Ultra-Lube Axles and Bearings Procedures - Page 4

jimh · 04-21-2011, 04:39 PM

0.01 to 0.001 is quiet a range. i backed off 1/4 turn and inserted the pin. hope that was enough.
i'm going to make a short (20 mile) trip next month and check them. right now, there is a little contact with the brakes. drums went on effortlessly. shoes may have to wear into the drum contour.
nut as found was 1/2 round.
hopefully, after 20 miles, will be able to tell if temp rises.

**Herk7769** · 04-21-2011, 04:54 PM

WARNING: If your dealer does your bearing service MAKE SURE they are aware of your Ultra-Lube hubs. I just paid to have my bearings repacked and they DID NOT fill the hubs. I had to call them back and find out what grease they put in so I can buy the same stuff.

sherdep · 04-21-2011, 10:08 PM

Since we are on the subject of how the axles are seated to the frame - I climbed under mine tonight and verifed it looks ok - Here are some pictures of the way mine look - one thing I noticed that they put a washer on the nut side and not the bolt side - the bolt head does appear to be digging into the L Bracket (Frame) - so I may take mine apart and re-bolt it with a flat washer and may drill the top holes and add the grade 8 bolts just for added piece ofmind of knowing it wont happen to my trailer

**Herk7769** · 04-22-2011, 07:07 AM

Some info on the Al-Ko Torsion Axles
AL-KO Kober - Rubber Suspension Axles

52Dodgeman · 05-08-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 52Dodgeman

Good and timely info in this thread. I just started to pre-trip the Flagstaff for the trip to Branson. When I checked my hubs I found that both the right side Zerks were damaged ( look like they were banged against something before the dust cap was installed). I sent Al-KO customer service an email and they are sending me four new zerks. Can't beat that. Once I get the zerks installed I'll pump a little grease in the bearings. The one thing that does dissapoint me is when I measured the center to center distance between the hubs (for a set of wheel chocks I am working on) I found that there is over a half inch difference between the right and left axles. So much for having the axles square to the frame.

Maybe I should just be happy that the bearings were well greased from the factory.

Just a follow up. Didn't receive the zerks from Al-Ko before I left for Branson so I bought some and was alble to lube three of the hubs. The fouth damaged zerk would not come out nor take any grease. Went to Branson on a wing and a prayer but made it ok. Upon return home there was a package form Al-Ko with four new zerks. After using every tool in my inventory the last damaged zerk still would not come out. After rounding off and eventually breaking the fitting, I had to drill it out and finally was able to get it off. The problem was the threads into the axle were fouled and who ever installed the zerk kept on cranking until it was "seated". Fortunately I was able to get the old one out without damaging any threads and installed a new one and stopped when it started to bind. Anyway I now have all four bearing well lubricated.

exscream · 05-10-2011, 09:36 AM

can you buy the same grease that the manufacturer used? In my case, I have the 2011 minilite. How can you find out what they used?

**Herk7769** · 05-10-2011, 10:13 AM

Here is what Al-ko said:

Subject: RE: al-kousa.com contact form submission

We recommend a grade 2 automotive with a minimum dropping point of 440 degrees. Any higher dropping point is fine.

Thank You

exscream · 05-10-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Here is what Al-ko said:

Subject: RE: al-kousa.com contact form submission

We recommend a grade 2 automotive with a minimum dropping point of 440 degrees. Any higher dropping point is fine.

Thank You

I know what type. I have lots of it in stock from my previous trailer. I need to know what brand etc. You should not mix that stuff. If I use a different grease than what is in my bearings, I have to clean it out completely and that is a mess. I have done that before.

backin15 · 05-11-2011, 08:53 PM

From what I understand you can mix brands, just not types. Al-Ko specifies a lithium complex grease and any lithium complex based grease should be fine, as long as the minimum dropping point is at least 440 degrees.

exscream · 05-13-2011, 09:04 AM

Makes sense, thank you!

blake2727 · 05-16-2011, 09:45 PM

I have a quick question on this subject. I greased mine this past weekend to get ready for an upcoming trip. My question involves the section that I think is called the grease cap. The area between the grease zert and the rubber dust cap. Is this area supposed to be filled with grease of left dry? I was thinking left dry so when I greased mine I wiped most of the grease out of this area which is the area where the old grease comes out when your pumping the new in. Am I right in wiping this area clean or is it supposed to be filled with grease also?

