Changing Out Hub/Drum Assemblies On A 16' Big Tex Car Trailer

Question:

My 16 ft Big Tex car trailer has factory 5 lug 3500 lbs axles. At this moment I have a 5 on 4 1/2 adapter to 6 on 5 1/2. With the 2 inch adapter I’m over width. I’d like to just replace the drum from 5 lug to 6 lug and eliminate the adapter altogether. If I recall, there is a rubber plug on the end of the current hub, meaning there should be a grease zert at the end of the spindle. However, I can’t just go look as the center caps of my rims are solid, meaning wheel removal to verify. If I order the 6 lug on 5 1/2 hub/drum for the grease zert, will it matter if there isn’t a zert when it comes to install? Or do I really need to remove the wheel to verify? I’m referring to AKHD-655-35-EZ-K verses AKHD-655-35-K or does it really matter?

asked by: Dave H

Helpful Expert Reply:

With an easy-lube spindle you'll typically want a grease cap that has the rubber plug for easy access to the grease zerk. That being said, you can still use a normal grease cap and just remove it whenever you need to add more grease to the spindle. In your case where the wheel blocks end of the spindle I'd just save the extra buck you'd spend on an easy-lube cap and use the standard cap.

The Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly # AKHD-655-35-K uses inner bearing # L68149, outer bearing # L44649, and grease seal # 58846. You'll want to disassemble the hub and take a look at the bearings and grease seal to see if you can still read the part numbers on them or you can use a set of calipers to measure the spindle at points B, C, and D to verify that the inner diameters match up and that the hub assembly will be a fit for the spindle.

expert reply by: Kevin C