New Owners--Grease The Suspension!

[FT4NOW]

Glad you got it home ok. Unless they changed stuff there are zerks. When you have time go underneath and verify.

Now the fin starts!

Bill

My 398 axles don't have any zerk fitting either, not that I would use them, I only hand pack bearings, but it was unexpected to not have them. My axles are manufactured by Curt.

[OshawaDave]

Well GD appeares to be consitent. Mine showed up too with no grease in the wet bolts, and worse, an attemp to cover up with a dab of grease on each zerk.
The dealers must know this going on and mine never attempted to address it during PDI.......an entire separate rant - maybe later.

[Don and Linda]

I asked about greasing the axles and was told that I don't need to grease anything, and that there aren't any zerks.

I have the same model and year as you and I do have wet bolts with zerk fittings. The fittings are only visible from underneath the coach (the zerks face inward so you can grease the bolts without removing the wheels.) I went looking for them a couple weeks ago because the suspension is starting to make a lot of cracking and popping noises. I'm pretty sure they need to be greased more than they were from the factory. I'll get that done between now and the time I leave for the next outing. I just received the LockNLube I ordered and I'm going to pretty much use the procedure @howson outlined.

[Scottyboy]

I have a 22 Reflection 303rls. I would have never thought to check until I read this post. Mine took several pumps to push out grease, so don't know if they were entirely dry. I also had to jack up the springs to get grease on the rear hanger on both sides.

Both zerks on the center hangers broke off and had to back out and replace.

[kb0zke]

I picked up a grease gun and a tube of grease this afternoon. With winds of 40 gusting to 80 I didn't really want to be outside playing with a device that is intended to make a mess, so I'll wait until a nicer day to try greasing things.

Scott, please describe what you mean by "jacking up the springs." Is this process going to take one or two tires off the ground? Should I hook up to the truck for added safety?

[Scottyboy]

I had mine hooked up to the truck. Not really sure how the wet bolts are installed, but hopefully some one will chime in.

Again info that I pick up on this forum. I put a bottle jack under the axle and jacked up until I saw the spring "flatten out" , then could get the grease in, still tuff.

[Hoopy Frood]

Sometimes you may have to unweight the spring hanger bolts, by raising the trailer, to take pressure off the spring hanger bolts. This usually happens when the bolts are put in with the grease holes at, or near, 12 o'clock.

[kb0zke]

While waiting for the truck I decided that I would grease what I could today. First time ever using a grease gun, so it probably took me twice as long as it would someone else. Loaded the grease gun (brand new), got the air out, then pumped grease into the tube. Took a roll of paper towels with me under the trailer. Cleaned off the zerks, attached the grease gun, and started squeezing. Some took several squeezes, some took only one. I would have expected that all would have been the same, but after reading this thread I knew better. Depending on when we get the truck back we will travel anywhere from 1000 miles to 1400 miles before we get to our hosting gig. I'll grease again there.

I bought the grease gun from a local retailer, and they didn't have the LocknLube tip on hand that day, and I forgot about getting one until today. I'll definitely get one before the next session.

After crawling around under the trailer today I'm not looking forward to getting up tomorrow morning. I may need an extra Aleve pill tonight.