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Chassis lubrication

Yahoo Message Number: 13604
A recent article in a RVing magazine prompts this question...

When doing the lubrication on the front axle of a Country Coach, should the wheels be on the ground or should the chassis be raised and the wheels be left hanging?

The article (I think it was in Motorhome magazine) stated that most front end failures occur because the lubrication of the joints in the front axle is not done properly. The article stated that in order for the grease to get to the proper location in the joint, the mechanic needed to follow the proper lubrication procedure based on the chassis design. The author stated that having to have major front end components replaced with low milage indicated that the coach was not properly greased, while the owner of the coach proclaimed he had the coach greased at least as frequently as stated in his owners manual.

Does anyone on this forum know the answer to this question?

Bob Kumza
2003 Intrigue

Re: Chassis lubrication

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13605
Bob,

In class 8 trucks "king pin and ball joints" can be greased either way depending on the actual joints. When greasing them you look for an even ooze out from the joint. If you don't see this I would take the weight off the joint and try again.

This same method works on the "S" cam bushings for your brakes.

Michael

'01 Intrigue #11224

Re: Chassis lubrication

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13611
Bob

I lube my own coach using a Lincoln battery powered gun that develops 6000psi which will purge both the kingpins and the drive line joints. I tried a hand operated gun first and found that it wouldn't do these joints. The Lincoln unit costs around $175.00, but allows me to do the required lube work anytime at my convience; plus I know its been done right. If you go this route, be careful not to blow the ball joint seals.

Gary Stanton

2002 Intrigue-11467

Re: Chassis lubrication

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13633
Bob,

Kaiser Brake & Alignment in Eugene told me that each time I lub the coach I should lift the tires off the ground. There is so much weight on the joints that the grease can't penetrate beneath or the very bottom part of the joint. I was told to turn the wheel back and forth to make sure the grease covers that area.
If You want more information the Kaiser Brake phone is 541-344-5887.

Vaughn

99 Intrigue 10809

Re: Chassis lubrication

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13637
HI Folks,

The trick I use is to raise one side shifting the weight from that side. I my emperience, the grease goes in alot easier.
I also use a needle rather that the clamp on the zerk. With a 4 foot hose and my wife pumping after I inset the needle into the hole of the zerk - no loss of grease occurs this way. The gauge sometimes registers over 10,000 psi. I use purple grease from NAPA and not the black as it is not recommended by CCI.
Fred Kovol

Lubrication

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13652
Carol,

Below is from

http://www.thehollandgroupinc.com/NR/rdonlyres/06AF713E-8700-438B-8F72-9BF76B8A9581/0/XLAK39701.pdf for front suspension.

50,000 miles or annual interval for Holland Neway front suspension, IF your suspension is same as I have. Wheel bearing oil level is to be inspected every 1000 miles. Wheel bearing oil level is to be replaced @ 100K miles or annually.

http://www.thehollandgroupinc.com/NR/rdonlyres/AA60EFC5-CF57-4095-858E-5251A1894C1F/0/XLAK40001.pdf is for rear suspension, maybe same as yours. ? I saw no grease specification. Bushings are to be installed with rubber lubricant as they are forced into suspension parts, but that is only during repair or new build.

Having a new coach, my first grease interval will be short, to insure enough grease is in & wear particles from new joints are flushed out.
Some other document will describe your rear brake lubrication needs. While the rear suspension requires no grease, MANY other items do require grease.
A project for some later date is compiling a list of services to do, with internals, lubricants, filters, supplies & tools needed. As the air dryer discussion so well illustrated, knowing what is to be done when will save (roadside) repairs & expenses.

Eric Elliott
5 Inspire 51321

Re: Lubrication

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13668
Thanks, Eric. Do believe the suspensions are the same in our two coaches. I didn't hear anything aqbout that being changed between '04 and '05. I had the first service done last spring so I'm getting near due. Might as well get it done at Cummins in Coburg when I'm in Oregon next month.

I've been threatening to make a calendar of service that needs to be done...might get it created in the next..oh, say ten years. >

Thanks again for the info.

Carol

Quote
Below is from

http://www.thehollandgroupinc.com/NR/rdonlyres/06AF713E-8700-438B-
8F72-9BF76B8A9581/0/XLAK39701.pdf

Quote
for front suspension.

50,000 miles or annual interval for Holland Neway front suspension,

IF your

Quote
suspension is same as I have. Wheel bearing oil level is to be

inspected

Quote
every 1000 miles. Wheel bearing oil level is to be replaced @ 100K

miles or

Quote
annually.

http://www.thehollandgroupinc.com/NR/rdonlyres/AA60EFC5-CF57-4095-
858E-5251A1894C1F/0/XLAK40001.pdf

Quote
is for rear suspension, maybe same as yours. ? I saw no grease > specification. Bushings are to be installed with rubber lubricant

as they

Quote
are forced into suspension parts, but that is only during repair or

new

Quote
build.

