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Old 04-30-2014, 08:01 AM   #1
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Axle bearing questions

Hey smart folks! Posting a question for my neighbor. Dexter axles on a non-Jayco (yes, he knows he made a mistake). He had a bearing dry out and fail a few years ago. All bearings and races were replaced. He had the work done and has no idea of the brand/quality of the parts used. Since then the dust caps gradually work their way off the hubs. He uses LOTS of grease in the hub and wonders if that could cause the problem. My guess is the replacement races and or bearings are "close" to the correct size but not exact and there is interference between the cap and nut, washer, top of the bearing... and over a few 100 miles vibration or direct contact works the cap off. We hand spin the hubs and cannot detect any interference. He's talking about replacing the hubs hoping that will solve this but I figure there's a simpler (cheaper) solution.

Opinions and ideas are welcome
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Old 04-30-2014, 08:09 AM   #2
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Why not just flair the edges of the caps out (gingerly) a little and see if the are tighter when you put them back.
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Old 04-30-2014, 08:11 AM   #3
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That's good Grump but he's tried that. Those caps don't want to be on his hubs.
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Old 04-30-2014, 09:29 AM   #4
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New caps?
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Old 04-30-2014, 09:34 AM   #5
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Thanks Blue. He's been through quite a few, new one every time one falls off.
Currently he puts a bead of silicone around the cap trying to "stick" it to the hub. It helps to hold 'em on but given time they will still work their way off.
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Old 04-30-2014, 09:39 AM   #6
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The caps are glued on with permatex and thats how they suggest you put them back on.
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Old 04-30-2014, 12:08 PM   #7
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The caps are glued on with permatex and thats how they suggest you put them back on.
Hmmm, never knew that. That's a good one Elder.
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Old 04-30-2014, 12:56 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by eldermike View Post
The caps are glued on with permatex and thats how they suggest you put them back on.

I have never seen permatex on any dust cap. I have never had an issue with any coming off.
Is your neighbor filling the cap full of grease?? If so that could be the problem. No grease in the cap. If you could see how little of grease it takes to lube a bearing you would be shocked.
If the cap wont go on snug and flush the problem may be with hubs.
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Old 04-30-2014, 01:28 PM   #9
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I have never seen permatex on any dust cap. I have never had an issue with any coming off.
Is your neighbor filling the cap full of grease?? If so that could be the problem. No grease in the cap. If you could see how little of grease it takes to lube a bearing you would be shocked.
If the cap wont go on snug and flush the problem may be with hubs.
The real answer depends on which axle he has.
On permatex use: Every boat trailer manufacturer uses it. Etrailer says that if you have a lose dust cap you can use it. And Dexters new eazy lube axles are designed to have the dust covers full of grease, that's how you lube them. You remove the rubber cover and pump grease and it back flows out filling the dust cover in the process. So it depends on which axle.

Call Dexter and tell them they will not stay on.
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Old 04-30-2014, 01:48 PM   #10
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Permatex is a brand name. What Permatex product are you referring to? They make, among many other things, Aviation Form-A-Gasket, a blue RTV silicone gasket sealant, anti-seize compounds, threadlockers, hand cleaner, etc.
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Old 04-30-2014, 02:26 PM   #11
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Permatex is a brand name. What Permatex product are you referring to? They make, among many other things, Aviation Form-A-Gasket, a blue RTV silicone gasket sealant, anti-seize compounds, threadlockers, hand cleaner, etc.
I know they make tons of products. But if you go to an auto supply house and ask for a tube of permatex you will get a small blue tube of gasket maker/sealer.
That's what I am talking about.
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Old 04-30-2014, 02:43 PM   #12
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I did some more surfing and found that the Permatex PermaShield seems to be what is used for the dust cups. This is probably what elder is talking about.
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Old 04-30-2014, 03:34 PM   #13
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So when you go to the auto parts store and ask for Permatex you will be handed this: Permatex Ultra Blue Multipurpose RTV Silicone Gasket Maker #81724

Just hope and pray they don't hand you a jug of citrus hand cleaner!!
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Old 05-01-2014, 06:45 AM   #14
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So when you go to the auto parts store and ask for Permatex you will be handed this: Permatex Ultra Blue Multipurpose RTV Silicone Gasket Maker #81724

Just hope and pray they don't hand you a jug of citrus hand cleaner!!
Well the hand cleaner would be needed after doing the bearing job
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Old 05-01-2014, 06:47 AM   #15
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I did some more surfing and found that the Permatex PermaShield seems to be what is used for the dust cups. This is probably what elder is talking about.
Yeah, was not actually sure of the exact product but I did know it's common pratice with some hubs.

Also, notice how many trailers are missing dust caps as you travel down the road.
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Old 05-01-2014, 07:15 AM   #16
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Dust cap coming off is a sign that the axle nut is too loose, try tightening the nut till the wheel no longer turns, than back off half a turn. Check that the wheel spins freely with no
wobble.
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Old 05-01-2014, 08:10 AM   #17
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Dust cap coming off is a sign that the axle nut is too loose, try tightening the nut till the wheel no longer turns, than back off half a turn. Check that the wheel spins freely with no
wobble.
A half-turn sounds a bit much. The Dexter site recommends tightening to 50ft#, loosening and retighten by hand.
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Old 05-01-2014, 08:49 AM   #18
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Dexter sells at least 3 (sure there are more) hub types common to Rv's and they each have different instructions on repair and maintenance. Std hubs, easy lube and never lube hubs require different proceduers be followed.
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Old 05-01-2014, 09:48 AM   #19
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IMHO, it's a touchy feely thing. Set the bearings by tightening, than back-off so the wheel spins and no play. It's the play, moving in and out on the spindle that works the dust cap out, a little at a time. Try it, it costs nothing. Also some times it's the bearings going that will work a cap off, but in this case the bearing would have gone by now, again IMHO.
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Old 05-01-2014, 11:00 AM   #20
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IMHO, it's a touchy feely thing. Set the bearings by tightening, than back-off so the wheel spins and no play. It's the play, moving in and out on the spindle that works the dust cap out, a little at a time. Try it, it costs nothing. Also some times it's the bearings going that will work a cap off, but in this case the bearing would have gone by now, again IMHO.
Never lube bearings must have some (slight) end play. I don't know how common they are on RV's but they are set up different than traditional open bearings. Also castellation location can dictate the ammount of end play in any wheel bearing. Some axles have more than one hole to allow for finer tuning of the end play, others do not. In some cases a perfect feel is between castellations, here you back off until the cotter pin goes in the hole end play or not.

Out of 4 wheels on a camper you will find one or two that adjust up slightly looser than the others. The cotter pin locations are in control here to some degree.

Perfect is: not to loose but never tight.
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