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JM0278 · 04-16-2019, 06:40 AM

We bought a new 2019 Minnie 2250DS last June and put about 1500 miles on it last year. Even though it hasn't yet been 12 months/12,000 miles as the Lippert owner's manual states (Lippert manufactures the axle/wheel assembly), I decided to pull the wheels and lube the bearings, just to be safe.

The good news is I was surprised to find an easily accessible zerc grease fitting under an easily removed rubber dust cap once I had the wheel off. The manual says for this sort of assembly, to apply the grease while turning the wheel until grease starts to appear from behind the nut.

To get to the point, the four wheels took about 3/4 or more of a large tube of grease! I stopped putting grease in as soon as it showed up around the nut. I'm reasonably confident the bearings did have some grease as shipped from the factory, but the wheels sure took a lot more than I would have expected.

billyw · 04-18-2019, 12:37 PM

Mine was that way when new too, 15 years ago. I understand that it's pretty common.

Dropthejacks · 04-18-2019, 01:30 PM

They actually recommend not using those grease fittings because you can force grease out the back seal and into your hub, which it sounds like exactly what you did if you pumped that much grease. The hub bearings should be inspected and hand-packed every 10Kmiles or so. I would recommend you pull the hubs and make sure you didn't pump grease all over your drum brakes before you take off down the road again.

Brad Wilf · 04-18-2019, 02:03 PM

As stated above. You do not need to fill the entire hub cavity with grease, just wasting grease and potentially blowing the grease seal out. Cleaning, visual inspection, and hand packing and is the best way. For the 1/2 day it will take every few years...

bneukam · 04-18-2019, 02:05 PM

Have those same grease zerks on our Dexter axel. Always use them every spring to grease the bearings. Go slow and slowly spin the wheel while doing so. I go until I see new grease coming out.
Using 3/4 of a tube for all 4 wheels to top them off does sound a little much. It takes me 1 1/2 tubes to fill all 4 with new.

keymastr · 04-18-2019, 07:21 PM

When they assemble the axles they do not fill the hub cavity, and filling the hub cavity by using the grease zirk makes the bearings run hotter because the grease holds heat far better than the air the hub was filled with before. Plus the potential for a seal blowout.

twinboat · 04-18-2019, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dropthejacks

They actually recommend not using those grease fittings because you can force grease out the back seal and into your hub, which it sounds like exactly what you did if you pumped that much grease. The hub bearings should be inspected and hand-packed every 10Kmiles or so. I would recommend you pull the hubs and make sure you didn't pump grease all over your drum brakes before you take off down the road again.

" They actually recommend not using those grease fittings " ?

The manufacture seems ok with it, who are " They " ?

Follow the manufacture and you will be fine. You won't use near as much the next time.
That and don't plug a fast, high flow, electric grease gun on it and wait for grease to blow out.

Dropthejacks · 04-18-2019, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

" They actually recommend not using those grease fittings " ?

The manufacture seems ok with it, who are " They " ?

Follow the manufacture and you will be fine. You won't use near as much the next time.
That and don't plug a fast, high flow, electric grease gun on it and wait for grease to blow out.

The axle shops who have to replace the rear seals and clean out the brake hubs when folks over-fill them. They are put on by the axle manufacturers as a sales ploy as in "Looky here, you can grease our axles easy!" It doesn't replace the tried and true hand-packed greased bearing. But to each his own.....

Brad Wilf · 04-18-2019, 11:11 PM

Still visual inspection of both bearings and races the only way to go, your good, no guessing. Just because grease is in the hub doesn’t mean it’s not breaking down if you can’t see what going on.

JM0278 · 04-19-2019, 06:31 AM

Thought I'd clarify a few issues that have been raised.

1. I downloaded and followed Lippert's Owner's Manual instructions, including the specific type of grease to use.
2. I did spin the wheel while applying the grease.
3. I did not "fill" the hub with grease; I stopped when grease appeared from behind the nut.
4. There was a problem in the past with seals being blown out, but I believe Lippert has since corrected the issue.

I started this thread because of the possibility that the manufacturers used only the bare minimum amount of grease and owners could wind up with premature bearing failure if the maintenance specifications aren't strictly followed.

Thanks to all for the comments!