If when you have the rubber seal removed that exposes the grease nipple, is there any clear way to tell when you need to inject grease into the Ez-Lube axle? If you look into the hub with a light and still see grease does that indicate there is enough grease? Or, should the hub always be full of grease. Obviously, if you overlube them you run the risk of grease running into the brake shoes. Or, is just a couple of shots a year the best approach. But if you didn't tow more a couple of thousand miles a year, then that approach could result in too much grease over time. I have been using John Deere Lithum General Purpose grease (same as I use on the farm tractor) on the axles on a dump trailer that also has EZ-lube nipples. I'm thinking that less frequent greasing is better?

I was going to lube our EZ-Lube axles and got out the owners manual to see how to complete the job.  The manual explains how to add grease, stopping when you see grease in the chamber, and further states that the bearings should be inspected and repacked every 12 months.

The system has a grease fitting on the end of the axle and a small hole that allows the grease to enter the hub just to the inside of the inner bearing (between the inner and outer bearings).  I am not an engineer but it doesn't appear logical to me that the grease will push into the inner bearing without pushing something out of the inner seal.  I treat the axles as standard axles.  Four seals and new grease every 12 months is a lot cheaper than replacing brake components.

I agree with Hornet. If your state doesn't require an annual inspection of the brakes, there is absolutely no need to repack the bearings every year, unless you're annually running 50K or so. In fact, the frequent handling of the bearings can introduce more problems, than if they are left alone. Once they are properly greased with a quality product and torqued, they have a long life span.

Before front wheel drive cars, the front bearings were a tapered roller style, just like trailer bearings. Their maintenance was required at ~50 K or so, and there were very few failures. This is also considering the lubricants available then, much before the proliferation of today's modern synthetics.

Trailers do not endure the side loading "G" forces that a vehicle encounters when turning. That trailer's loading is also distributed over four tires in close proximity, with the end of the trailer being supported by the towing vehicle. A vehicle turning, has more side loading than a towed vehicle, following in a shallower radius turn.

I know that I'm preaching to deaf ears, but if you don't need an annual inspection, and you do not have Easy Lube axles, Bearing Buddies will give you many years of trouble free service, under the most of extreme conditions, with almost zero maintenance.

We've had this discussion several times before. I agree with you Kay, too much lubrication can and will damage the brake mechanisms, and prevent proper actuation of the components.

My points were that the lubricant does not wear out in one year, and that frequent disassembly and handling of the bearings can do more damage than good. Bearing Buddies are not applicable in every situation, but when they are properly utilised, they are a welcomed accessory.

Any maintenance has to be performed in a logical fashion. Some times too much lubrication can be as detrimental as not enough. I'm sure your shop would be overwhelmed with customers, if each one doubled the amount of grease they installed in those little axle fittings. "You can't see inside, so there can't be anything wrong with a little extra."

Hope you have a great summer

I've posted this before but it bears repeating again ...

The previous owner of my trailer did me a favor before I drove off with the trailer.  He made sure my axles were lubed.  I watched him use the grease gun on the Zerk fittings.

After I got home with the empty trailer, this is what I found ...

OP ...the original question should you pump lube into an Eze lube ... I don't.    I do use the trailer every couple of weeks at least.  2000 miles per year at most.   I repack every few years.   Consider ... grease is only oil with a thickener.  The thickener serves to hold the oil in place and in reserve.  But the oil eventually is depleted or oxidizes.   A trailer that isn't used, doesn't move new grease into the bearing elements.  So, the oil oxidizes.  A trailer that travels 20,000 miles per year has grease that is depleted of oil.  Either of these situations, the axle needs fresh grease annually. 

Another situation is the trailer that is used a lot on unpaved roads or fording water.  The dirt works past the seals and wears the bearings.  I would repack this trailer annually to remove the dirt.

Hence, the recommendation to repack annually.  It really depends on the usage, but the factory's lawyers say otherwise.