Brake Assembly Installation
Over a year ago I removed and replaced, with new, the four brake assemblies on our two axle travel trailer (unbolted the entire assembly from the axle). I also installed new bearings, races, seals etc...
Forum Discussion
marpel wrote:
Lynnmor - not sure I understand your comment about the shoulder that locates the inside bearing and "naysayers".
Wayne - not sure how the castle nut keepers did not keep the castle nut in place, as you know, one side is flat and can't turn so once on it presumably stays in place. After torquing, and backing off a bit, I actually went a bit beyond finger-tight then bent up the tab. Everything felt firm and reasonably tight when rotated and jiggled.
The inside bearing goes against the shoulder of the spindle that the seal rides on. When you look at the bearing, you will see a large radius and often an undercut where the bearing meets the shoulder. The remaining effective diameter of the bearing and the diameter of the spindle are just about the same size leaving no appreciable shoulder to locate the bearing. That tiny contact area can wear away or deform causing excessive bearing clearance. Others choose to ignore the problem and defend the poor design.
The reason for torquing the spindle nut is to seat newly installed races. Just a firm tightening with channel lock pliers is all that is needed in subsequent work. Once tightened, you loosen the nut completely while preventing the wheel from rotating, then just turn the nut to take up the clearance and no more. Last, insert the cotter pin or keeper loosening the nut if necessary to match the hole or retainer. When complete, there should be a very small amount of clearance and the nut will be free to move.
