With the continuous development of vehicle technology, the application of oil lubrication on the wheel end of the rear axle of semi-trailer is also more and more extensive. Compared with ordinary grease-lubricated hubs, the greatest advantage of oil lubrication is that it can achieve long maintenance and prolong the service life of wheel end fittings. Relevant data show that about 95% of the trailer axles in the North American market are lubricated by liquid gear oil.

Lubricating oil and grease are two kinds of lubricants commonly used in vehicles. Lubricating oil can be divided into petroleum-based lubricating oil and synthetic lubricating oil. Lubricating grease can be divided into solid grease and semi-liquid grease. The purpose of lubrication is to reduce friction loss, remove heat and wear particles, and protect parts from corrosion.

Back to the wheel end of the rear axle of the semi-trailer, what are the main advantages of oil lubrication over grease lubrication?

1. Reduce the temperature impact of the wheel end system.

The viscosity of lubricating oil is small, and it is easier to form oil film at the relative rotating position of bearing and oil seal, so as to avoid lubrication dead angle, improve the antirust performance of wheel end, and protect the parts from corrosion; At the same time, it can also reduce friction resistance and wear, remove heat and wear debris, avoid the degradation of rubber performance caused by overheating of oil seal, and extend the service life of wheel end components.

2. It has certain self-cleaning function.

The lubricating oil has stronger fluidity, which can better remove some debris generated by the bearing operation, and then deposit it at the bottom of the hub by gravity. It is discharged through the oil drain screw to keep the inside of the wheel end system clean and reduce the maintenance times.

3. The maintenance period is long. 

At present, the logistics and transportation industry has higher and higher requirements for vehicle attendance and maintenance rate. The maintenance period of oil-lubricated pulley end can reach about 500000 km to 1 million km. According to the transportation mileage of 20000 km to 20000 km a month, the oil-lubricated pulley end can be maintained once every two years.

4. The maintenance is simple and convenient.

The oil-lubricated pulley hub cover is generally designed with a transparent window. Before driving out, the oil level and oil can be directly observed through the hub cover to check whether there is lack of oil and whether the oil quality is qualified, so as to facilitate timely maintenance; During maintenance, only the lubricating oil needs to be replaced and the tyres need not be removed. The car owner can complete the maintenance by himself, without going to the repair shop or the repair station. It is clean and convenient, and can also improve the attendance rate.

5. Lower cost of use.

The cost of oil-lubricated wheel end can not be expressed in a short time, and needs to be determined comprehensively based on the life cycle, maintenance frequency and maintenance cost of the vehicle. In general, as long as there is no abnormality in the lubricating oil, the lubricating oil can not be changed for life. Even if the oil is changed, only a few hundred milliliters of lubricating oil need to be added. Compared with ordinary lubricating grease, the use cost of lubricating oil is lower.

But as we said before, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and the oil-lubricated pulley end is no exception. In addition to the relatively high initial investment cost, it is also necessary to pay attention to the oil seal of the oil-lubricated hub. Once the oil seal is damaged, the lubricating oil will enter the brake drum, affecting the braking effect of the vehicle, which is very dangerous.

In addition, it should be noted that the maintenance period of oil-lubricated wheel end is long, but the daily inspection can not be less, especially in the case of complex transportation conditions, the monitoring of the wheel end system should be strengthened:

1. Before departure, check the axle fasteners to see if they are loose;

2. Check whether the hub cover is damaged and whether there is oil leakage;

3. Regularly observe whether the gear oil in the hub is above the normal level and whether it is contaminated. Generally, the lubricating oil is dark. If it is white or milky, it indicates that the lubricating oil is contaminated;

4. Every 12 months or 100000 kilometers, the wheels shall be erected to check whether there is abnormal noise and whether the bearings shake;

5. Every 12 months or 100000 kilometers, it is necessary to open the oil injection hole, and use the magnetic probe to penetrate into the lubricating oil to check whether there are iron chips and other impurities.

The daily maintenance and inspection can fully guarantee its function, prevent failure and extend its service life. Darong maintenance-free axle is specially designed for trailers and has focused on axle/axle R&D and production for 20 years. Trailer axles with special dimensions can provide customized services, and the quality can withstand the test and has won the trust of many customers.