Selecting New Hub to Replace Old Hub That Used Bolts

Question:

I want to re-hab an old boat trailer. It currently has I believe a CE13100 hub assembly or a 20yr old version of it. I notice that CE13110 has all the same components and dimensions, but with lug nuts. Is there any reason I can not, or should not, change the style lug bolts vs. lug nuts of hub assembly?

asked by: Bill

Expert Reply:

Strictly speaking you could change your hubs by installing threaded studs that would accept lug nuts in place of the bolts that currently secure your wheels. But honestly, I would just replace the hubs since yours are fairly old at this point.

The keys to selecting new hubs for your boat trailer are 1) matching up their weight rating to the axle rating; 2) matching the wheel bolt pattern, in this case 4-on-4; and 3) matching up the bearings used in the old and new hubs.

A new hub has to use the same bearings as the old one in order to fit properly on your spindles. The hub you referenced, CE Smith # CE13100, uses bolts rather than studs/lug nuts and it uses bearing part # L44643 as both inner and outer bearing.

The linked page displays all 4-on-4 trailer hubs that use this inner and outer bearing. For an idler hub like # CE13100 you can use hub # AKIHUB-440-2-1K which has studs, and which includes new bearings, races, seals and lug nuts.