Made in USA leaf springs

[John Dorrer]

1 hour ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Alcan confirmed with Dexter...

Sorry, Never Adjust is the brakes.

[jd1923]

5 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

JD, He has a 100,000 mile warranty on the hubs/bearings. He shouldn't have to do anything with the bearings according to the 2022 manual. I also believe the hubs are sealed.

When I read @Gliddenwoods post and read the term Nev-R Adjust I mistook it for the previous generation bearing type called EZ-Lube.

John Dorrer knows the spec for 2022-25 Olivers and even though you were told you do not have Nev-R Lube bearings, perhaps you actually do (ask again). Please strike my comment made last night re upgrading to Timken.

https://www.dextergroup.com/nev-r-adjust-brakes

https://www.dextergroup.com/user_area/content_media/raw/nev-r-lube-lit-215-00.pdf

A few of us are considering carrying replacement Nev-R Lube bearings to have as spares in our toolbox. The 5-year 100,000 mile warranty is a good claim but will not help if a bearing fails on the road in some remote location. Alcan quoted me the same price as eTrailer has it listed. It would be good to have one or more of these with you. Read page 29 of this thread for more information re these bearing kits.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Bearings-Races-Seals-Caps/Dexter/31-73-3.html

And as John wrote above, grease your leaf spring welt bolts but Nev-R Lube bearings do not require service as suggested in the name!

[CRM]

15 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

A few of us are considering carrying replacement Nev-R Lube bearings to have as spares in our toolbox. The 5-year 100,000 mile warranty is a good claim but will not help if a bearing fails on the road in some remote location. Alcan quoted me the same price as eTrailer has it listed. It would be good to have one or more of these with you. Read page 29 of this thread for more information re these bearing kits.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Bearings-Races-Seals-Caps/Dexter/31-73-3.html

 

If you zoom in on the bearing included in this kit you'll see that they are NTN brand made in Japan. If that's what comes in the axles from the factory I'd probably leave them in and run with them instead of swapping them out ASAP with Timken's like I was originally thinking. I'd still carry a new set(s) and the tools to change them though... 

[jd1923]

21 minutes ago, CRM said:

If you zoom in on the bearing included in this kit you'll see that they are NTN brand made in Japan. If that's what comes in the axles from the factory I'd probably leave them in and run with them instead of swapping them out ASAP with Timken's like I was originally thinking. I'd still carry a new set(s) and the tools to change them though... 

My new axles should ship next week. I want to remove a hub to see what's what inside, bearing make and model#, etc.

Issue is the spindle nut is one-use only, must be replaced if removed. Alcan wrote they can get spindle nuts from Dexter at $42 each! 🤣 We're hoping to figure out the spec for the axle nut to source at a reasonable cost from some industrial supplier vs. this flagrant pricing from Dexter.

If you read the Dexter spec sheet for Nev-R Lube linked above, it states the bearings are Made-in-USA. The 42mm bearing on RockAuto shows Timken, Made-in-USA. Good eye to see this NTN brand made in Japan. I too would be good with either, Japan or USA, just no-way on Chinese knock-offs! Hoping the USA made Timken $36 at RockAuto is correct and then all we need is correct spindle nuts. The other parts should be re-usable for at least the replacement of a second bearing. We'll know more soon...

Edited August 2 by jd1923

[Geronimo John]

On 3/5/2024 at 4:21 PM, mountainoliver said:

Thank you for the information. You are at least the fourth Oliver owner to have broken springs.

The number is way north of double that.

GJ

[Geronimo John]

8 hours ago, jd1923 said:

And as John wrote above, grease your leaf spring welt bolts but Nev-R Lube bearings do not require service as suggested in the name!

Some would also say that the brakes will need inspection occasionally as well.

GJ

[Gliddenwoods]

8 hours ago, jd1923 said:

When I read @Gliddenwoods post and read the term Nev-R Adjust I mistook it for the previous generation bearing type called EZ-Lube.