Having a new coach, my first grease interval will be short, to
insure enough

Quote
grease is in & wear particles from new joints are flushed out.
Some other document will describe your rear brake lubrication
needs. While

Quote
the rear suspension requires no grease, MANY other items do require

grease.

Quote
A project for some later date is compiling a list of services to

do, with

Quote
internals, lubricants, filters, supplies & tools needed. As the

air dryer

Quote
discussion so well illustrated, knowing what is to be done when

will save

Re: Lubrication

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13677
Eric,

M'gosh, wheel bearing oil level every 1000 miles???? Then I'm behind & gotta do something fast! Is this something a layman can do?

Thanks,
Jeff

2002 36 CC triple slide

Re: Lubrication

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13826
OK.....I have been getting a majority of my maintenance done at the local Cummins shop. I have briefly read about the lubrication requirements and often give the shop a copying of the manual pages that shows the location of all the lubrication points. All along I have assumed they have been doing it correctly. Someone explain to me the when, where and how the lubrication oil in the axle hubs are maintained? Is this both front and rear axles? Is this different from the differential lubrication gear oil? I want to double check for myself to make sure the shop is doing it.

Jim

2000 Allure #30511

Re: Lubrication

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13833
Hi Jim,

The front hubs need the periodic oil change - 85w90; the rear get lubed by the diffential oil as in a car with rear wheel drive.
I remove the front hub oil with a syringe and do it as part of the engine oil change, it's easy and cheap; I inspect the removed oil for metal.

For IFS there are 16 zerks in the front (each side - 4 on H frame, 2 on brakes and 2 on tie rods) 4 in the back (2 on each side - 2 on brakes) and 3 on the drive (1 slip, and 2 universal joints)(can't speak for tags - they certainly have their own lub issue). I lean the coach to one side and then the other or raise the front then the back to remove weight on the side being greased. I use a 4 foot hose with my wife operating the Sears heavy duty hand gun and I use a needle tip on the zerks. I inject grease into both zerks on the universal joints and do the IFS H frame zerks a 2nd time with the wheels pointing a different direction the next day. All zerks and locations where the grease oozes out are wipe clean and wash with gas. This is done every 5000 miles using Valvoline crimson grease 70124 from NAPA.
I just put 6000 miles on and found the drive almost dry, so I believe in the 5000 interval for greasing.
Sorry you asked what time it was and I told you how to build a watch! - but that's what engineers are all about.

Fred Kovol

Re: Lubrication

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13839
Fred,

Thanks...just what I was looking for. I guess engineers like technical detail. I am also a retired aerospace engineer and manager. Was with DoD for 37 years.

Question....need a little more detail on the oil in the front hubs and how you do it and the specific lube/oil you use. My coach is near the same number as yours and I have no tag axle. It is 40ft with galley slide.
Jim

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Jim,

The front hubs need the periodic oil change - 85w90; the rear get > lubed by the diffential oil as in a car with rear wheel drive.
I remove the front hub oil with a syringe and do it as part of the > engine oil change, it's easy and cheap; I inspect the removed oil

for

Quote
metal.

For IFS there are 16 zerks in the front (each side - 4 on H frame,

2

Quote
on brakes and 2 on tie rods) 4 in the back (2 on each side - 2 on > brakes) and 3 on the drive (1 slip, and 2 universal joints)(can't > speak for tags - they certainly have their own lub issue). I lean

the

Quote
coach to one side and then the other or raise the front then the

back

Quote
to remove weight on the side being greased. I use a 4 foot hose

with

Quote
my wife operating the Sears heavy duty hand gun and I use a needle

tip

Quote
on the zerks. I inject grease into both zerks on the universal

joints

Quote
and do the IFS H frame zerks a 2nd time with the wheels pointing a > different direction the next day. All zerks and locations where

the

Quote
grease oozes out are wipe clean and wash with gas. This is done

every

Quote
5000 miles using Valvoline crimson grease 70124 from NAPA.
I just put 6000 miles on and found the drive almost dry, so I

believe

Quote
in the 5000 interval for greasing.
Sorry you asked what time it was and I told you how to build a

watch!

Re: Lubrication

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13841
Hi Jim,

I use NAPA pn 75-210 gear oil sae 80w-85w-90.
I purchase 70cc plastic syringes (no needle) from an animal feed supply house - they are low cost.

I rotate the center rubber plug then pry it off with my fingers (I do not use the cap on the side). Using the syringe with a short piece of tubing attached - all the oil is removed - this takes about 5 minutes.
The oil is saved in a plastic bottle for comparison with previous oil removed looking for metal (rub oil between finger and thumb for inspection). Fresh oil is added with a clean syringe until the oil is almost up to the curved opening - this takes some time also. The rubber plug is then cleaned and oiled for reinstallation. After you do it a few times, it becomes easy.
Fred Kovol
 

Re: Lubrication

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13843
Fred,

Does your front hubs have a clear sight glass ??

Michael

'01 Intrigue #11224

Quote from: fredkovol