Dexter axle components

[HoneyShucks]

Pulling a heavy 5th wheel trailor. Need to replace brakes and hubs with new assemblies. Heavy damage to drums with 12 1/4" x 3 3/8" shoes.

My question does anyone use the Dexter grease caps to lube bearings?
Is this a good practice? How about Nev'lube hub/bearings?

Trying to make an intelligent decision. Disk brakes are too expensive.

[ritschner]

If you are talking about the Dexter Easy-Lube axles, I believe you need to replace the whole axle. I understand the grease has to pass through the spindle and that there is even a special procedure to lube the bearings, although still easier than repacking standard bearings. The Never-Lubes are supposed to be good for 100k miles before replacing the bearing units. I have the Never-Lubes on the 8k axles of my fifth-wheel with 15k miles, four years old, and so far no problems. On my last trip, when checked with an IR gun, they were running at least 10 degrees cooler than the tires. At the time the axle weight was 12,800lbs for the pair.

[jimmy]

I priced two axle sets of disc assemblies and a hydraulic actuator and a metal line kit for 8K axles for $1250 from Southwest wheel. When I priced Dexter drums and new backing plates complete the price to do that was over $1K (self adjusting brake type).
When my drums need service next time the drums will be beyond service limits and I'm doing discs and getting rid of the poor stopping elec drums.

[weitekampt]

I have a 2004 model flatbed trailer with dexter axles...I think. I do not have the posi-lube spindles. I have them on my boat trailer and I really like them. Anyway, these are 6klbs axles and there is just a metal dust cap on the end. I pulled the caps off this afternoon and didn't see any grease zerks or anything inside. Are these the never-lube bearings? I think I remember the salesman saying something about never having to check the bearings till a long amount of time.

If somebody could tell me these are the never-lube axles, I would greatly appreciate it!

[HoneyShucks]

Thanks Jimmy, the best price I have found in Fla. to replace orignal assemblies is $1400 + 425 installation. I'm looking at 2k with taxes. Sounds high against your quote but this is not my expertise.

I would love disk brakes. Need to learn more about these units. Problem is, I need to do something soon before traveling back to Va.

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[AlH]

[ QUOTE ]

If somebody could tell me these are the never-lube axles, I would greatly appreciate it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Did you see a large internal snap ring outboard of the bearing? If not then it isn't a Nev-r-lube from what I can tell on Dexter's site..

Nev-R-Lube

[weitekampt]

Called my dealer and I don't have the never lube bearings. That sucks!

thanks for the link though! It was interesting to read!

[tomshep]

My local dealer warned me about using the greaseable axles and "overgreasing" them. He said people use that to grease both bearings and often the pressure causes the grease to be forced back past the seal and into the brake assembly. He said be careful and don't use that as replacement for tearing down the bearings and doing a proper grease job. FWIW.

Tom

[bobsherrie]

tomshep,
I can support what the dealer told you as I had the Easy-Lube axles on my last 5'er and even though I was careful greasing the axles with a hand gun I alwasys ended up with grease on the brakes even though I replaced the seals every other year.I followed the instructions carefully too. I finally did it the old way, pulling the hubs each spring and repacking. No more issues. Now I have Never Lube axles in my new 5'er and I'm sure it will be easier. I checked them after getting the trailer-it was 2 years old- and everything was fine.

[OOPstroker]

Switch to the oil filled hubs. Sweet set-up.