Solution for Replacement Parts for Boat Trailer With Hub Rubbing Trailer Axle

Question:

The problem - both wheels on my small boat trailer single axle / about 4-feet wide frame and 17-feet long are wearing on the inside. I have what appears to be round spindles. They extend into the square axle about 5-inches, and the spindles are about 1.25-inches in diameter. They are held in place by two u-bolts each. I was thinking that to get the wheels to align correctly I could either shim the spindles or replace the spindles with shims maybe, but not really sure where to start, other than just taking them apart and seeing what I find. Once I confirm what is wrong, how do I go about ordering the right parts?

asked by: Aaron J

Expert Reply:

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 there might be.

A hub and spindle replacement would require knowing which bearings you currently have. You may be able to find the bearing numbers stamped into your bearings. If not, you will need to measure using a digital caliper like the # PTW80157. Using your 1-1/4" measurement, if you have # L44643 bearings with a 1" inner diameter you could replace the spindle with the BT8 Spindle for 2,000-lb Trailer Axles - 1-1/4" Diameter # TRU94FR.

It looks like your hub has a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern. For a replacement hub that would fit this spindle and match your bolt pattern you could use the # 34822545BX. You may also want to consider an axle replacement so you have a standard axle on the trailer.

For that, you would need to know your axle capacity as well as the hub face to hub face measurement to get the right length. If one is not available you could also use the Timbren Axle-Less Trailer Suspension System like the # A20RS545 as a replacement since it fits any frame width.

If you find the axle information or have different bearings please feel free to reach out and I can help you find the correct replacement parts.