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Carb_Cleaner's avatar
Carb_Cleaner
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014

3,500 pound Dexter axle bearing pre-load?

I'm putting a new drum-brake system on a single-axle cargo trailer. It has a torsion suspension. I have the components ready to go and one of the old, non-brake assemblies removed. It occurred to me, I'm not certain about the torque for the pre-load on the bearing. Is it hand snug, hand snug and lightly back off or is there a torque spec?
I've heard about such, but this is my first hands-on experience with a trailer axle, bearings and axle nut. I know you don't get Medieval on the axle nut. It has the EZ-Lube bearing hub (with a zerk fitting), if that matters.
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Aug 10, 2014
    Tighten the nut to 15 FTPD rotate the hub while tightening. Back off the nut without disturbing the hub, tighten the nut finger tight, insert locking device, if not lined up, back off just enough to engage the lock.
  • Ranger_Smith's avatar
    Ranger_Smith
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    From what I remember when doing mine it was torque axle nuts to 50 ft. lbs and then back nut off to next cotter pin slot.It is a little more involved than "hand snug" as everyones idea of hand snug is different
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 10, 2014
    Hand snug and back off to the next cotter pin notch.

    But just before you do that tighten a bit more with a pliers and give the wheel a spin to set the bearings into the grease. Then back off and do the final finger tight bit above.

    Website will say the same in their own words.
  • J_herb's avatar
    J_herb
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    Go to the Dexter axle site and they have the info that will tell you how to do a bearing setup.

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