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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS | I'm a girl..... who does this themselves?
Is it fairly easy? Should I just have someone do it instead of DIY? My trailer has Dexter axles. |
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Expert
Posts: 2957
 
Location: North Carolina | Dawnya ... A girl !!! Whoot !!! Do you have a way to change a trailer tire? a couple of wrenches, pliers and a few screw drivers? An attitude to get'r done? (you must... you have horses) Here's the way my Dexter axle bearings were done, (plus a shameless plug) Step by step instructions with pics click on link to my article at MrTrailer.com >> http://www.mrtrailer.com/hosspullerbrakes.pdf |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Texas | No reason a girl can't do it. It's fairly simple but can be somewhat messy. That's a very good write up that Hosspuller has there too. If the brake drums are in poor shape this is also a good time to get them turned at a machine shop (most parts stores can now do this), and check the brake magnets.
Edited by greyhorse 2008-03-04 8:34 AM
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Dawnya ... Hardest part of the bearing job was finding a local source for the Dexter tang washers. Most of the parts places had them packaged with bearings. I finally found them at a trailer repair place. |
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Member
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Location: Haslet Tx | Yes you can. Its a messy job. Been doing it for years on cars and trailers. Use a torque wrench to get to the 50 lbs. Just to be safe. Hosspuller has a "feel for it". If you over tighten the bearings or drop one on concrete its trash. Be safe. Hosspuller nice article. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | One of the most important steps of a bearing repack, is the installation of the castellated nut that effects the preload on the bearing. If this is not torqued enough, the wheel will be loose and the bearing will be damaged. The worse case scenario would be the overtightening of the nut, which will result in the bearing over heating and failing, with the likely hood of further damage to the spindle. Anyone can repack a bearing, but doing it correctly is paramount. I would suggest the assistance of a mechanic this first time this is accomplished. You will then be taught the proper techniques, and be ensured of a reliable and safe tow. BOL Gard |
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Member
Posts: 36
Location: Fl. | And you can always wear rubber gloves if you don't lke that "greased up" look.....just be sure, like everyone says......you got to keep everything absolutely clean. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
Location: Tennessee | Some Dexter axles made after 2002 come with EZ Lube hubs that can be repacked without disassembly. Check it out:
http://www.dexteraxle.com/e_z_lube_system
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Towfoo, Dexter made those so you could grease your brake magnets, drums and brakes shoes!! It's probably best to forget that grease fitting exist. Just go ahead, pull the hub, wash and repack the bearings and replace the seal. Nine times out of ten, folks will overgrease, blow the seal out the back, contaminate the bearings with brake dust and rust.... And ruin the brake shoes with grease. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Bearing Buddies are a good way to ensure proper lubrication with little maintenance. They are the main reason most marine trailers don't experience bearing failures. As Retento alluded, over greasing will cause many problems. If they are used correctly with synthetic grease, you can expect many miles of trouble free driving. All my trailers have them installed, boats, horses and utilities. I've never had a lubrication problem or mechanical failure once they were installed. When you are filling the hub with grease, it is important to notice the collapsing spring and end cap in the reservoir. BEFORE this bottoms out, no more grease should be added. Once it is full, any additional grease will lubricate all the internal brake parts that shouldn't be greased and force the inner seal to fail. BOL Gard |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by hosspuller on 2008-03-04 9:17 AM Dawnya ... A girl !!! Whoot !!! Do you have a way to change a trailer tire? a couple of wrenches, pliers and a few screw drivers? An attitude to get'r done? (you must... you have horses) Here's the way my Dexter axle bearings were done, (plus a shameless plug) Step by step instructions with pics click on link to my article at MrTrailer.com >> http://www.mrtrailer.com/hosspullerbrakes.pdf Nice effort...Now it would even be better if you stopped by and personally showed each of us how it was done... Our trailers should be available next week...Hint...Hint... |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
Location: Tennessee | Originally written by retento on 2008-03-06 10:56 AM
Towfoo, Dexter made those so you could grease your brake magnets, drums and brakes shoes!! It's probably best to forget that grease fitting exist. Just go ahead, pull the hub, wash and repack the bearings and replace the seal. Nine times out of ten, folks will overgrease, blow the seal out the back, contaminate the bearings with brake dust and rust.... And ruin the brake shoes with grease.
