Interesting Bearing Seal

[Raz]

Greased the bearings on our 2010 Trillium today. First time, one year and 6 thousand miles. These are the original seals put on by Dexter at the factory. The only thing I can figure is a poor install by an automated insertion machine??? Anyone have a better idea? The seal seemed to function just fine. Raz

[Doug Arthurs]

I would think the inner seal is the critical portion. The outer is simply pressed into the id of the hub so sealing is less critical since nothing is moving there just the spindle moves on the inside of the seal.

[Raz]

Without the metal between the hub and the rubber portion, the rubber is distorted. (see picture 3). I expected to see contamination because of this, yet the grease around the bearing looked ok.

[Darwin Maring]

There is a spring inside the rubber part that is there to hold the rubber against the spindle. That is why it worked despite the damage.

Regardless, I think Dexter should at least give you a new set of bearings and seal.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

There is a spring inside the rubber part that is there to hold the rubber against the spindle. That is why it worked despite the damage.

Regardless, I think Dexter should at least give you a new set of bearings and seal.

Hi Darwin. There doesn't appear to be a spring in these, it appears to be a stiff plastic. I have an old Troy bilt tiller with seals with a spring so I know what you are referring to. Raz

[Darwin Maring]

I just repacked my wheels and ordered the seals from Dexter and both the old and new ones have the spring. Same for my 1974 VW that I redid last month. The spring is wedged between the rubber inside the seal.

[Art VanDelay]

There is most likely a spring inside the seal. It could be covered in greese and hard to see. Check your old ones and maybe a new one.

[Raz]

Hi folks. The old seals have no place for a spring. I only checked the new ones for size when I installed them. What I installed was a Tekonsha 5603 seal which is what the local RV place sold me for a Dexter 7 x 1 1/4 axle.

Interesting, I did a google search and it seems that a double lip seal has a spring and is a must for oil while a single lip seal has no spring and is good for grease. Something I did not know. Thanks for bringing it up. Raz

[Darwin Maring]

P. Raz
I did not know that either. However, the seal that I put on my 1974 VW Thing had the double wall and spring also just as the Dexter supplied seals.
Anyway, that's good to know.
DR