Wheel Bearing came apart.

[stratos bandit]

I had been worried about my wheel bearings to the point where I was calling shops to have them inspected/repacked/replaced. No one had a wait time under 2 weeks. So, last thursday I get some water resistant marine axle greese and inject a few pumps into my bearing buddies thinking at worst it'll get me thru the rest of the season.

The very next day, after leaving a stop sign and crossing an intersection...BAM, my trailer hits the ground and my passenger side wheel passes my truck and goes into someones front yard....hub and all.

Here's what I believe happened. I got the boat last year and have no idea of the service history. The trailer "had" breaks but lines were cut and bled out some time ago.

The wheel that came of was missing the inner brake plate (the part that holds the brake pads, springs, etc). I believe, over time, the inner seal of the hub failed and it eventually slung enough grease out that the drum came apart internally.

I'm at a loss on what I should do to fix it. Replace the axle? Buy new hubs without brakes? The threads on the spindle have some damage to them. The nut was a little troublesome coming off but it came off and I think will go back on.

I was thinking about getting the Turbo Lube Hubs from West Marine. Anyone have any experience with them?

Also, I know my spindle is tapered but of the hubs I've looked at.....I only see one size for tapered hubs....1-3/8ID, 1-1/16" OD Tapered Spindle. Is that a common size?

 

[spunkyjr]

Re: Wheel Bearing came apart.

I don't know what the hubs for your trailer would cost but if it was me I would just replace the axle. You could get a new hub and replace the bad one, and you might be OK. But you have no idea how long the other hub will last. You may have also bent the spindle. It may have had a hair line crack and the force of the trailer and boat bouncing along the road might have caused it the break off. A new axle without brakes is real easy to replace. Just undo the four clamps that holds the axle to the springs and off you go. Plus you may have messed the threads on the spindle by dragging on the pavement.

The same thing happen to me 2 years ago. The spindle broke about an 1 inch inside the inner bearing and the tire flew off and the trailer dropped to the ground. To get the new hub and everything was going to be about $60 and a new axle was $135 so I got the axle. Took about an hour to replace myself.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: Wheel Bearing came apart.

I would replace the axle and hubs and as long as your doing it i would replace your springs to. You could do this all for under $300.00
Check out www.championtrailer.com

 

[NYBo]

Re: Wheel Bearing came apart.

I would also replace the axle. In addition to the possible impact damage, the spindle may have been damaged by the heat of the failing bearings.

How much does your rig weigh? It may also be a good idea to put brakes back on it.

 

[stratos bandit]

Re: Wheel Bearing came apart.

The plan is to replace both hubs. No way in the world I'd do just one side.

The hubs I am considering have an oil bath system and not a traditional axle grease setup.

As for the axle...it is not bolted on. It's welded to the frame. The bead of the weld would have to be ground off.....smoothed out, and then a new axle welded back on.

I check around online for the axle and they're about $500. I have considered the bent spindle and am not sure what to do at that point. I would imagine I could get a nicer used trailer for not much more than the cost of an axle.