Well, mine's a '99 and doesn't have the EZ Lube deal, but I'd sure like to be have the option to lube my brake shoes without taking off the drums. 14 (that there's the smiley that gets rained on by a cloud) |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | My brother is a fine mechanic, so when I repack ours I time it when he is here! We have fun, and he has a handy dandy tool that facilitates the repacking, sort of a shallow funnel looking thing... plus his trained eye evaluates the mechanism and my work! It really is not physically difficult, just some expert knowledge to get you started. And, CLEAN, is one of the main things, and as Gard said, not too tight or too loose on that castle nut dooohickey! |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-03-06 3:35 PM Originally written by retento on 2008-03-06 10:56 AM Towfoo, Dexter made those so you could grease your brake magnets, drums and brakes shoes!! It's probably best to forget that grease fitting exist. Just go ahead, pull the hub, wash and repack the bearings and replace the seal. Nine times out of ten, folks will overgrease, blow the seal out the back, contaminate the bearings with brake dust and rust.... And ruin the brake shoes with grease. Well, mine's a '99 and doesn't have the EZ Lube deal, but I'd sure like to be have the option to lube my brake shoes without taking off the drums. 14 (that there's the smiley that gets rained on by a cloud ) 
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-03-06 1:35 PM Originally written by retento on 2008-03-06 10:56 AM Towfoo, Dexter made those so you could grease your brake magnets, drums and brakes shoes!! It's probably best to forget that grease fitting exist. Just go ahead, pull the hub, wash and repack the bearings and replace the seal. Nine times out of ten, folks will overgrease, blow the seal out the back, contaminate the bearings with brake dust and rust.... And ruin the brake shoes with grease. Well, mine's a '99 and doesn't have the EZ Lube deal, but I'd sure like to be have the option to lube my brake shoes without taking off the drums. 14 (that there's the smiley that gets rained on by a cloud ) Here's the reason I don't use the grease fitting on MY trailer. The previous owner did though... 
Edited by hosspuller 2008-03-06 5:01 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2008-03-06 1:08 PM Originally written by hosspuller on 2008-03-04 9:17 AM Dawnya ... A girl !!! Whoot !!! Do you have a way to change a trailer tire? a couple of wrenches, pliers and a few screw drivers? An attitude to get'r done? (you must... you have horses) Here's the way my Dexter axle bearings were done, (plus a shameless plug) Step by step instructions with pics click on link to my article at MrTrailer.com >> http://www.mrtrailer.com/hosspullerbrakes.pdf Nice effort...Now it would even be better if you stopped by and personally showed each of us how it was done... Our trailers should be available next week...Hint...Hint... SIL is down for the week from Alburg VT. PC, You can keep your weather for yourself a few months longer. We're enjoying the blooming of the first flowers . |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | The problems that are encountered while using the "Bearing Buddies", are routinely caused by the over greasing of the unit. If they are serviced correctly and with some knowledge of their operation, these consequences are not present. The usage of synthetic greases have the same advantages to the longevity of wheel bearings, as has the synthetic oils for engines and gear units. They offer a higher shear strength, longer bearing life, less friction with a reduction in operating temperatures, and almost eliminate wash outs with few hydroscopic tendencies. Many thousands of trailer owners now commonly use "Bearing Buddies" on a routine basis without difficulties. They experience fewer repairs, less maintenance and more reliability. Gard
Edited by gard 2008-03-06 5:29 PM
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | In my aircraft career, I used to work with several women aircraft mechanics. They were very task orientated, had great attention to detail, sweated the small details and could perform any maintenance function as well as the men. Dirt, grease and hydraulic fluids were commonly and equally applied to both sexes in a shift. The women did look better then the men after the shift, when we all left for the day. Make up and civilian clothes quickly separated the different mechanics at the time clocks. They also brought in the best goodies at lunch time and organized all the parties during the holidays. The guys didn't have a clue. Gard |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456
Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS | LOL! Ya'll are cracking me up!
My trailer does have the Dexter EZ Lube and I have heard the same horror stories about over-greasing... so I'll just take it to my local trailer shop. I sure don't mind the work or the grease/dirt but don't want to take the chance of ruining it since I haul a lot away from home. THANKS!!!! |
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Packing Trailer Bearings
