Possible Damaged Axle From Wheel Bearing Failure

Question:

I just got back from a trio with my boat and just had some feeling that something didn’t feel right. I checked my hubs after driving 10-15 minutes and everything felt fine. I got home after driving 2 hours and found that one of the bearings had exploded and everything looked burned up and rusted. I took off the wheel and got the pieces of the bearings out. I had just put new grease in the bearing before the trip. How do you know when it is time for new hubs and is it possible that the axle found be damaged from the bearings having gone out. The hubs are 25 years old along with the axle but I replaced the bearings last year.

asked by: Jason S

Expert Reply:

It sounds to me that you might have a damaged axle or it is out of alignment for bearings to become damaged that quickly. Unless water had gotten through the grease seal and filled the hub as this would explain why you found the rust.

I would first pull the hub assemblies off and begin checking the axle spindles for damage. You can read through our article on Replacing the Bearing, Races and Seals on a Trailer Hub(linked below). This explains to you what you want to inspect on the parts. For your spindles you will be looking for any nicks or burs. You can run a fingernail down the spindle and if it catches then the spindle most likely is damaged. While you can get replacement spindles a new axle may prove to be a better option since your axle is 25 years old and you don't know if there is any other damage.

If you have a leaf sprung axle you will want to measure the center of leaf spring to the other. And the hub face to hub face before you disassemble all the components to find the right axle. We do offer axles as complete assemblies to make things much simpler for you.

If you can let me know the dimensions of your axle, Wheel bolt pattern and weight rating of your trailer I can help you find a new axle assembly. If your axle is okay let me know the damaged parts and I can help you with that as well. The Digital Caliper # PTW80157 can help you find your spindle measurements.

expert reply by: Bud M