E-Z lube hubs

[wavery]

Speaking of Dexter Axle E-Z Lube hubs, I' have an interesting little problem y'all might want to check out.

The bearing clearance freeplay increases as the bearings/hub heat up. So much so that you can grab the top of the tire and move the wheel back and forth on the spindle. I talked with the techs at Dexter about this and they thought maybe it was mismatched bearings/races. So I replaced them last weekend only to find out the numbers all matched what Dexter specs.

Dexter's assembly process for tightening the spindle nut is suspect. After torquing it down, they want to back it off and then make it just finger snug. After putting on the nut retainer (no cotter pin), the nut should have a bit of freeplay in it - in other words, not tight. I think this is why the hub gets loose as everything heats up.

My solution was to preload the (tighten the nut) just a bit past what Dexter specifies. I don't like doing this with tapered roller bearings, but I don't see any other solution.

So if you have Dexter E-Z Lube hubs, the next time you're out on a trip, stop somewhere after you've put on some miles and see if your hubs are loose. Just grap the top of the tire and see if you can rock it in/out. In the meantime, I'll see if preloading the bearings solves this issue.

As the bearings heat up, they should expand and actually become tighter. If you are experiencing so much heat that the hub is expanding faster than the bearing, that might suggest some external problem. I would be suspect of low tire pressure and/or brake drag.

You should be able to put your hand on the wheel, after driving for some time at highway speeds, and only find it warm to the touch. If it is hot to the touch, you have a friction problem. Most common is under-inflation of the tires.

[wavery]

So I pumped about a dozen pumps of grease into each EZ lube and I did not see any grease moving out or moving around at all.  They were repacked last year so I can't imagine they were that dry.  Should the old grease be displaced as I pump in the new?  I didn't want to keep pumping it in, it already seemed like alot that I was putting in!

Also, the grease in there was blue, the grease in my gun was red.  Any problems mixing the two?

Sorry about my silly reply..... :morning:

The hub does not need to be full of grease. There just needs to be enough grease to coat the bearings good. I wouldn't be concerned. Just be aware that filling the hub with grease is not a suitable replacement for taking the wheel bearings out and inspecting them before a long trip, especially if the trailer has been sitting in one spot for months.

Also, if you pumped too much grease into the hub, it may ooze out of the hub seal when it gets hot.

[TheHomelessGuy]

As the bearings heat up, they should expand and actually become tighter. If you are experiencing so much heat that the hub is expanding faster than the bearing, that might suggest some external problem. I would be suspect of low tire pressure and/or brake drag.

Let's presume for a minute, Wayne, that the tires, Dunlop 265/75-15 M/T's, are properly inflated to 50 psi. Let's also presume the brakes are properly adjusted (I actually own a brake spoon). I should also mention that I'm a gear head from way back. So we can surmise there was no external problem contributing to this.

I'm not looking for a diagnosis here, rather giving a heads up to folks who have the Dexter E-Z Lube axles to check them and see if they are experiencing something similar. I doubt most folks would even be aware of wheel bearing problems until too late, what with air conditioning and stereo surround systems. But I noticed it because I was climbing up the Sierras with a rock wall on one side and the occasional guard rail on the other. I had the windows open and with every switchback I could hear "clunk, drag... clunk, drag." "Self," I said, "there's a problem."

Dexter hasn't been much help, so I'm making adjustments based on years of experience.

I would also point out that Dexter specifies that if you pull the hubs to service the bearings, you must replace the inner seal. This is because it will probably be damaged removing it and it's what keeps the grease off the brake backing plate.

I'll know more after my run to Pismo next weekend.

Cheers