Oil bath bearings

Sundancekid · 11-13-2023, 08:54 PM

Does anyone know what year DRV quit using oil bath bearings??

Cummins12V98 · 11-14-2023, 08:24 AM

On the 8k it's no different they just went to grease. I chose to go from grease to PPOPER oil bath seals and "O" rings and I have not liked back on my 16 DRV.

porthole · 11-14-2023, 08:54 AM

The bearings are the same, imitation timkin chinese cups and races.

The seals are different but our DRV had the oil bath seals which are called ‘unitized’. They are a two piece rotating seal.

Somewhere around 2014 they started switching over to grease. Complaints of oil seepage led the change.

The seepage was mostly because of improper levels and no venting of the hubs.

Goober · 11-20-2023, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porthole

The bearings are the same, imitation timkin chinese cups and races.

The seals are different but our DRV had the oil bath seals which are called ‘unitized’. They are a two piece rotating seal.

Somewhere around 2014 they started switching over to grease. Complaints of oil seepage led the change.

The seepage was mostly because of improper levels and no venting of the hubs.

I thought the issue was oil draining from bearings as Lon as some trailers are stationary leading to rusting and subsequent bearing failures

porthole · 11-20-2023, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goober

I thought the issue was oil draining from bearings as Lon as some trailers are stationary leading to rusting and subsequent bearing failures

Did you ever see a rusty wheel bearing on a spindle that was not damaged and had a proper seal?

Goober · 11-21-2023, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porthole

Did you ever see a rusty wheel bearing on a spindle that was not damaged and had a proper seal?

No. I was quoting Dexter engineers discussing the same issue. Given a choice, I would NEVER use an oil bath bearing on a trailer that sat for months at a time. Unless and maybe even if the axles are serviced annually, you could have a cracked seal that would admit moisture that will break down oil infinitely faster that clean grease.

Sundancekid · 11-15-2023, 10:27 AM

Thanks guys!
I had a " RV service company try to tell me they were oil bath because it said on the clear oil cover to put oil level to this line.

Cummins12V98 · 11-15-2023, 11:32 AM

"The seepage was mostly because of improper levels and no venting of the hubs."

This venting thing is just a thing IMHO. Three or four years and I have no seepage using the Kodiak clear caps and rubber plugs. I fill mine with AMZ/OIL SevereGear 75-90 up to the bottom of the hole. I do not have any sort of vent hole.

MORryde's problem I vet was using Chinese oil bath seals and the cheap black O rings at the cap. I have National US Made unitized Oil Bath Seals with Nitrile? O rings from the
theoringstore.com, they are super tough and don't crack tear or leak.

Oil Bath is superior to grease with the correct components!

porthole · 11-15-2023, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

"The seepage was mostly because of improper levels and no venting of the hubs."

This venting thing is just a thing IMHO. Three or four years and I have no seepage using the Kodiak clear caps and rubber plugs. I fill mine with AMZ/OIL SevereGear 75-90 up to the bottom of the hole. I do not have any sort of vent hole.

MORryde's problem I vet was using Chinese oil bath seals and the cheap black O rings at the cap. I have National US Made unitized Oil Bath Seals with Nitrile? O rings from the
theoringstore.com, they are super tough and don't crack tear or leak.

Oil Bath is superior to grease with the correct components!

The "seepage" was on the outside facing side of the wheels, and when it was an issue the white PVC caps were most prevalent. Many complaints of the the oil, which you really couldn't see until it attracted dirt were dirt stains showing up on the wheels.

Your clear caps don't have a fill line below the rubber plug hole?

Oil bath over grease may be a subjective opinion, but I have always been in favor of the oil bath, and I have yet to find definitive proof that the oil bath is inferior.

Bobplouhar0@gmail.com · 11-16-2023, 05:22 PM

Sorry to get off the subject but will Monroe shock # 555001 fit on my 2004 DRV i dropped the springs down to the lower hole to lift the rig up a little higher

Cummins12V98 · 11-17-2023, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobplouhar0@gmail.com

Sorry to get off the subject but will Monroe shock # 555001 fit on my 2004 DRV i dropped the springs down to the lower hole to lift the rig up a little higher

Most likely, they did fit my 07.5 MS and current 16 MS.

Cummins12V98 · 11-17-2023, 11:15 AM

"Your clear caps don't have a fill line below the rubber plug hole?" Yes they do but I fill to the bottom of the hole.

Cummins12V98 · 11-23-2023, 06:57 AM

WAYYYYY overthinking this fallacy of rusting bearings.

porthole · 11-23-2023, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

WAYYYYY overthinking this fallacy of rusting bearings.

Exactly.....

Goober · 11-24-2023, 11:59 AM

Hummmmmm - If you guys are right, and it is obvious you believe you are, why did the smart people sourcing these products for DRV stop using them after such a short product run? Especially in view of the fact that for commercial use, oil bath bearings have been the choice for around 100 years.

Cummins12V98 · 11-25-2023, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goober

Hummmmmm - If you guys are right, and it is obvious you believe you are, why did the smart people sourcing these products for DRV stop using them after such a short product run? Especially in view of the fact that for commercial use, oil bath bearings have been the choice for around 100 years.

MORryde uses cheap CHICOM junk for bearings and seals that is why they had issues.

ZERO issues with National US Made "OIL BATH" seals and "O" rings from theoringstore.com. I also replaced my bearings with US Made Timkin's.

Quality cost $$$.