Dexter EZ Lube Hubs

[Akibase]

My trailer came equipped with Dexter EZ Lube hubs. What can you tell me about them? It is time for their first repack and I am looking for guidance. Lucus "Red & Tacky" grease has been recommended to me as being a superior product for these hubs. Like I said, I'm looking for guidance

[Shadowcatche]

Adding grease is not a substitute for disassembly cleaning and inspection and inspecting the brakes. The only value I see for the EZ Lube is if you are fording streams or launching a boat. I use Amsoil synthetic grease and replaced the Chinese origin bearings with Timkin and adjusted the brakes.

[TXiceman]

Boat launching is totally different from RV trailer duty. The E-Z Lube is not at all like the boat trailer Bearing Buddies. The E-Z Lube will perform as designed if maintenance is done as recommended by Dexter.

But if the bearings were not installed correctly to begin with or a cheap bearing was installed...well all bets are off.

Ken

[Dog Folks]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Boat launching is totally different from RV trailer duty. The E-Z Lube is not at all like the boat trailer Bearing Buddies. The E-Z Lube will perform as designed if maintenance is done as recommended by Dexter.

But if the bearings were not installed correctly to begin with or a cheap bearing was installed...well all bets are off.

Ken

What he said.

Bearing buddies help prevent water intrusion when hot bearings are dipped into colder water. They help offset the vacuum that forms when the bearings hit the colder water. The grease does not reach the rear bearing.

Never Lube is completely different and the grease runs through a channel to the rear bearing also. They will replace hand packing when used properly and according to the directions. If you don't have a manual you can find the directions on the internet.

The main issue is do not use pressure grease guns or high pressure with hand guns, as this can blow out the rear seal and contaminate the brake shoes.

[lyncjim]

Never lube is not grease able. Both bearings are one unit and not re pac able. EZ lub are able to be greased

[Ray,IN]

Our 5er had the E-Z Lube System. If the Dexter Axle E-Z Lube procedures are followed exactly it is a very good system. There is one disclaimer; Dexter axle recommends a 12 month/12,000 mile bearing inspection. This cannot be accomplished without complete dis-assembly, cleaning, and visual inspection. It is also the only way the electric brakes can be inspected.
To me, this means utilizing the zerk fittings is useless unless the wheels have been submerged.

[myredracer]

There is the EZ-lube and also the Al-Ko Ultru-lube (on our TT). You can do a search on this forum and find lots of info. Also, if you go over to the Forest River forums, there's a ton of info. there like this thread for example: http://http://www.forestriverforums....ures-9666.html

The problem with these grease-able axles is that you can pump too much grease in and possibly blow a seal and then the grease will get onto the linings and you need to get the brakes all taken apart and cleaned.

Also, if you rely on just pumping grease in yourself, you may decide to forgo repacking the periods annually. Problem is, the bearings can be damaged and you won't ever know without having them taken apart for visual inspection. From what I've read, the bearing quality these days is not very good.

I've already decided to get the bearings repacked annually regardless. I may put a few pumps of grease in once or twice a season but am waiting to talk to our dealer in person about the recommended practice.

[Akibase]

Am I to understand that you must take your Dexter EZ Lube Hubs completely apart to service my brakes? If that is the case, then what is the advantage of these hubs. I usually have to do brake service every year and really don't want to redo the bearing service each year.

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by Akibase

Am I to understand that you must take your Dexter EZ Lube Hubs completely apart to service my brakes? If that is the case, then what is the advantage of these hubs. I usually have to do brake service every year and really don't want to redo the bearing service each year.

The spindles are easy lube, not the hubs. And yes. The brakes are enclosed in the drum, so you have to take the hub/drum assembly off to get to the brake components.
There is no advantage on regular trailers. It is a substitute (a poor one) for proper maintenance.
What do you mean "redo the bearing service?" All you do is clean the bearings, check for problems, repack them, and drop em back in the hub/drum.

[ccrider,]

Let me know how you get the back barning out with out removing the back seal. If you remove seal make sure you put new one back in. The only way to put grease in the easy lube axle is you have to jack the wheel off the ground and spin the wheel while you pump the grease in so it will not blow out rear seal, but I sill like to just tare it down and inspect and repack.

[schrederman]

I have completely regreased my bearings this year by jacking the trailer up, and using the "spin the wheel and pump in the grease" method. I used 3 cartridges doing it. I pumped until new grease was coming out the front. Patience is needed and if you get hurried, yes, you can blow out the back seal. If you do, the grease stops coming out the front, and it's teardown time for that bearing/seal. This lets you inspect the grease and see if there is any metal in it. If so, it's time for a teardown. This is the second time I have done this, but next time will be time for new Timkens and new seals. I do not consider this a substitute for proper maintenance, but rather, a part of it. It works if done properly... why knock it?

[jesilvas]

Have you pulled hubs to see if your brake pads are coated?

Also, that is not proper bearing packing. That hub is FULL of grease. It can and will leak out the rear seal. The bearings should only be impregnated with grease and given a coating, but not have the ENTIRE HUB FULL.

[CanadianCrew]

The following excerpt is from the dexter manual. I have these on my trailer which was new a few months ago. But I have had these on a boat trailer as well. They where great and I could completely change the grease as per these instuctions. I never had any problems with thousands of miles of towing and hundreds of insertions to launch and retrieve the boat.

E-Z Lube™ Lubrication
The procedure is as follows:
1. Remove the rubber plug from the end of the grease cap.
2. Place a standard grease gun onto the grease fitting located
in the end of the spindle. Make sure the grease gun nozzle
is fully engaged on the fitting.
3. Pump grease into the fitting. The old displaced grease will
begin to flow back out the cap around the grease gun
nozzle.
4. When the new clean grease is observed, remove the
grease gun, wipe off any excess, and replace the rubber
plug in the cap.
5. Rotate hub or drum while adding grease.
Note:
The E-Z Lube™ feature is designed to allow immersion
in water. Axles not equipped with E-Z Lube™ are not
designed for immersion and bearings should be repacked
after each immersion. If hubs are removed from an axle
with the E-Z Lube™ feature, it is imperative that the seals
be replaced BEFORE bearing lubrication. Otherwise, the
chance of grease getting on brake linings is greatly increased.

[jesilvas]

When a hub is full of grease, water can essentially not permeate anything. RVs are not into water, so they are different. Boat trailers don't have brakes (most if not all, I'm not sure), and RVs do.