You should still be able to use your spindle without having to replace anything, especially because this is not in the seating areas for the bearings. Regardless, I recommend cleaning off the spindle with emery cloth to try to remove as much of the rust as possible. You'll want to take care to make sure that there is no pitting on the spindle that might damage the new bearings, which would be the only case that I recommend replacing the spindles.
If you do end up needing to replace your... view full answer...
Replacing the spindle is going to be the best bet. Since the old spindle was bent, there could be more damage to it than meets the eye. This damage could come to light or be made worse by heating and trying to reshape the spindle into working order. You run a higher risk of the same thing happening all over again. A new spindle will take care of that part of the problem. I have included a link to our spindle main page. There are some important measurements that need to be taken to find... view full answer...
It sounds like you have a BT8 spindle. It uses L44643 inner and outer bearings which have a 1 inch inner diameter. The BT8 spindle has a 0.99 inch diameter. If the inner diameter of the bearings was smaller you would not be able to get the bearings in place.
Other than the L44643 bearings there aren't any that are close to the measurement of your spindle. view full answer...
Thank you for the photo of your trailer tire. I cannot tell for sure from the photo but if you suspect that you could have a bent spindle on at least that one wheel and you are experiencing sway from the trailer at highway speed despite using a weight distribution/sway control hitch then I urge you to take the trailer to a shop that can check the condition of the axle and spindles.
It is certainly possible that a good hit from road debris (or from a curb that was closer than you thought)... view full answer...
Since the zerk fitting of your spindle is clogged and the fittings of most spindles are hard to remove and replace you can try taking the trailer to a local trailer shop to you that has experience working on axles to see if they can unclog it.
One easy solution would be to break of the zerk fitting and replace your grease cap with a Bearing Buddy. In order to pick out the correct bearing buddy you will need know the pilot hole of your hub. To do this, remove the wheel and tire and remove... view full answer...
Unfortunately, it sounds as if when your bearings went out you were towing the trailer and the inside of the bearing that contacts the spindle, bearing cup, got hot and galled itself to the spindle on the trailer. This happens many times when bearings fail and can require replacement of the whole axle in the most extreme cases.
I would try to remove the bearing cup by prying with a pry bar or screw driver and lubricating the spindle. If that doesn't work try more aggressive techniques.... view full answer...
It sounds and looks to me like you have the wrong hub assembly for the spindle that is welded to the axle on your trailer. The photos you sent clearly show a 1-1/16 inch spindle similar to the BTR EZ Lube Spindle item # TRU44FR. This is a spindle for a 2,000 pound axle.
The parts that you referenced are for a 3,500 pound axle and definitely will not work on a spindle designed for a 2,000 pound axle. In addition, the photo of the hub that you sent looks like a hub for a 3,500 pound axle,... view full answer...
One thing you can do is take a straight edge that is longer than your tire and lay it across the tire parallel with your trailer frame. Measure the distance from the frame to the straight edge in front and back of the tire. If the measurement is the same then your spindle is not bent. This is assuming your tires are in good shape and don't have any bulges.
Outside of that, the only way to find if it is bent is to take your trailer to a professional who can check your spindle alignment. view full answer...
When you say that you got the spindle to the point where it was smooth, it sounds as if you had to remove some material from them. If the spindles were damaged to the point where scratches or gouges have to be smoothed out, the diameter of the spindle has been changed, thus resulting in things not fitting together the way they should. The spindle really should be replaced.
If the trailer is being infrequently used and is only towed for short distances, you might be able to get by with... view full answer...
If the spindles were overheated due to a bearing malfunction then you will need to replace them or the axle. The spindles are already heat treated for strength but you will lose that strength if heated beyond a certain point after the fact. If there are any discolorations on the spindle (usually blueish) then that would indicate heat damage. If you can let me know what size axle you have and the shape I would be glad to see about getting you replacement spindles if applicable but most cases... view full answer...
Now would be a really good time to have the entire system inspected by a qualified shop. If the lug nuts were not tightened properly that could cause the wheel to come off the trailer. The bearing should have been inspected for obvious signs of wear or damage as well as the spindle.
If the hub came off with the wheel and tire I imagine the threads on the spindle have been damaged. I would have someone inspect the entire system and replace or repair anything that is worn or damaged. Since... view full answer...
It looks like the hub is rubbing up against the trailer axle on your boat trailer. If I had to guess, I would say since that spindle is attached to the axle with U-bolts it probably shifted over time to a point where the hub is too close to the axle. Moving the spindle out slightly so the hub is no longer contacting that axle will likely take care of the issue unless other parts are damaged. Once you remove the wheel and hub I would inspect the hub, spindle, and axle to see what damage... view full answer...
The chips and the burn mark on your trailer spindle is an indication that the inner bearing overheated. That is definitely enough damage that you need to seriously consider replacing the spindle otherwise that damage could then chip and damage any replacement inner bearings you install.
I can't quite make out from that photo what size spindle you have but if you can let me know the axle capacity I'd be happy to help you select a replacement from our linked selection! view full answer...
Thank you for all the photos!
My contact at Dexter Axle confirmed that on a 2,000 lb axle, the D-washer # 5-23 is not needed. It is only required on 3,500 lb axles and above. So, in your case it's perfectly safe to leave it off and this way allowing the castle nut # 165686 to fully thread on the spindle. When tightening the spindle nut it should be tightened to the point that you can feel resistance in the bearings, then backed off to the point where you can bend the tang properly which... view full answer...
There are several potential causes for uneven trailer tire wear.
If BOTH tires on the axle wear more on the inside edges this usually indicates overloading. If the tires wear on both their inside and outside edges this often indicates under-inflation. If a tire wears more in the center of the tread than on the outsides this often indicates over-inflation.
But when only one tire wears only on its outside edge this would tend to indicate a bent spindle, one that is bent downward.
Spindles... view full answer...
For a new hub to fit on a spindle it must use the exact same set of bearings and the same grease seal as the original hub. You can check that this is the case for the hub you have. The linked diagram shows where to find the part numbers.
If your original hub had a major failure there could be damage to the bearings which would interfere with the fit of the new hub on the spindles. I suggest completely removing the original hub, bearings and seal to allow you to clean off and inspect the... view full answer...
It will be a very tight fit, especially if you have previously wiped all the grease from the spindles prior to installing the rotors. What I believe is happening is the tight fit is preventing you from easily pushing the rotor all the way onto the spindle.
If you still have a free seal assembly not installed in a rotor yet you can do a dry test fit on a spindle to see if it seats in the proper position at all. If it doesn't then it is possible that for some reason the Bearing Buddy grease... view full answer...
Assuming your spindle is ok, you need to double check your bearings and grease seal to make sure they are correct. If you are only 3/4 inch - 1 inch off, it is likely that the inner diameter of the grease seal is not large enough, thus not allowing it to seat onto the spindle properly. view full answer...
A spindle's surfaces really need to be perfect to prevent damage (or early wear) to your bearings and seal. It sounds like you did a pretty effective job of removing most of the scoring but the concern is hidden heat damage to the spindle. This cannot be corrected by the emery cloth. If your bearings burned up then there is a chance the spindles could have been weakened. Either the spindles or the entire axle should be replaced.
You can replace your torsion axle or install a Timbren axle-less... view full answer...
That is kind of a difficult question to answer without seeing the extent of damage, so I really appreciate the photo. The slight wear on your spindle where the outer bearing is won't be an issue so as long as the spindle is not bent or there isn't further damage. I do recommend taking some sand paper or steel wool and just knocking down any raised edges to ensure you are getting a clean surface to work with. If there is more of a step than what is visually represented when you feel it,... view full answer...
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