Why No EZ Lube Axle on 2009?

[Lahontancut]

I had my RV shop lubricate the wheel bearings on my 2009 Flying Cloud 25FB last week and he was stunned to find that my trailer did not have EZ Lube bearings. He made the comment he was surprised a 2009 model, especially an Airstream, would ‘go cheap’ on this part of the axle design. Instead of taking 15 minutes per wheel, it took one hour per wheel which cost me over $400.

Anyone know if this has changed on newer models?

[overlander63]

No Airstream has ever been factory equipped with EZ Lube hubs.
You remove the bearings, clean and repack, inspect and adjust the brakes, and install a new grease seal when re-assembling.
Do it the right way, like you should, instead of "cheaping out" and going the lazy route, and simply pumping more grease in.

[Al and Missy]

There are at least a couple of reasons. You will have to judge the applicability to your situation.

First, it is a recommended maintenance action to jack the trailer, pull the wheels and drums, inspect the bearings and brakes, and clean and lubricate the brake linkage. It is not a lot more time to pop the seals, clean, lubricate and reinstall the bearings.

Second, if the shop uses a pressure grease gun and/or doesn’t rotate the wheel while greasing it has happened that the grease blows out the seal and grease ends up in the brake drum, ruining the shoes and maybe the drum. This may be a warranty cost concern for Airstream.

The manual method is nearly idiot proof and is easy to do if you have the inclination, a good jack or a Trailer Aid and a place to work. I did my 25. I put new axles and disc brakes on my Classic and ordered the axles with EZ Lube spindles. I have yet to do anything to them as I only have 3 months and 9000 miles on them from my Oregon trip.

Al

[Lumatic]

IMHO $400 is way too much $.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Lahontancut

I had my RV shop lubricate the wheel bearings on my 2009 Flying Cloud 25FB last week and he was stunned to find that my trailer did not have EZ Lube bearings. He made the comment he was surprised a 2009 model, especially an Airstream, would ‘go cheap’ on this part of the axle design. Instead of taking 15 minutes per wheel, it took one hour per wheel which cost me over $400.

Anyone know if this has changed on newer models?

While I confess I've been a "shade tree" mechanic since I was a kid, I've never been a professional at it and it takes me less than 30 min per wheel to pack bearings. If he was going to charge you 15 min per wheel to spin the wheel and pump grease into the zerk, he was already planning to rip you off.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by Lahontancut

I had my RV shop lubricate the wheel bearings on my 2009 Flying Cloud 25FB last week and he was stunned to find that my trailer did not have EZ Lube bearings. He made the comment he was surprised a 2009 model, especially an Airstream, would ‘go cheap’ on this part of the axle design. Instead of taking 15 minutes per wheel, it took one hour per wheel which cost me over $400.

Anyone know if this has changed on newer models?

....my 13 has sealed bearings..you do nothing...nada...

You could do it yourself in 3 hrs and save $380.00.....a can or grease is $4....seals about $3.50 ea...

[suncoasteng]

When was the last time you pulled the front axle wheel bearings off your TV and greased them?? EZ Lube and Buddy Bearings where made for boat trailers, still do not understand why we have them on RV's

[r carl]

Originally Posted by suncoasteng

When was the last time you pulled the front axle wheel bearings off your TV and greased them??

The bearings get repacked when you service the brakes.

[63air]

I had EZ lube on a boat trailer - result was bearing failure and a new axle. For the new axle I went with oil filled ; lots of miles since and no problems. Easy to maintain and you can see the oil level to spot problems. Why not oil filled on travel trailers ?

[bweybright]

Folks, the op has not been back. Looking at his info I would guess he has minimal access to resources in terms of service options that most of us do...hence the stupid high rate to repack bearings. Not a lot of RV service on some of the outer ranges of Washington State.....
Now also realize that not all of us can (or want to, or are able to) repack our bearings so he was at their mercy, which wasn't kind as is obvious by his rate quote.
As far as the easy lube, newbies won't know they are really only for boats in my opinion, and then have to be used with care.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by 63air

I had EZ lube on a boat trailer - result was bearing failure and a new axle. For the new axle I went with oil filled ; lots of miles since and no problems. Easy to maintain and you can see the oil level to spot problems. Why not oil filled on travel trailers ?

