Ultra-Lube Axles and Bearings Procedures

[Herk7769]

With the Ultra-Lube hubs on the Al-Ko axles, the problem is not bearings being packed. The bearings are pre-loaded with grease when installed at the plant. So there is plenty of grease IN the bearing.



The problem comes in that all they are doing after assembly is screwing the Zerk fitting into the end of the axle (in some cases only a thread or two and hand tight) and NOT pumping the axle hub full like they are supposed to.

When you lube from the Zerk for the first time, you need to fill the reservoir between the inner and outer bearings, the space between the trailer side bearing and rear lip seal, push the old grease out of the trailer side bearing, push THAT grease along the outer spindle, and through the tire side bearing and then clean all that mess up.

Since mine had never been done before, it took an entire "large" tube of grease and almost a roll of paper towels.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: With the easy lube type system, you do NOT need to remove the bearings to repack them. You just put the hand pump on once a month and give a few squirts. When you do your brakes, you should pull the bearings and inspect them for burn marks, wear, and damage. You will need to replace your seals when the bearings come out so make sure you order those too.

 

[jimh-FRF]

ok, looks like it is how i inturpeted repack in al ko's recomendation. my mind set is to pull and repack...i can see how pumping it thru until u flush the old grease is the same thing. now their monthly repack makes sense.

mine ran 8 yrs. i pumped grease for the first time abt a month before i tore one down. there was plenty of grease in there and the bearings were good. i don't know if the grease found was from day one or what i put in. from whatever the source, i was very fortunate.

 

[jimh-FRF]

let me add one more manual to the list:

View attachment alko owners manual.pdf

on my preview, it doesn't look like it is there. look at their proceedure on page 20 and 21. not very different. akko says lifting the tire while injecting greese not nescessary...i feel more comfortable rotating it. they want u to inspect the bearings at least every 12 mos. if i do that, i will repack and reseal as well.
http://al-kousa.com/pdf/alkobrochure.pdf

 

[Herk7769]

Update

www.al-kousa.com has a "Contact Us" link and I highly recommend that anyone whose axles are still under warranty contact them about leaky hub seals if you have them. Pam in customer support was great and sent out 4 new ones right away.

 

[Iggy]

www.al-kousa.com has a "Contact Us" link and I highly recommend that anyone whose axles are still under warranty contact them about leaky hub seals if you have them. Pam in customer support was great and sent out 4 new ones right away.

Thanks Lou.
Just downloaded all the documents and feel good that I have been greasing my axles well but I have not had anything come out the back yet. Next time I will pump them until I get dirty stuff out the back.

How is your axles bars sitting?
Level with the ground (rated LOAD)
Or
UP a little in Shock Load area?

 

[Herk7769]

Thanks Lou.
Just downloaded all the documents and feel good that I have been greasing my axles well but I have not had anything come out the back yet. Next time I will pump them until I get dirty stuff out the back.

How is your axles bars sitting?
Level with the ground (rated LOAD)
Or
UP a little in Shock Load area?

Just below level. I am very careful about overloading it.

The rubber Ultralube centers are what I was talking about, not the rear lip seals.

 

[Iggy]

The rubber Ultralube centers are what I was talking about, not the rear lip seals.

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

 

[Herk7769]

I am talking about the rubber end cap.


There should NEVER be any come out the back! There is a rear lip seal there!

The grease is supposed to flow through the Zerk down the center of the axle to the holes just in front of the rear lip seal (your red area); THEN through the rear bearing from the rear; blow all the old grease into the center of the hub; and when you keep on pushing new grease in will keep on pushing the old grease through the outer bearing where you wipe it away. When you see the NEW Clean grease coming out through the outer bearing (around the Zerk fitting) you are done.

Green Grease/14 oz. (396.893 g.) multipurpose synthetic grease (101) | Lubricant/Grease | AutoZone.com

I used this green waterproof grease. I hope it was the right stuff.

 

[KyDan]

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

If grease comes out where your red lines are drawn it
means the seal has failed and you're greasing your
brakes.
Bad news.

If you're "flushing" the hubs with new grease it should
all come out around the grease fitting- hopefully.
There is no real easy way to tell.

