Recommended Replacement Hubs, Bearings and Brakes for Used Flatbed Trailer

Question:

Hello, I recently purchased a used flatbed and took the wheel hubs off to inspect the bearings, brakes, etc. Im very green when it comes to replacing the bearings and brakes. Do you have the parts to replace brakes, magnet, etc? Also what about the bearings? And my last question - how do I know when to replace the drum? Thanks for the help.

asked by: Tim

Expert Reply:

We can help you with all the replacement parts you'll need to update your flatbed trailer for safe operation.

Bearings should be replaced if they show any signs of scoring or nicks on the rollers, or if you see lines, spots, or discoloration of the metal. If they look good they can be greased and re-installed. If not, then you can use the part number stamped on the bearing to find replacements on our site. Please see the linked photo for help in finding those part numbers.

We offer both individual replacement parts for electric brake assemblies such as springs, magnets, etc and also complete brakes. Often it is more cost-effective to replace the entire brake than it is to order and install several replacement parts. New brakes are chosen based on axle capacity, brake size (such as 12 x 2 for example) and mounting bolt pattern. The linked page will show you all electric drum brake assemblies which you can sort by clicking on the filters.

Let's say you have a 3500-lb axle with 4-bolt mounting flanges. This will take 10 x 2-1/4-inch drum brakes like # 23-469 and # 23-468. You always need to choose a left and a right-hand brake.

Hubs will have a maximum re-bore drum thickness cast into the outer surface, such as on part # 84556UC3 (please refer to the photo for reference). This tells you if the drum can still be resurfaced. If the inside drum surface has no visible damage, uneven wear (that you can feel with a fingernail) or discoloration then it should be okay. If not, it can be resurfaced up to that maximum re-bore dimension on the hub.

If you need new hubs you have to match them to the axle weight capacity, wheel bolt pattern (to match your wheels) and to the bearing set used on your trailer now. New hubs must use the same set of bearings as you old hubs to ensure they will fit on your axle spindles. I have linked a page for our hub/drum assemblies and again you can choose your bolt pattern, bearings and axle capacity to find replacements if needed.

Please note hub 8-133 is a mobile home axle for which no replacement parts are available.