Long story short, these are brand new axles I bought from a dexter distributor fully assembled. At the first brake adjustment I noticed grease all around the hub and could see the seal leaking through backing plate. I tough it out on 3 brakes till I get to my destination another 1000 miles away. Park it and pull the hub to find the spindle was damaged at factory around where the inner seal rides. This is an ez lube axle by the way though I have never used that feature. The only thing i did was install the axles and adjust the brakes.Now my question, is this seal journal repairable or does the whole axle need replaced. I have had somewhat difficult time getting assistance from dexter though the distributor seems willing to help act as middle man.Obviously I will need at minimum new shoes and a seal or backing plate but can I fix gouge on the spindle without having to pull the axle back out? Is there a way to perminately fill these gouges/voids/nicks to achieve a smooth sealing surface? I am not in a positon to do the labor of replacing an entire axle myself as I am currently at a campground with limited tools on dirt.Pics:

You can buy replacement spindles from Etrailer.Etrailer

That bottom nick looks like it is right in the lib seal area. As deep as it is you're not going to be able to make that work by cleaning up the area with a stone. As has been suggested in another thread, a SpeediSleeve will work, but it certainly shouldn't be your responsibility to repair such an obvious screw-up. Take these pictures to the place you bought them from and tell them to fix them.FWIW when I pulled my hubs to check things out I was pretty disgusted with the condition of the grease sealing areas. It was scuffed and marked rather badly for what should be a sealing surface. Maybe it's one of the reasons people have failures right out of the box.

There is a sleeve product that can be driven onto the axle seal area to remedy the damage. Chicago Rawhide is one supplier. The seal area would have to be measured with a micrometer to determine the size of the sleeve. This repair has been around for decades and is a reliable repair. But hopefully Dexter or the dealer will come thru with a new axle.

wow,wonder how those nicks got there. look at northren tool site for metal repair eboxy.

You should be able to fix the seal surface yourself in the campground with a Speedi-SleeveCheck this chart to see if your size is listed.Here's a YouTube video by SKF showing the process.These are usually used to repair wear but will repair your damaged shaft the same way. You will need to dress down any high spots before installing the sleeve.In our area, most auto parts stores can get these in a day or two.On edit: A guy's got to be quick around here.

Leaking hub seal on the spindle repairable if damaged? Pics

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 10, 2016
I'd be taking a close look at the seal/bearing mounting surfaces. I think they have a real problem with the quality control of their assembly of these hubs. Mine were marked up pretty badly, but not in the seal area, but not perfect like they should be.
garyp4951
Explorer III
Jun 10, 2016
Glad they came through for you, I've always had good luck dealing with Dexter.
bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2016
kyle86, was the hub from Dexter packed full of grease? Not just the bearings but the hub cavity. I know I would be checking the new one!
kyle86
Explorer
Jun 09, 2016
The dealer came through. Said they will replace entire axle and pay for labor which is more than i expected. I have to find a good local shop and line up and they will drop ship the new axle there. Anybody know a good shop in colorado springs? So my choice is to pack up and haul to a repair shop to have the whole thing replaced or tap a sleeve on and new shoes which I have already bought but could easily return. It's a tough decision because I always do my own work so taking to a shop makes me a tad nervous. LOL I'm thinking it will need new bolts and ubolts too if the axle has to come out.
kyle86
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
laknox wrote:
kyle86 wrote:
Long story short, these are brand new axles I bought from a dexter distributor fully assembled. At the first brake adjustment I noticed grease all around the hub and could see the seal leaking through backing plate. I tough it out on 3 brakes till I get to my destination another 1000 miles away. Park it and pull the hub to find the spindle was damaged at factory around where the inner seal rides. This is an ez lube axle by the way though I have never used that feature. The only thing i did was install the axles and adjust the brakes.

Now my question, is this seal journal repairable or does the whole axle need replaced. I have had somewhat difficult time getting assistance from dexter though the distributor seems willing to help act as middle man.

Obviously I will need at minimum new shoes and a seal or backing plate but can I fix gouge on the spindle without having to pull the axle back out? Is there a way to perminately fill these gouges/voids/nicks to achieve a smooth sealing surface? I am not in a positon to do the labor of replacing an entire axle myself as I am currently at a campground with limited tools on dirt.

Pics:

(pics deleted)

Why worry about fixing this? If the axles were NIB, why not have Dexter (or their dealer) simply replace the entire hub under warranty? :h You have the pics, send them to the dealer and Dexter.

Lyle

I've already sent pics, emailed, and been on probably 5 or 6 phone calls. The issue isn't the hub, it's the spindle which is welded to the axle. I didn't realize that till after i got off the phone. I am making some more phone calls monday.
laknox
Nomad
Jun 06, 2016
kyle86 wrote:
Long story short, these are brand new axles I bought from a dexter distributor fully assembled. At the first brake adjustment I noticed grease all around the hub and could see the seal leaking through backing plate. I tough it out on 3 brakes till I get to my destination another 1000 miles away. Park it and pull the hub to find the spindle was damaged at factory around where the inner seal rides. This is an ez lube axle by the way though I have never used that feature. The only thing i did was install the axles and adjust the brakes.

Now my question, is this seal journal repairable or does the whole axle need replaced. I have had somewhat difficult time getting assistance from dexter though the distributor seems willing to help act as middle man.

Obviously I will need at minimum new shoes and a seal or backing plate but can I fix gouge on the spindle without having to pull the axle back out? Is there a way to perminately fill these gouges/voids/nicks to achieve a smooth sealing surface? I am not in a positon to do the labor of replacing an entire axle myself as I am currently at a campground with limited tools on dirt.

Pics:

(pics deleted)

Why worry about fixing this? If the axles were NIB, why not have Dexter (or their dealer) simply replace the entire hub under warranty? :h You have the pics, send them to the dealer and Dexter.

Lyle
kennethwooster
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
The Chicago Rawhide is a very good fix. I've used them on plow spindles a lot where the would get really bad gouges due to operator not noticing he had bearing out. Some of these plows had 9 wheels. This can be done with the tear down you have already done. I would install of course new seal and you may need new bearings.
kyle86
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Thanks for the advice. I will see what the company can do. These are literally brand new axles. What a shame it would be to have to swap the whole thing out just over a few little nicks. Then it's new wet bolts for the spring eyes and prob new u bolts too. The most important thing is they got me here okay. As for going back home that will not be any time soon luckly there is a location not far away.

That said I may just tap a sleeve over it as mentioned and throw some brakes shoes on there. I hate to do that type of fix to a brand new axle but my particular circumstances it may be the best option.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 04, 2016
Yeah the spindle look like a rough out 1st step machine operation and some one forget the finish run.

If the one picture bearing surface is actually blue.....it can indicate heat from a spun bearing/dry bearing. Spindle are heat treated to a certain toughness and reheating can cause the end of the spindle to break off. I've had that happen before on a tri axle trailer.

As others say I would replace the axle assy or the spindle.....and check all other axles.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 04, 2016
OTOH, if you repair the nicks/gouges it gives the place you bought them from more reason to say "Those are fine". Like smkettner said, I'd clean them up enough to get home and be down like a big dog to the place where I got them when I got home.

There's no way they can say those hubs are good. They are junk. They can be repaired but the way they are is junk.