Wheel Bearing Maintenance

pwb01 · 07-30-2007, 08:19 AM

I have a 2006 T-1950 with Dexter axles. The manual notes that there are 3 types of maintenance for the bearings depending on what type is installed. One where the bearings have to be hand re-packed, one which are sealed and should require no maintenance and one (EZ Lube) where there is a fitting to grease the bearings with a grease gun. The manual does not expalin how to identify which is which. I don't see a fitting and I do see a rubber cover over the bearings/hub area.

Can I remove the rubber cover and how is it done without damage?

Does anyone know which system I have and do people generally grease the bearings each year?

Thanks for your insight.

Steve Collins · 07-30-2007, 10:00 AM

Paul,

Somewhere in the Sunline manual you should find a list of everything that Sunline installed in your unit. It'll have the refrigerator, stove, hot water heater, radio, converter, and so on. Included in that list should be your axles. They should be listed by manufacturer, model number, serial number, and type. That should get you pointed in the right direction to identifying your bearing type.

Also, you may find valuable reference information at www.dexteraxle.com that will help in identifying your axles and then in maintaining them.

If you don't find the axle info in your Sunline manual, post a pic of them here. It would be helpful if you remove a wheel and any decorative stuff like plastic hub covers before you take the pic. I am sure that one of us can identify what you have there.

Axles that need hand-packing should be done annually at a minimum; more often in high mileage situations.

**PTHutch** · 07-30-2007, 10:21 AM

Hi Paul,

I can’t say for sure what type of axles you have, but our 2005 T-280SR has the EZ Lub, so I would guess your 2006 may also have the EZ Lub.

If your axles require manual repacking, check this RV.net post by JohnB, excellent description and instructions on repacking bearings, complete with pictures.

Hutch

pwb01 · 07-31-2007, 06:24 AM

Thanks guys. I do have the manual but it only describes the three types and does not say how to identify each. I do have rubber ends but was afraid to pull on them until I was sure they come off to (I hope) expose a grease fittlng. They seem to be EZ Lube. I would think that the Nev-R-Lube would have a hard hub cover. I'll carefully work on the rubber cap and see but that's next Spring.

Steve Collins · 07-31-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

Thanks guys. I do have the manual but it only describes the three types and does not say how to identify each. I do have rubber ends but was afraid to pull on them until I was sure they come off to (I hope) expose a grease fittlng. They seem to be EZ Lube. I would think that the Nev-R-Lube would have a hard hub cover. I'll carefully work on the rubber cap and see but that's next Spring.

Paul,

If your axle hub looks like this:
http://www.dexteraxle.com/e_z_lube_system
then you have the E-Z Lube axles. Pop off that rubber cap and pump in that grease!

(The aftermarket E-Z Lube hub conversion kits have a cap that completely covers the hub rather than the "lid" pictured on website. It's all the same.)