Packing the wheel bearings

Nancy G. · 08-16-2011, 08:13 AM

I'd like to repack the wheel bearings on our '06 1950, and have not done so yet. I haven't been able to locate the info in the owner's manual regarding the proper grease fittings, grease, etc. Is there a special type of grease and fitting that I need to purchase to do the job or can I just go to the local auto parts store and tell them what I plan to do? Any suggestions from those who have done the job themselves would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Pat

Hematite · 08-16-2011, 09:51 AM

I use Castrol Pyroplex Blue and a Lisle bearing packing tool. The Pyroplex Blue grease is an excellent grease for the purpose. Because of the tack of the grease, it's a little harder to pack the bearing which is why I use the Lisle tool rather than hand packing. Very long life, ultra high protection grease.
Castrol USA - Castrol Pyroplex Blue

Hematite · 08-16-2011, 09:56 AM

Some axles are equipped with a grease fitting. That's OK for a "touch up" of grease before a long trip but to do things right, the bearings need to be removed, cleaned, and repacked. ALWAYS replace the inner seal with the correct double lip seal to avoid brake contamination.

Nancy G. · 08-23-2011, 01:52 PM

Thanks for the reply. Just a point of clarification, you are saying I can utilize the grease fitting with just basic grease as a touch up from time to time, but to do the job right I need to remove, clean and repack the bearings using the Castrol Pyroplex Blue and a Lisle Bearing packing tool. Does the wheel need to be removed in order to do so and can those two items be purchased at an auto parts store?

**Sunline Fan** · 08-23-2011, 02:01 PM

No, you should be able to leave the wheel on to do the grease fitting part. Just twist the chrome hubcap counter clockwise and then pull out the little rubber dust plug in the end of the brake drum. The grease fitting should be right there.

However, it's a very good idea to jack up that wheel completely off the ground before you put any grease in so that you can spin the wheel as you pump in the grease. This way it gets in there evenly. You don't have to jack it up much, and you can do one wheel at a time if you want, as long as the wheel can spin in the air a little.

**JohnB** · 08-23-2011, 06:26 PM

HI Nancy G.

I did not pick it up in your note, but what Hematite and Sunline Fan are describing is the EZ lube feature that some axles have. Do you know if your camper has this feature?

If it does not then there is no topping off, you have to pull the wheel and brake drum off and manually hand pack the bearings.

The EZ lube system looks like this. There is a little rubber cap on the ends of the axle if you have this normally.

You can see here how the grease flows through the system. And I agree to jack up the wheel and pump slow while slowly rotating the wheel. Dexter tells to do this and Alko says you do not have to. For my camper, if I ever use that feature it will be when the wheel is spinning. While I have this feature, I do the hand repack. I added the grease fitting setup in case of real long trips out west I could add/top off some if I needed to. Even if you use this greasing feature the brakes need to be checked and that means the drum has to come off.

If you have the manual hubs, see this post for a pic-o-gram of a step by step bearing and brake setting on my prior T2499. That is for a leaf spring axle setup, however even the torsion axle greasing is the same.
Annual Brake Inspection and Axle Re - Lube (Pic's)

If you look here on the forum under our "files" tab at the top, there is a section for axles and running gear. There are both the manuals for Dexter and Alko axles. There is also a Dexter Grease chart that lists all the brands and types that can be used in your camper regardless if it is a Dexter, Lippert or Alko axle.

Here is the files tab hot link Files Tab

Hope this helps and good luck

John