John Dorrer knows the spec for 2022-25 Olivers and even though you were told you do not have Nev-R Lube bearings, perhaps you actually do (ask again). Please strike my comment made last night re upgrading to Timken.

https://www.dextergroup.com/nev-r-adjust-brakes

https://www.dextergroup.com/user_area/content_media/raw/nev-r-lube-lit-215-00.pdf

A few of us are considering carrying replacement Nev-R Lube bearings to have as spares in our toolbox. The 5-year 100,000 mile warranty is a good claim but will not help if a bearing fails on the road in some remote location. Alcan quoted me the same price as eTrailer has it listed. It would be good to have one or more of these with you. Read page 29 of this thread for more information re these bearing kits.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Bearings-Races-Seals-Caps/Dexter/31-73-3.html

And as John wrote above, grease your leaf spring welt bolts but Nev-R Lube bearings do not require service as suggested in the name!

Thanks for the explanation! If I understand correctly it is very possibe (likely) I have "nev-r-lube" axles AND "nev-r-adjust" brakes. Yes?

[jd1923]

20 minutes ago, Geronimo John said:

Some would also say that the brakes will need inspection occasionally as well.

GJ

Yes John, a good reminder!

You can tell a lot lifting the tires off the ground, have a helper press the TV brake pedal gently then abruptly. Tighten the self-adjusters to the point where you just hear and feel the shoes rub, because we know they don’t always self-adjust as they should and the rears will be usually be looser than the fronts. Get them as so and you can be relatively confident all inside the drum is working as designed.

I worked this service recently and found out brake controller was not working right. Replaced the controller and brake response was night and day.

To do a full interior inspection with the Nev-R Lube bearings you’ll need a new set of 4 spindle nuts but on the positive side you won’t have to remove and repack the outer bearings (or both) as we have for decades with the old-style wheel bearings.

[jd1923]

14 minutes ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Thanks for the explanation! If I understand correctly it is very possibe (likely) I have "nev-r-lube" axles AND "nev-r-adjust" brakes. Yes?

Correct!

Who knows why Dexter makes a marketing slogan out of “Nev-R Adjust!”

Drum brakes have had self-adjusters almost since the automobile industry invented drum brakes! 🤣

[jd1923]

On 7/27/2025 at 2:45 PM, srthomsen said:

A 2023 LE1 owns us also. Number 1403 and it too has a 5033# rated D52 axle with 12" brakes and Never Lube bearings.

You and @Golfnut with LEI have this. Just got my new axles yesterday and they are rated the full 5200#. Must be an LEI thing likely limited to 5033# due to the springs.

Good news, my axles are here! Bad news, Dexter packed them so poorly, they came badly damaged and going back. Alcan was the reseller on the axles. I special ordered the 50.00" axles from them. They got right on the phone with Dexter this morning, forward the many pictures I took showing the damage. Dexter will Rush Order my axles but rush means another 2 weeks plus shipping. Notice dinged Nev-R Lube cap and dented backing plate. So bashed in that the drum on the left will not turn. What a waste!

[2008RN]

So sorry to hear about this.  It is really frustrating. 

[Ronbrink]

15 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Bad news, Dexter packed them so poorly, they came badly damaged and going back.

If not damaged beyond repair, ask for a significant price reduction/refund and make do. Just say’n!

[Patriot]

17 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Dexter will Rush Order my axles but rush means another 2 weeks plus shipping.

That’s terrible. Hopefully they will take extra care with the next shipment. Free shipping for your troubles? Can’t hurt to ask.

[mountainoliver]

The one axle that has the bent brake backing plate must have really been hit hard! The backing plate on mine is at least 1/8 inch thick steel. With the strengthening ribs and flange it would take a lot to bend it which means the drum must have taken a heavy hit as well. The drum being cast iron could be cracked I wouldn’t use it and if the brake backing plate is tweaked at its mounting flange the shoes will never contact the drum squarely and you’ll always have braking issues with that assembly. You’re doing the right thing to send the entire mess back and get all new assemblies.