Axle hub grease

gwilkrrs · 07-10-2021, 01:30 PM

What grease should be used on the zerk fittings on the hubs?

tech740 · 07-10-2021, 01:34 PM

None. Pull them off and hand pack. When you use the zerk you risk pushing grease through a failed seal and greasing the brakes. Plus this way you can do a visual of the breaks.

**chuckster57** · 07-10-2021, 01:36 PM

NONE!!! Using the zerk fittings may cause you to pump too much grease and push it out the rear seal, causing the shoes, drum and magnet to get coated. Then you have no brakes, and have to purchase all new brakes.

Take the wheels and drum off, visually inspect the shoes, magnet, drim and bearings. Clean the spindle, and bearings. Repack with red tacky grease, replace the seal and if it has a cotter pin replace that too.

gwilkrrs · 07-10-2021, 01:45 PM

Ok- so I pulled 1 drum off to fix a broke wire from a blow out and will repack- where is this seal?
From out to in was nut (with cotter pin) washer, bearing

travelin texans · 07-10-2021, 01:45 PM

Absolutely agree! NONE!

**chuckster57** · 07-10-2021, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwilkrrs

Ok- so I pulled 1 drum off to fix a broke wire from a blow out and will repack- where is this seal?
From out to in was nut (with cotter pin) washer, bearing

It’s on the back side of the drum.

gwilkrrs · 07-10-2021, 01:49 PM

Thanks
Must have stayed with the drum when I pulled it off

**chuckster57** · 07-10-2021, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwilkrrs

Thanks
Must have stayed with the drum when I pulled it off

Yeah, they usually hold on pretty good. I’ve seen them blown off by too much grease.

ChuckS · 07-10-2021, 01:55 PM

The first two images are what happens when the rear seal fails and grease blows back inside the hub.

Images were from some poor RVer greasing his axles via grease fitting on end of axle..

The last two images are from my Alpine..properly hand packed bearings with new 10-36 DL (double lip) rear seal installed

Take the advice of the experience in this group and do the job the right way..

If you haven’t done this before and those are Dexter axles and hubs this link will provide you with all you need.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/user_area...ice_manual.pdf

ChuckS · 07-10-2021, 02:00 PM

And I’m an old school mechanic so this is my high tech method to install new rear grease seals on my hubs after hand cleaning,inspecting and repacking the bearings

**chuckster57** · 07-10-2021, 02:09 PM

I use a hammer and tap as I go around the seal. I used to use a block of wood but found if you hammer too hard you can knock the spring out of the seal.

Blackrock · 07-10-2021, 02:39 PM

Back to the original question as to what grease to use. I use a grease made by Lucas called Red n Tacky
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...q=grease&pos=0

xrated · 07-10-2021, 04:08 PM

Red N Tacky is good stuff.

roadglide · 07-11-2021, 03:34 AM

Are there chunks of the brake Broken out of the shoe.I would replace them.

DaveAlb · 07-11-2021, 04:27 AM

I don’t have a place to do this work. Do most good auto/trailer shops know how to do this?

ChuckS · 07-11-2021, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveAlb

I don’t have a place to do this work. Do most good auto/trailer shops know how to do this?

Yes but be prepared for sticker shock to get two axles done the proper way with taking hubs off and having them hand packed.

I’ve seen prices as high as $350… a more reasonable cost would be about $100 but that will be hard to find at the lower cost..

Doing it yourself with 4 new seals and some grease is about $20 at most

DaveAlb · 07-11-2021, 05:56 AM

Thanks much!😀

**chuckster57** · 07-11-2021, 06:55 AM

Standard for tandem axle service is right about $325.00 it is north of $400.00 for triple axles. If you have a floor jack, you can do one wheel at a time. The shop I’m at has a big square piece of steel that we put across the axles and lift in the center to get one side off at a time.

Once you get a tire or side off the ground, pull the break away and see if the tire(s) lock up. If it/they don’t then you know going in that you have to figure out that issue too. I will pull the pin when I torque the lugs, if it locks and holds the shoes are tight enough.

Weldon · 07-13-2021, 03:22 PM

Just did this not long ago, thanks to the folks that have already replied to your thread. I also installed self adjusting brakes. I was able to do it while my camper was sitting at our storage facility, 30 mins away. Not difficult. Just research beforehand, watch several videos, and plan. Ask questions for anything you don't understand. God knows I do all the time, and I haven't been excommunicated (yet).

travelin texans · 07-13-2021, 07:34 PM

If you have some tools & know which way to turn for on/off & don't mind getting your hands dirty (I wear rubber gloves) it's not a difficult job, not a lot space required to do & a good skill to have if needed while traveling.
As a rv owner every maintenance or repair item you can tackle yourself will only help you later on saving time, $$$ & aggravation dealing with repair facilities.

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