Is a Small Difference in Wheel Pilot Hole and Hub on Hub Centric Axle Okay

Question:

with a hub centric axle and 2.5inch hubs is a wheel with an evenly worn center hole of 2.55inch going to cause a problem?

asked by: Bob B

Expert Reply:

With hub-centric hubs like those on your trailer, it is important that the center pilot hole of a wheel is the same exact size as the hub bore. The hubs will center the wheels using the hub bore and the pilot hole of the wheel, so ideally this measurement should to be identical or it could potentially cause issues.

Obviously, the difference between the 2.55 inch wheel pilot hole and your 2.5 inch hub is extremely small, but this tiny variance can still cause the hub to basically be secured by the bolts rather than the center hub bore, in turn possibly leading to issues with trailer wheels. I do recommend verifying these measurements with a digital caliper like # PTW80157 to get the most accurate information, since the difference is so small.

expert reply by: Chris R