Most axle mfg recommend synthetic grease.
It comes in many different brands.
Your axle "owners manual" will give name brands
in there somewhere. Just look for synthetic on the label.

 

[MtnGuy]

T

How is your axles bars sitting?
Level with the ground (rated LOAD)
Or
UP a little in Shock Load area?

John, the diagram could be a little misleading, depending on which start angle axle you have on the camper. I am not sure if Forest River uses Al-Ko axles other than ~20 degree start angle, but some axles actually have a negative start angle...up to -20 degrees.

 

[Iggy]

Lou,
I now and see where you were talking about how the grease is coming out from.
Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Herk7769]

That little rubber end cap has cracks that run completely around the dimple in the center. Some of the cracks go all the way through and grease seeps out when the wheel is turning and makes my wheels dirty. It is on the outside so there is no functional problem; it just looks bad.

 

[Fivecodys]

Hey Lou-
This is a great thread.
I downloaded all of your doc's.
Thanks for sharing.

BTW- I have been really curious for a while about your sig pic.
Can you tell me more about it?

Bill

 

[Herk7769]

I don't want to hijack the thread. I will send you a PM.
You can also check my profile.

 

[backin15]

I copied this from another thread discussing what grease to use:

From the Al co site:

Grease
Use a high temperature, automotive type wheel bearing grease
produced by a reputable manufacturer. The soap type should be lithium
complex or equivalent. Use NLGI Grade 2 product
with a minimum dropping point of 440o F.

Dexter is a little more specific:

Wheel Bearing
Lubrication Specifications
Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - HOME
GREASE APPLICATIONS
Specifications
Thickener Type Lithium Complex
Dropping Point 215 degrees C (419 degrees F) minimum
Consistency NLGI No. 2
Additives EP, Corrosion & Oxidation Inhibitors
Viscosity Index 80 minimum
Approved Sources
76 Lubricants Company 76 Multiplex EP
76 Multiplex RED
Citgo Petroleum Corporation Lithoplex MP #2
Lithoplex CM #2
Exxon Company, USA Ronex, MP
Kendall Motor Oil (Division of Witco) Kendall Super Blu L427 Grease
Mobil Oil Company Mobil Grease HP
Mobilith AW 2
Mystik Oil Company, Inc. Mystik JT-6 Hi-Temp Grease
Red Lithium Complex EP No. 2
Oil Center Research of Oklahoma Liquid-O-Ring No. 167L
Pennzoil / Quaker State Company Synthetic Red Grease
Shell ALBIDA LC 2
Royal Manufacturing Company Royal 98 Multi-Lube EP #2 Lithium Complex
Chevron Texaco Chevron Ulti-Plex Grease EP NLGI 2
Texaco Starplex Moly MPGM 2
Valvoline (Division of Ashland Inc.) Valvoline Multi-Purpose GM

 

[Iggy]

This is the Walmart stuff I use.
See details.

 

[sherdep]

Some good info here and I also downloaded the manuals for some reading info on the axles - when I had my boat and when I replaced the axle bearings and races I used synthetic waterproof grease and never had an issue.

I doubt using a waterproof grease is going to hurt you as lon as it meets the proper standard / grade that the manufacture calls for

looks like any other axle other then they incorporate the zirk fitting in the axle end and put a rubber seal on the face of the axle - similar to a bearing buddy with the cover which is what I used on my boat trailer when I had one

 

[DAISY BOYKIN]

Grease in wheel bearings ??

Apparently "ROCKWOOD" has corrected the problem of falling out ZERK fittings and NO GREASE in bearings. I just picked up a new 8285WS on the 27th Jan that the frame and axles were built JAN 8 2011.

After reading here on the forum about the problem with the "NO-GREASE"
being applied at time of MFG of the RV, that is the first item I checked on my walk through at RVWholesalers. There was plenty of grease and tight zerk fittings.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Herk7769]

I spent quite a bit of time on the phone and via email with FR over this issue and they assured me it would be addressed. Glad to see they got the message on the production floor.

 

[kalik282]

This is the Walmart stuff I use.
See details.

Iggy,
Be careful with that grease you bought from Walmart. It has a drop point 90 degrees below the minimum spec by AL-KO.