**Herk7769** · 05-17-2011, 08:38 AM

Wiped clean (well wiped anyway).
It is "used" grease anyway.

miatared · 05-17-2011, 08:45 AM

Hey Lou, do I need to spin the wheels to do this "zerking" with fresh grease?

I guess what I am asking is if I can do this while it's parked in my drive way?

Thanks.

**Herk7769** · 05-17-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miatared

Hey Lou, do I need to spin the wheels to do this "zerking" with fresh grease?

I guess what I am asking is if I can do this while it's parked in my drive way?

Thanks.

I push out the "used" grease sitting in the driveway, but carry the greasgun with me. At the campground, I push a few pumps in before I head home. Purists will jack up each axle and spin the wheel while pumping. This only needs to be done once or twice a year and a full teardown and inspection once a year (per Al-Ko).

DAISY BOYKIN · 05-17-2011, 02:33 PM

Looks like the axle adjustment, greasing bearings, changing zerk fittings is good education for keeping your RV running gear well maintained.

I know when I first found my problem with the axles out of adjustment until now has been an education.

From what I read, a lot of owners know a lot more about their TT, 5ver, Roo, toy hauler ETC from this forum

VERY GOOD FORUM

miatared · 05-17-2011, 02:41 PM

X2 - like having an RV encyclopedia.

Extraordinary.

backin15 · 05-30-2011, 05:20 PM

I was suprised at how hard it was to find grease with a dropping point above 400 degrees! After several stops I found my grease at NAPA. It is called Sta-Plex by CRC and has a dropping point of 500 degrees. Each axel took about 1/2 a tube.
While I had the tires off the ground I decided to check the brakes. The first one I checked was ok but the other three were badly out of adjustment. They needed between 6 and 10 turns of the adjusting wheel before the shoes made contact. Glad I took the time to check them!

exscream · 05-30-2011, 07:42 PM

I used red grease on my previous trailers. Once a year I took the hubs off to inspect the bearings. If the grease was black, that indicated problems. So I did a complete repack with bearing inspection. If the grease still looked nice and red, I pushed a little grease into the bearings with my fingers and reassembled the wheel. This worked well for many years. The grease I am using is Mystic JT-6 by Citco Petroleum Corp. Now on my 2011 traier I have Ultrulube. It does have black grease, so its hard to tell if this is wear or not. After my first repack it will be red again.

blake2727 · 05-31-2011, 06:35 AM

As for finding grease, I used Amsoil #2 on three of mine and it has a drop point of 560 or 580 I think. I ran out after three and since I have to order it and wasn't waiting I went to auto zone and got a tube of Lucas red and tacky #2. It has the same drop point as the amsoil and is available at almost any auto store. I used to use it for everything and then I heard so much good stuff about amsoil that I thought I would give them a try but I really don't think they two greases are much different.

mtl4 · 06-02-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blake2727

As for finding grease, I used Amsoil #2 on three of mine and it has a drop point of 560 or 580 I think. I ran out after three and since I have to order it and wasn't waiting I went to auto zone and got a tube of Lucas red and tacky #2. It has the same drop point as the amsoil and is available at almost any auto store. I used to use it for everything and then I heard so much good stuff about amsoil that I thought I would give them a try but I really don't think they two greases are much different.

I prefer to use AMSOIL Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease NGLI #2

Does very well on the following tests which are good for bearing life:

Dropping point, (°F[°C]) - 550 [288]
Four ball wear test (mm scar) - 0.40
Timken load test (lbs) - 50
Water washout (%) - 1.8

You may also like: