Trailer bearing Question
 

Had my first wheel come off this year. The question is how bad can the spindal be before it has to be replaced. I figured I would go back through and re pack all the bearings. What do you guy think!!

Scott
I just went through this I bought a new axle, but I think as long as you clean it up with a file and emery cloth as best you can then put a new bearing on and see how much play it has if its not to sloppy I would say go with it. New axles is $275 they wont just replace one spindle. Bearings dont acually ride on the spindle.

Whats the worst could happen you will burn up a $30 bearing set.

Is the seal surface good?

Don' do it mon...axles are cheap compared to the kind of damage your boat (or another vehicle/occupants, etc) could suffer if you have another failure because you reused a marginal axle.

I think the new bearing will fit snug with little play.

Scott, if it is not pitted you should be OK, is it burned up at all?

Not burnt at all!!

If you pull the race off and where the race seats onto the spindle is still mostly OK and the seal surface isn't gouged then go ahead and just put bearings on there - be sure not to over tighten them or you'll have another failure real shortly!

Also - on some axles just the spindle can be replaced - grind off the weld, pop the spindle out, push a new one in and re-weld - if you've got access to a welder then it's a LOT cheaper than an axle - if you're paying shop rates it's probably a slim savings with the extra labor involved to do the spindle swap...

New spindle with labor was quoted over $500 each. I was able to get brand new axles from Eagle trailer for a little over $100 each. The shipping will cost almost as much as the axle. I went up to the plant in Michigan and picked them up.

If you have spindlle welded on make sure it is by a shop that is set up to do this. Otherwise you will going to get a new axle after you get it all together and the tire does not track correctly.

If there was no damage to spindle they new bearing will be ok. When you tighten up bearing get it tight, then back off little. I find I do this, run trailer a couple of miles then go back and re tighten them.