EZ lube hubs.

crobo

I know this is quite the polarizing subject. But…..

I bought my 2024 Tab 320 in May from someone that bought it a year earlier and never used it. This is my first ever camper. In doing my research I read that campers can be shipped with not enough grease in the bearings, plus it had been setting around for a year. So I read about the EZ lube system. Sounded great. So I jacked up the wheels and turned the wheels while slowly pumping in grease in the zerks from a regular sized manual grease gun. Spin the wheel, one pump, keep spinning for a bit then another pump, so pretty slow. The old grease was black, I used red. Once I saw the red grease come out a bit I stopped. Used less then a tube of grease. Maybe 15 pumps on one side 25 on the other didn’t really count but didn’t seem excessive. Then I started reading all the stuff on the web about never using the EZ lube, always tear it down and repack. Plus some posts about only using the EZ lube for years with no problem. I have taken 3 trips this year checking my hubs with an infrared heat gun, all good.

So a few questions.

1. Dexter recommends a repack at 12000 miles or one year. I guess the 1 year is because of moisture in the grease or something. I only put 1200 miles on this grease, but suppose to put in new grease before the season next year because of the 1 year rule. Anyone ever wonder about this 1 year rule? Probably no one, including me I guess, brave enough to say I go 3 years because I only but 6000 miles on the camper.

2. So I see the point of tearing things down to look at brake shoes and check the bearings. Although regarding the bearings will I be able the realize what I am looking at. If I actually drove my camper for 12000 miles in a year I wouldn’t have to do anything in that time because according to Dexter the grease and bearings would be fine for that amount of mileage.

3. So anyone use the EZ lube between complete teardowns. Setting some sort of mileage to do the tear down, say 10000 miles. Using the EZ lube annually until then. Checking for play in the bearings. I know the issue with the rear seal blowing out, but if you follow the proper steps for using them seems unlikely.

4, Guess we would need some empirical evidence of people only using the EZ lube with out problems.

MuttonChops

Like so many forums this one also has many threads on the EZ-Lube hub.
Use the search feature to see different opinions.

I'm in the EZ-Lube only crowd:

1. EZ-Lube is not the Bearing Buddy of years past as EZ-Lube actually refreshes both the inner and outer bearings grease.
2. EZ-lube was designed and is used so a full tear down is not required.
3. If there is no indication of inner bearing seal leakage and no indication of braking issues I for one don't see any need to tear down the hub assembly.
4. Have only done EZ-Lube grease changes over 50K+ miles.
5. Suspect many of the Dexter Maintenance manuals have not been modified/edited to include EZ-Lube specific information causing 'packing' and EZ-Lube greasing confusion.

crobo

Ok thanks. Some real world example of only using the EZ lube. Do you lube the bearings once a year? And the brakes have lasted 50000 miles? Have you every check the brake shoes?

pthomas745

The EZ-lube versus take the bearings out issue has been with us for years. The EZ Lube method is included in the Dexter manuals I read. If they didn't think they should be used, why would they make axles with EZ Lube equipment?

If you have the skills, the tools, and the time, then by all means, "repack by hand". If you don't, the EZ Lube method works.

The only "wrong" thing is not to service your bearings at all.

After 7 years of my trailer, I will find a mechanic who will take the bearings out, replace them, etc. I will also have the brakes checked.

Gomers2

When I asked my dealer about all this, he replied "You are not the guy I'm worried about." In other words an owner who understands bearings exist, and is concerned enough about maintenance to ask the question, is not likely to have catastrophic failure.

I know others will disagree but I think if you flush the grease with the easy lube at least annually you are good to go for many miles. In my experience bearings don't go overnight, they are usually neglected for years before they fail. Obviously that's not true in all cases. Which is why every time I fuel the tow vehicle I walk around the trailer to do a visual inspection and put my hand on each hub. Low tech, but if I have a bearing issue it's going to show itself.

dlb

I use EZ lube without repacking for most years of local camping, within 500 miles RT. I repack before I go across the country and back.

The dealer said my bearings look like they are new after 6 years, I’ll take that.

MuttonChops

@crobo said:
a. . . Do you lube the bearings once a year?
b. . . And the brakes have lasted 50000 miles?
c. . . Have you every check the brake shoes?

a Nope b Yes c Once

Reviewing my records it appears I've been servicing based on mileage only.
Have also only inspected brake shoes once. The 320S is light and I use 4 - 5.5 Brake Controller settings based on the water/cargo load in the trailer.

Actual History:

@Gomers2 said:
. . . every time I fuel the tow vehicle I walk around the trailer to do a visual inspection and put my hand on each hub. Low tech, but if I have a bearing issue it's going to show itself.

Me too and at Highway Rest Stops.

qhumberd

Just another opinion, I am in the mixed crowd (pull hubs every 2 years and EZLube every 2 years):

I have low yearly mileage the last 6 years and so after the first year (with the knowledge I got here in the forum) I decided to take down and repack my own bearings and inspected the brakes. All looked pretty new to my eyes.

Then after 12 mos and maybe 2K miles, I thought that I could change out the grease with EZ Lube and it was easy and no issues (my brakes were working fine and my end play on my axles/hubs seemed normal.

After another 12 months and similar mileage I pulled the hubs and inspected all and regreased. Everything still looked good. Decided to keep that going. At the last manual repack I bought a bearing packer and that really saves time and mess.

So that has worked for me. I also monitor my hub temps when towing and have never noted anything more than warm to the touch.

I actually am worried that unless I was sure that a mechanic would do a good job, I think my method gives me more piece of mind

crobo

Thanks everyone.

I think https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/profile/Gomers2 makes a good point about talking to his dealer.

Thanks https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/profile/MuttonChops for sharing your service history and thoughts about the brakes. I have my controller set on 4.5. Most states don’t even require brakes on trailers under 3000 pounds.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/profile/pthomas745 said

The only "wrong" thing is not to service your bearings at all.

Checking hub temps during stops seem to be a key and I’ve been doing this.
Think I’ll probably end up doing some hybrid of EZ lube and a teardown not sure at what mileage. But good to know I can use the EZ lube exclusively with no ill effects.