Dexter EZ Lubes, use or not?

[falconbrother]

My TT has Dexter EZ Lube bearings/axles. The video on their web site show that the bearings can be "re-packed" without removing the wheels/seals/bearings in the traditional manner. However, some folks seem to think this a dangerous practice risking blowing out a seal. I have repacked many bearings over the years but, if I don't need to remove the wheels, just spin them as I pump grease in, this seems like the way to go, that is, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

http://www.dexteraxle.com/resources/videos/e-z-lube-system

Why should I or should I not deviate from the manufacturer's design maintenance recommendations?

[wnjj]

BB_TX wrote:

mosseater wrote:
..... . Here in PA we have yearly inspections and they pull two axles to check brakes, etc. Nothing like introducing the possibility of a problem you weren't going to have. .....::

Texas trailer inspection
Runnng lights? Good.
Brake/turn lights? Good.
Tires? Good.
$7.00 please. About 5 minutes.
Takes longer to do paperwork than inspection.
Some have said the station checked their brakes. But they have never checked mine.

Oregon trailer inspection...wait we don’t have one.

I wonder if anyone has ever proven if these inspection states have less safety issues with trailers.

As for EZ-Lube, I have them on my flatbed trailer but haven’t used them in the 15 years I’ve owned it. But I haven’t pulled a wheel or checked the bearings either. It’s lucky to average 100-200 miles a year.

[azrving]

OK, here we go......get the popcorn, I already have a beer and just did a shot of tequila.

[BB_TX]

mosseater wrote:
..... . Here in PA we have yearly inspections and they pull two axles to check brakes, etc. Nothing like introducing the possibility of a problem you weren't going to have. .....::

Texas trailer inspection
Runnng lights? Good.
Brake/turn lights? Good.
Tires? Good.
$7.00 please. About 5 minutes.
Takes longer to do paperwork than inspection.
Some have said the station checked their brakes. But they have never checked mine.

[mike-s]

mosseater wrote:
Here in PA we have yearly inspections and they pull two axles to check brakes, etc. Nothing like introducing the possibility of a problem you weren't going to have.

Seals should be replaced every time the hub is removed, so that's a perfect reason to repack afterwards.

Really, yearly? Do they do that for cars, too?

[mosseater]

My problem with the system is you have to fill the whole hub space with grease before any comes out the front bearing. And at that point, I'm pushing dirt from the inner bearing and hub surface through the outer bearing. It's a lot of grease, expense, and pumping. I use the sytem on the inner bearing to add some new grease every year, and a grease needle between the rollers on the outer bearing. I'm done wasting all that grease for a "convenient" system. I hand repack every other year generally. Here in PA we have yearly inspections and they pull two axles to check brakes, etc. Nothing like introducing the possibility of a problem you weren't going to have. Gotta be a better way to inspect rather than messing around with my preload and seal. What would be wrong with an inspection hole on the backing plate you could actually see through?

[falconbrother]

rstanek wrote:
I use EZ lube, camper is 10 years old, about 10000 miles on it check the bearings last year, still like brand knew, good for another 10 years, thanks EZ lube, you made my life easier......

That's what I was looking for..LOL..!

[LVJJJ]

gotta agree with azdryheat, too much attention to bearings, although I'm one of the over attention payers.

Had a real nice condition 1985 Wilderness TT for a while (had to replace back bathroom floor due to a real slow leak over time), but rest of TT was pristine. As has been my custom first pulled a wheel and drum and found bearings with real old grease that was a little solidified. However, wheels still turned easy and the bearings were in perfect shape. Looked like the original grease and brake components were still on it. It had sat in on RV park for a long time but had been towed a lot too. So, '85 bearings still being good in '15, not bad.

Bearings were not Chinese were good ol' 'Merican. Actually what was cool that nothing on it was Chinese, all original USA parts.

[BB_TX]

PopBeavers wrote:
About 10 years ago, on this forum, the conclusion seemed to be the problem was caused by using a power lube.

I use a hand actuated lube gun and squeeze it very slowly. I have never had a problem.

Agree. “Squeeze it very slowly”. Even a hand lube gun can over pressure the system if pumped to fast/too hard, especially if you fail to keep the wheel turning while pumping.
Again, if you use it, first understand it.

EZ Lube video

[PopBeavers]

About 10 years ago, on this forum, the conclusion seemed to be the problem was caused by using a power lube.

I use a hand actuated lube gun and squeeze it very slowly. I have never had a problem.

[rstanek]

I use EZ lube, camper is 10 years old, about 10000 miles on it check the bearings last year, still like brand knew, good for another 10 years, thanks EZ lube, you made my life easier......

[Hector_Bravo]

I alternate annually between using them and manual repacking. Fourteen years combined on my last two trailers with no problems until the end of last year when a seal gave out. It was a year I had the bearings manually repacked.

[BB_TX]

Age old dispute on here. Some use them and love them. Others feel just the opposite. I use them and never a problem. Just make sure you understand the system and do it correctly if you do.

[Jebby14]

only on a boat trailer from what im told

[NanciL]

I had them on my last trailer which I had for seven years.
Once a year I would jack each wheel and pump the grease in until the old grease showed up coming out. As I was doing it I would turn the wheel. About four years after I had the trailer I had them professionally done and the mechanic said they were in perfect condition, and then I continued to use the fittings until I sold the trailer.
For what it is worth, that trailer made a 15,000 mile round trip to Alaska and back in one year, and in the other years, it probably accrued 3,000 miles each year.

Jack L

[myredracer]

Not! Nope, never, not a chance...

You should periodically remove drum - then inspect brakes, then remove old grease and inspect bearings and then repack by hand using new seals. If you don't, how are you going to know what the condition the bearings, seals and brakes are in? Besides, the EZ lube feature just does not work well. Sometimes the bearings weren't lubed correctly lubed or seals correctly installed at the manufacturer and sometimes dealers add grease via the EZ Lube grease zerk on new trailers and cause problems. The photo below is courtesy anothr forum member and shows what the cheap Chinese bearings can look like. The owner of a local frame & axle shop has one just like it on display on his counter.

Two out of 3 new TTs we've owned had leaking seals and bearing problems from new and both had grease on the brakes. The second time I discovered there was a problem was at the end of the 2nd season (on current TT) after finding that one bearing was running much warmer than the others. Also found leaking seals and grease on the brake shoes. Although it still had life left on the factory warranty, I ended up installing new US-made Timken bearings and hand packing. The dealer already messed it up once and decided it's better to take care of it myself. EZ Lube is just another sales gimmick like "outdoor showers" and "bumper sewer hose storage" features.