I'm a little unsure of what to do here. I took the rubber caps off the Dexter hubs to add a little grease to the wheel bearings. I noticed all had grease in them, but the grease nipple on each hub was at a different depth within the hub. As I add grease, does the nipple come closer to the outside edge of the hub, and if it does, should I keep putting grease in until it is at the outside edge of the hub?
A word of caution here. I too have Dexter axles with EZ Lube feature. I bought the trailer second hand and had no idea of how servicing of bearings was done by the previous owner (who told me it was done by a service centre for him). So I decided to perform John Barca's annual brake/bearing repack inspection (click here for his post) which was a good thing because I found out that the service centre had used single lipped seals instead of the required double lipped seals to use the EZ lube nipple feature. Had I gone ahead with pumping in grease I would have undoubtedly been in trouble with grease finding its way on to the brake pads. Download a manual from Dexter's website, it gives detailed instructions for using the EZ lube feature (remember tires need to be spun while pumping in grease). Another thing that comes to mind is the type of grease that was inside and compatibility with the one I would have been pumping in. Grease with a different base cannot be mixed as they break down the lubrication properties. My advice to you, if you are handy with tools and have the time, is to perform the annual brake/bearing repack inspection so you know what is inside and what grease is used. If not have a service centre do it for you and insist on the double lipped seals and obtain grease from them for you to use in your grease gun. As for me I'm glad I went the route I chose and may just hand re-pack each year. It is simple when you know how. Caution.. Do a lot of research and have all required tools and replacement seals on hand. My experience and very useful advice I received can be viewed here. Good Luck.
No the fitting doesn't move. If you wan't to grease through that method it is best to have the wheel rotating and stop when you see the first sign of fresh grease around bearing itself. At that point the new grease has been circulated through both bearing assemblies. There is no advantage to filling the whole hub up and you will be sorry you did when it comes time for bearing R&R.
Personally I would not use those fittings to grease the bearings. Just too many examples of them leaking onto the brakes no matter how careful one is.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
While spinning the tire, I use a popsicle stick to remove the old grease. With the old grease out of the way, I can see the new grease as it flows. No need to overfill. I've used ez-lubes for 20 years or so and never got any grease on brakes. They work well for me.
2008 Dodge 3500 With a Really Strong Tractor Motor...........
LB, SRW, 4X4, 6-Speed Auto, 3.73, Prodigy P3, Blue Ox Sway Pro........
2007 Komfort 212 on 225 75R 15E Maxxis 8008 Tires.........
I don't have the Dexter brand but I have a similar system on my Al-Ko axles. It will surprise you just how much grease it takes to push some of the old grease out. Take the precautions mentioned here seriously and it can be done right without harming the brakes.
If grease fittings move, you likely do not have EZ-Lube, you have Trailer Buddy (Bearing Buddy) hubs. They are greased until they move out to a line or color change. Be careful, they are NOT the same. EZ-Lube doesn't move unless bearing nuts are WAY too loose.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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