EZ Lube bearings

[maverik/gypsy]

I received a nice letter from Bryan Tillett, PI, concerning my 05 EXCEL fifth wheel, 36CLO Limited with the air ride suspension and DEXTER axles.
I was informed that DEXTER made E-Z-Lube bearnings instead of NEV-R-Lube bearnings for air ride suspension axles.
PI recommends that I should grease the bearings immediately through a removable cap on the hub center cap. My question. if you have EZ-Lube bearnings, can you get to them without removing the wheel? I cannot find a removable cap in the middle of my hub center cap. Also, what type of grease would you recommend? Maverik

[maverik/gypsy]

I received a nice letter from Bryan Tillett, PI, concerning my 05 EXCEL fifth wheel, 36CLO Limited with the air ride suspension and DEXTER axles.
I was informed that DEXTER made E-Z-Lube bearnings instead of NEV-R-Lube bearnings for air ride suspension axles.
PI recommends that I should grease the bearings immediately through a removable cap on the hub center cap. My question. if you have EZ-Lube bearnings, can you get to them without removing the wheel? I cannot find a removable cap in the middle of my hub center cap. Also, what type of grease would you recommend? Maverik

[Hitchhiker]

Maybe this picture will help. Also, use a good quality Wheel Bearing grease, other grease will run out when the wheel gets hot and ruin the brakes.

[maverik/gypsy]

thanks richard---I do have EZ lube but they are covered with a solid wheel hub cap. SC told me this morning that the wheels will have to be removed to grease the fittings. Maverik

[rockintom]

Mav,

Did PI tell how much to grease the bearings? I know there is more damage done by "overgreasing" a wheel bearing than under greasing it. Many folks pump too many pumps of the grease gun and blow out the grease seal. Then you get grease all over the brakes. It easy to keep greasing (pumping) when you don't see it going anywhere like you do when you grease a shackle or the like. Just a word of caution just incase you didn't know. Tom

[maverik/gypsy]

Tom. no, I didn't know until your alert. Thanks, Called SC and they said to only give three pumps per wheel. As a novice, I most likely would have "attacked" those fittings with the belief, "more is good". I'm certain my brakes are also grateful to you also. Maverik

[rockintom]

Three full pumps sounds right. No more! You owe me a glass of vino. Tom

[DeepDoc1]

My memory is fuzzy (CRS) but I seem to recall someone recommending to get the wheel off the ground and have a helper slowly spin the tire while pumping grease to get a more even distribution. Is this just an "old man's tale" or is there merit?

[maverik/gypsy]

Tom, its a sure thing. Looking to the opportunity to meet---it will be placed in your hand.

Maverik

[rockintom]

OK Mav,

Sounds good. No cheap stuff though, only MD 20-20 for me!

[maverik/gypsy]

Sounds like great stuff---is it named "20 20" because it gives one 20/20 eyesight by drinking it. Does the MD stand for "Medical Doctor" prescribed? I'll do my best to serve you the right stuff. Maverik

[rockintom]

Yo-Yo Dude,
I thinks you finally gettin' the hang of this site. I like your style....you da man! Tom

[HB Phil]

I had the Dexter EZ Lube bearings on a SOB. Two wheels leaked the lube effectively disabling the brakes on those two wheels.

After repeated fixes and failures, including dealing with the highly toxic solvent mess of cleaning the brakes and parts, I would never get them again.

The manual calls for greasing until the return grease appears. However, if I were you, I would only do this once. Then on subsequent service use only one squirt of grease per wheel.

Having steel caps that cover the rubber gaskets that, in turn, protect the zerk fitings, which necessitate the removal of the entire wheel to grease them, seems to defeat the purpose of "EZ-Lube" system.

We'll see how my new Dexter "Never Lube" bearings work out. After my experience with Dexter's "EZ Lubes" I have a sneaking suspicion that "Never Lube" bearings will last far less than forever!

[RustyJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HB Phil:
We'll see how my new Dexter "Never Lube" bearings work out. After my experience with Dexter's "EZ Lubes" I have a sneaking suspicion that "Never Lube" bearings will last far less than forever! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
IIRC, the "Never Lube" bearings are supposed to be good for ~100,000 miles. Like you, we'll see....

I've never heard much good about the EZ Lube bearings. It's far too easy to overlube and contaminate the brake linings. Most people recommend disassembling and lubing just like regular bearings.

Rusty