I'm just aware that the factory does a less than stellar grease job so I was correcting it.

[Chuck_S]

The "factory" doesn't to anything with the axles/wheel bearings other than bolt them to the bottom of the trailer frame. Forest River doesn't warrant lots of things, including the axles.

-- Chuck

[Mike134]

Kinda hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the roller cage is packed with grease, if so what is wrong?

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Mike134

Kinda hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the roller cage is packed with grease, if so what is wrong?

Rollers are empty.

[Mike134]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Rollers are empty.

Lucky you made it home

[HappyTrav]

Originally Posted by Mike134

Kinda hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the roller cage is packed with grease, if so what is wrong?

I’m of the same opinion. They look fine to me.

All the grease folks pump into their hubs is just a waste of grease with the potential to blow out the seal and fill the brakes with grease.

Originally Posted by timfromma

Rollers are empty.

I may not be looking at them in person but I can clearly see that the rollers are packed with grease that has turned black from use. Totally normal and it is what mine looked like when I did mine this spring.

That’s why they should be inspected and repacked regularly. It gives you the opportunity to inspect your bearings and brakes and to replace the grease that has picked up contaminates prolonging the life of the bearings and the races.

JMO,

Bob

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by HappyTrav

I’m of the same opinion. They look fine to me.



All the grease folks pump into their hubs is just a waste of grease with the potential to blow out the seal and fill the brakes with grease.









I may not be looking at them in person but I can clearly see that the rollers are packed with grease that has turned black from use. Totally normal and it is what mine looked like when I did mine this spring.



That’s why they should be inspected and repacked regularly. It gives you the opportunity to inspect your bearings and brakes and to replace the grease that has picked up contaminates prolonging the life of the bearings and the races.



JMO,



Bob

The trailer is a brand new 2021. The only place I've ever taken it is home from the dealership.

[billybigrigger]

Originally Posted by timfromma

The trailer is a brand new 2021. The only place I've ever taken it is home from the dealership.

Understand it’s a 2021, however, where did you purchase the unit? These things are generally transported hundreds of miles to dealerships at times. I live about an hour away from where these things are produced and see transports everyday!

[TitanMike]

One thing i don't think many people really understand about the bearings used on trailer axles is that they really don't require a lot of grease.

They are in the type of bearing known as "anti friction bearings" which by design have very little if any sliding motion on their mating surfaces. Unlike sleeve or journal bearings.

If water and dirt can be totally excluded each bearing can perform quite well with less than a tablespoon of grease.

[Rockinh]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

One thing i don't think many people really understand about the bearings used on trailer axles is that they really don't require a lot of grease.

They are in the type of bearing known as "anti friction bearings" which by design have very little if any sliding motion on their mating surfaces. Unlike sleeve or journal bearings.

If water and dirt can be totally excluded each bearing can perform quite well with less than a tablespoon of grease.

X2, these types of bearings have rolling elements, either balls or rollers which roll along the races with very little friction or heat. In fact, to much grease will increase the heat buildup in this type of bearing. In precision spindle bearings, the amount of grease is measured in cc for this very reason. The axle bearings also run at very low speeds, for bearings, which is why they need a high pressure lube. At 60 mph, your wheels and bearings are only turning about 6-7 hundred times per minute. That is a very slow surface speed and should induce low wear if they get the little bit of lube they need and dont get contaminated.

As I have posted before, more dirt gets into the bearings when you are taking the hubs off than what normally gets in while driving down the road. And the contaminates are the real enemy of the bearings. Keep good seals and they will last a long long time.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Rockinh

X2, these types of bearings have rolling elements, either balls or rollers which roll along the races with very little friction or heat. In fact, to much grease will increase the heat buildup in this type of bearing. In precision spindle bearings, the amount of grease is measured in cc for this very reason. The axle bearings also run at very low speeds, for bearings, which is why they need a high pressure lube. At 60 mph, your wheels and bearings are only turning about 6-7 hundred times per minute. That is a very slow surface speed and should induce low wear if they get the little bit of lube they need and dont get contaminated.

As I have posted before, more dirt gets into the bearings when you are taking the hubs off than what normally gets in while driving down the road. And the contaminates are the real enemy of the bearings. Keep good seals and they will last a long long time.

Boat trailers that are immersed are the exception.

[B and B]

I can not understand all the issues with EZ Lube. I aam on my 4th modern trailer since 2012 and used EX lube on all. Never had an issue with blowing seals out, bearing burnout. Every spring pump and it works. The key is to take it slow, wait for the dirty grease to come out.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by B and B

I can not understand all the issues with EZ Lube. I aam on my 4th modern trailer since 2012 and used EX lube on all. Never had an issue with blowing seals out, bearing burnout. Every spring pump and it works. The key is to take it slow, wait for the dirty grease to come out.

I don't understand either but some are convinced it "blows seals", even those who don't even have that type of axle.

I use mine per instructions and NO issues but i DO follow the instructions.

[14apex]

Same here...been using the EZ Lube "as designed" for close to 25 years on 3 light travel trailers. Always careful to pump slowly, rotate the wheel & look for clean grease to exit. I do buy that these bearings actually "need" very little grease and I also agree that having the hub bore loaded with grease probably causes a bit more heat build-up than "sparsely" greased bearings, probably similar to our old(er) autos with similar wheel bearings. I do pull the hubs every 5 years or so to inspect brakes...otherwise, the EZ Lube is...well...easy & works for me. Kinda like "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (or, "if it's apparently designed to work & is available, why not use it?"). YMMV. It's a subject that never goes away and often seems to bring out opinions and experiences that strongly suggest impending failure of bearings, seals and brakes on the horizon. Different strokes for different folks.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by B and B

I can not understand all the issues with EZ Lube. I aam on my 4th modern trailer since 2012 and used EX lube on all. Never had an issue with blowing seals out, bearing burnout. Every spring pump and it works. The key is to take it slow, wait for the dirty grease to come out.

And spin the tire as you're injecting the grease very slowly. And never use a pneumatic grease gun.

[Rockinh]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Boat trailers that are immersed are the exception.

That is caused in a large part by the formulation of the grease. Regular petroleum based grease is created by making oil thicker (grease) by adding soap. Guess what happens when you add water to that mix, you get a brown foamy mess, which doesn't lubricate real well. We started using a synthetic based grease which is waterproof and has a much higher temperature ceiling than petroleum based lubes. I have customers who use their trailer weekly and gone the whole year, launching weekly, without having to repack and without damage or infiltration from water.

[Jay2504]

The real cure to this whole thing is to convert to oil fed bearings. 80-90 weight synthetic axle lube. Jay