mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Some newer trailers do use Dexter Never-Lube type bearings. These come in a cassette complete with grease and seals and are NOT designed to be regreased.
BUT these same axles do have to have brake adjustments as they do not have self adjusters.
It's actually important on any new towable after a few hundred miles to manually adjust the brakes. That's because the drums and shoes are NOT matched at assemble. The brakes do not have self adjusters and wear considerably until the shoes have full contact with the drums.
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retired in utah
Ogden, UT
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Joined: 02/23/2002
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My 5er has the neverlube bearings but I have an independent shop check over the axles and brakes every spring. They also check the bearing pod for any leakage or damage, just as a precaution. I have found that independent RV repair shops are often better values and higher quality workmanship than many dealers plus they are eager for your business. Also, independents frequently do warranty work for most of the suppliers and can do the work faster than a dealer.
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Rubiranch
Salt Lake City, UT
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chalet05 wrote:thanks for putting in my place.
I took that post as a little tongue and cheak.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Our place told us to repack every 2-3 years sooner if a lot of travel is done, 3 years if average travel is done. About 10-15K miles according to him. We're on 6000+ miles and 2 years - plan to repack before next summer's trips.
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lynndiwagon
Yukon, Oklahoma, USA
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Joined: 01/28/2004
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As one who has suffered catastrophic bearing failure, I would recommend checking out everything, bearings and brakes, right now. After this you could probably get by with a longer interval. The reason I'm saying this, is because on my rig, the original manufacturer (Lippert), had used the minimal grease on the bearings causing the failure of one of them during the first year. I've personally checked and re-packed all of the bearings and adjusted the brakes. I now have confidence that they were done right. Good luck.
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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mike4947 wrote:Some newer trailers do use Dexter Never-Lube type bearings. These come in a cassette complete with grease and seals and are NOT designed to be regreased.
BUT these same axles do have to have brake adjustments as they do not have self adjusters.
It's actually important on any new towable after a few hundred miles to manually adjust the brakes. That's because the drums and shoes are NOT matched at assemble. The brakes do not have self adjusters and wear considerably until the shoes have full contact with the drums.
Can an axle with standard bearing be refitted with the "Never-Lube" type or are they a proprietary size?
Paul (Mouse)
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Gruffy
monominto mb ca
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Joined: 10/02/2003
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The lube part may be OK but the brakes should be adjusted. Most trailer wheels do NOT HAVE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES ..... sort of important ,,, especially if the selling dealer was like mine. He never set the brakes from the factory and put me out on the road.
I wound up in a Wall Mart parking lot on my back trying to adjust the brakes enough to get home. No fun ...
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