I can answer that...with ez lube...you get them warm going to the lake....you back the trailer into the lake .....warm bearings.. into cold water....the bearings cool off quickly....they will suck in water...with ezlube you best grease them after launching your boat....with a boat you should be using bearing buddies as they keep the grease under pressure keeping the water out....they are 2 different animals....the oil filled bearings will also suck in water when they cool off quickly..we use oil filled on all our big truck trailers and steer axles....if the seal gets worn..your oil will run out...result would be a dry bearing...

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by bweybright

Folks, the op has not been back. Looking at his info I would guess he has minimal access to resources in terms of service options that most of us do...hence the stupid high rate to repack bearings. Not a lot of RV service on some of the outer ranges of Washington State.....
Now also realize that not all of us can (or want to, or are able to) repack our bearings so he was at their mercy, which wasn't kind as is obvious by his rate quote.
As far as the easy lube, newbies won't know they are really only for boats in my opinion, and then have to be used with care.

AFAIK, there is very little difference between EZLube and conventional bearings, only the zerk in the hub cap and a passage for grease through the spindle to the bearing area and out. They use the same bearings and seals as the regular spindle. While there is little advantage to them with drum brakes, once discs are fitted as I did, you no longer need to pull the drum (hub) to inspect, clean and lubricate the brakes. It is a simple matter to raise the wheel, check the bearing for smoothness and free/end play and lube it.

I am definitely an Airstream newbie but I have been maintaining my vehicles and boat trailers for over 50 years. Unless the bearings Airstream specified are not suitable for the load, I don’t understand why annual maintenance is required but as long as you are pulling the drums anyway to service the brakes it is a simple matter to clean and lube the bearings. The advantages of the EZLube when combined with disc brakes seemed obvious to me. I may have missed something, but I don’t know what.

I used, and still use, bearing buddies on my boat trailers.

Al

[bweybright]

Al, I agree EZ Lubes can be great. As long as too much grease isn't pumped into them and the rear seal gets blown out. Then the advantage is gone. On boat trailers they or the oil sealed are certainly a must. On travel trailers I am not so sure there is any real advantage. Maybe on a trailer taken off road on very dusty roads?

[Lahontancut]

Thanks for the replies. If the current models have sealed bearings, that is what I would expect on a premium-priced RV. I'm in tech, travel for business, and not a mechanic. But even so, I don't want to spend my valuable weekend time doing car or RV maintenance - even if I had the space at my house to work on the AS. Which I don't.

Not sure what the RV repair rates are elsewhere, but I live 5 miles from downtown Seattle and use a shop 25 miles away in North Bend, WA that I trust and they are about $85/hour compared to the AS dealer near Seattle at about $125/hour. I would guess if you're in Omaha, it's cheaper.

Just as AS has moved to LED lights, power awnings, and have likely eliminated the telephone jack in the interior, it's good to hear they've upgrade their axle designs as well.

[Action]

For cars and light trucks the industry has moved towards sealed wheel bearing hubs about 30 years ago. In conjunction the braking systems have gone to disc brakes. And either drum or disc brakes can be designed with sealed hubs and removable drums/rotors.

The issue for Airstream and may other RV companies is they do not manufacture running gear. So the available designed running gear has to be purchased. Now that doesn't mean Dexter won't build what is wanted, however Airstream and every other RV company is competing for money. With the economy as it is now and Airstream being a high end RV company, I would think permanently sealed wheel bearings with removable hubs would be a step in the upscale direction. Especially in the smaller and lighter trailers. The automotive industry went there and few new car buyers do their own maintenance.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action