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. 

[jd1923]

On 8/14/2025 at 6:53 AM, Patriot said:

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

Alcan negotiated with Dexter and they agreed to refund my shipping cost. Thanks to Lew at Alcan for working this out for such a positive outcome, to David for this good idea, and to Ron, Ken and @2008RN for your related comments.

They promised a 2-week rush build, and today, exactly two weeks after I entered my complaint, I have new axles delivered! They sure are pretty this time, so the extra time was well worth it.😂 

I'm working this week, followed by 10 days off. So likely this Friday or latest Monday, I'll hitch up the Oliver and park it on our driveway. Then all I have to do is figure out, how in the heck to install new Dexter D52 axles and Alcan Springs!!!

Love the challenge of a new project, learning something new and the achievement! I'll take pics and start a new installation thread when I get into it. Can't wait to see a picture of our Oliver sitting up in the air without axles, leaf springs, wheels or tires! Or perhaps to be safe, I should remove and replace one axle at a time! 🤣

[johnwen]

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

Alcan negotiated with Dexter and they agreed to refund my shipping cost. Thanks to Lew at Alcan for working this out for such a positive outcome, to David for this good idea, and to Ron, Ken and @2008RN for your related comments.

They promised a 2-week rush build, and today, exactly two weeks after I entered my complaint, I have new axles delivered! They sure are pretty this time, so the extra time was well worth it.😂 

I'm working this week, followed by 10 days off. So likely this Friday or latest Monday, I'll hitch up the Oliver and park it on our driveway. Then all I have to do is figure out, how in the heck to install new Dexter D52 axles and Alcan Springs!!!

Love the challenge of a new project, learning something new and the achievement! I'll take pics and start a new installation thread when I get into it. Can't wait to see a picture of our Oliver sitting up in the air without axles, leaf springs, wheels or tires! Or perhaps to be safe, I should remove and replace one axle at a time! 🤣

Congrats JD!  I know you like a challenge :)  I'm sure you know from your experiences, but I'll mention the obvious... follow the torque specs at Alcan's suggested mileages, for u bolts and springs both.  I even added an 800 mile interval (found 2 nuts needing a slight tightening) and 1200 where all was good.  BTW...my mini is up and running :)  Thanks for your help and putting up with my phone call :)  @dhaig was also kind enough to endure one of my calls.  Your new brakes will need a self adjusting period (if you got the self adjusting ones).  I drove off the lot and had very little brakes with the setting maxed out at 10.  Went back and they said a breaking in period was all that was needed.  I went forward and backward a few times in their parking lot and they adjusted to a point I felt comfortable so off we went.  They adjusted themselves just fine by the end of the day.  Done in February and all is fine except 1 of the wheel lug bolts snapped off but Alcan fixed on a later stop through for free and I had them reverse all the spring wet bolts and realigned (a few zerks didn't want to accept lube).  And they did that for free as well since I didn't need any new parts.  Those wet bolts took some time and I was quite surprised to hear "no charge" for that.... best customer service I've seen in many, many years.  And now Wendy has a new batt operated greaser to make lubing a little easier as I crawl under and manage the zerks.  Have fun with those "10 days off"!

I also followed @ScubaRx's advice by marking the wet bolts and fame with a drift punch and painting the marks so I can see any movement from the original positions.

John

Edited Tuesday at 12:28 AM by johnwen

[jd1923]

16 hours ago, johnwen said:

Your new brakes will need a self adjusting period (if you got the self adjusting ones).  I drove off the lot and had very little brakes with the setting maxed out at 10.

Dexter does not set the self-adjusters, as they come new very loose. I’ve heard this now from you and others with new axles. When I pulled a drum off a new axle it came off wobbling like the OD of the shoes was much smaller than ID of the drum.

They must believe they will adjust soon enough. Not good when you drive off just installed and hit mountain roads!

I’ll tighten mine up some, to the point I can just hear a light scraping sound, shoes on drum, before I mount the wheels. 😂

I just installed new rear shoes on our truck rear drum brakes. I overdid the adjustment! The brakes were so good, that the parking brake engaged with a 1” push on the pedal, and I found the rears were braking while coasting! 🤣

Understanding the issue, next day I lifted the rear of the truck and loosened the self-adjusters about 1 1/2 turns and my new brakes are now working perfectly, better than ever! 😂

Edited Tuesday at 04:58 PM by jd1923

[Patriot]

On 8/25/2025 at 7:17 PM, jd1923 said:

Alcan negotiated with Dexter and they agreed to refund my shipping cost. Thanks to Lew at Alcan for working this out for such a positive outcome, to David for this good idea, and to Ron, Ken and @2008RN for your related comments.

They promised a 2-week rush build, and today, exactly two weeks after I entered my complaint, I have new axles delivered! They sure are pretty this time, so the extra time was well worth it.😂 

I'm working this week, followed by 10 days off. So likely this Friday or latest Monday, I'll hitch up the Oliver and park it on our driveway. Then all I have to do is figure out, how in the heck to install new Dexter D52 axles and Alcan Springs!!!

Love the challenge of a new project, learning something new and the achievement! I'll take pics and start a new installation thread when I get into it. Can't wait to see a picture of our Oliver sitting up in the air without axles, leaf springs, wheels or tires! Or perhaps to be safe, I should remove and replace one axle at a time! 🤣

 

Jd, 

Looking forward to your axle and spring install. If you post a pic of your Oliver with no wheels, axles or leaf springs I think that will be a first on the fourm. 😄 I look forward to see pics of your retro fit! Mod On!! 🤩

Edited yesterday at 01:03 AM by Patriot