wheel bearings

bheisser · 04-26-2019, 01:44 PM

ok today i repacked my wheel bearings took them all apart cleaned re-greased etc, no issue, just a quick question/observation, why do people feel that utilizing the Zerk fitting and pumping grease thru until the old grease exits is a bad practice.. with the effort it took to get the rear seals out, it would appear there is absolutely zero chance of "blowing out the seal and contaminating the brakes".. on one wheel after re-assembly i did pump grease until it came out the front and then took it apart and the rear seal was fine,,, just curious.,...thanks

Grumpy · 04-26-2019, 01:52 PM

With the old style "Bearing Buddy" it was very easy to blow the rear seal. The new "EZ Lube" is an all together different system, but some people don't realize the difference.

us71na · 04-26-2019, 02:04 PM

I jack up one wheel at a time and use the zerk fitting on my wheels and simply rotate the wheel while adding grease. It also lets me check the wheel for looseness or noise in the bearings.

DocBrown · 04-26-2019, 02:15 PM

I've had the EZ Lube n two trailers now. Love it. I never took off the bearings of my old trailer, had it 10 years. I'm behind on greasing the current trailer.

ggilbert · 04-26-2019, 02:27 PM

how often do you lube using the EZ lube. How much grease do you add per wheel

oldmanAZ · 04-26-2019, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

With the old style "Bearing Buddy" it was very easy to blow the rear seal. The new "EZ Lube" is an all together different system, but some people don't realize the difference.

There's that PLUS, IMO, some folks do not follow the EZ Lube procedures, then they blow the seal(s), and then they go online and blame EZ Lube.

**norty1** · 04-26-2019, 03:34 PM

I have always had mine checked and re-packed. After having recently to have to replace a brake assembly and hub, I was able to actually see how the two bearings are lubed thru the internal holes. I have read up on the procedure and may lube them myself next year.

The main error is not to read the procedure and just start pumping grease in there without lifting the wheel and spinning it as the grease is added.

Bearing Buddies are a complete separate product, not to be confused with
EZ Lube axles.

jimp · 04-26-2019, 04:28 PM

Buddy bearing devices keep pressure (via grease) on the wheel bearings to aid in keeping water out of the bearings especially on boat trailers. Boat trailers may be towed several hours and then "dunked" in 35* water or 85* water depending on season with very little time for the bearings/hubs to adjust to local temps.

2naEagle · 04-26-2019, 04:45 PM

I have done it both ways. I have never had trouble with either way. When I use the EZ lube I jack up the wheel and spin it. I also do it in the summer when it is quite warm out.

ttavasc · 04-26-2019, 07:26 PM

Another potential factor to blown seals when adding grease is if a single lip seal was incorrectly used on a previous replacement. While the Dexter P/N in the replacement parts table in the manual pulls up a double lip seal I can see a single lip being used by mistake.

elkivory · 04-27-2019, 07:31 AM

I have owned several boat trailers, utility trailers, travel trailers and fifth wheels. Done all my own maintenance and never had a bearing failure. Used bearing buddies on boat trailers. First experience with EZ LUBE was on a 2006 Raptor fifth wheel. Manually packed the first time, then when I learned how EZ LUBE works never pulled bearings again. This was a triple axle trailer. Love the EZ LUBE, just have to use them properly.

jpgale · 04-28-2019, 07:38 AM

I would assume that manually packing the bearings rather than using the ez lube would be the ability to inspect the condition of the bearing itself.

ShortCircuit · 04-28-2019, 10:12 AM

Just repacked my bearings yesterday. Realized I had Lippert Ez lube axles . The axles looked like they could of used more grease in the hubs 2019 whitehawk.
Also added my new equalizers

ALJO · 04-28-2019, 10:29 AM

A properly greased and adjusted bearing doesn't fail. EZ-lube is designed to put in new grease and remove old grease. Any time a hub is removed the change on contamination or damaging the seal is possible. Axle manufactures place an tight schedule on RV axles because they are on idle most of the time.

goducks · 04-28-2019, 11:19 AM

If you don't use the same exact grease that was used when they assembled them, then you can have issues as well. Not all grease is compatible with the EZ Lube feature and not all grease is compatible with other grease.

TxLoser · 04-28-2019, 01:00 PM

So, I must claim ignorance. I have a ‘17 HT FW. Do these typically have the EZ lube axles. I’m also turning myself in for bad maintenance practices as I’ve obviously done nothing with this in the 2+ years of ownership.

**norty1** · 04-28-2019, 02:24 PM

Do you have any literature or the ability to look up the axle online? If not does the center cap on the hub have a rubber cap about the size of a poker chip?

TxLoser · 04-28-2019, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

Do you have any literature or the ability to look up the axle online? If not does the center cap on the hub have a rubber cap about the size of a poker chip?

I’m actually out of town now, I’ll have to take a look once home at one of the wheels. There’s a goofy shiny plastic cap over the hub that has to come off for a look. This thread has got me curious.

Pinnacle Pete · 05-04-2019, 10:01 PM

IMO, 5th wheels need inspection of the bearings and seals. Our current 5th Wheel had a blown seal from the factory and a hub with a race that was loose! There is simply too much weight on each wheel to not check the bearings and seals out at least every other year or annually, depending upon your amount of travel.

DonaandDon · 05-05-2019, 08:35 AM

Old grease in the hub needs to be evaluated. "Smear testing" some of the old grease coming out during pumping, will allow a better inspection or evaluation of contamination from material(s) fatigue. Old grease "consistency or viscosity" is another issue separate from contamination. If your pumping in the new grease and the old is pouring out of the hub like honey? Your better take the bearings out and do the clean and inspect. Additionally, if you have pumped much new grease into the hub and nothing is coming out then a bearing removal is also warranted. IMO.

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