Smoked Bearing -- Spindle Damage - Axle Replacement??

[icepickjazz]

Wheel bearing smoked on my trailer. I'm not sure how long it had been smoking, no one honked or alerted me. We were about 1 mile from storage lot when noticed smoke pouring from the wheel. I had a chance to pull the wheel and assess the damage. The races are stuck to the axle and the the spindle is chewed up. I'm more concerned about the spindle. Based on the spindle damage should I replace the axle?

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum limit of 640px maximum size.

[mowermech]

GMT830 wrote:
Seal surface is key. If it looks like it will hold grease, than I would use a cutting wheel to get the races off and give it a try. Plenty of good quality grease, I use Mobil 1. That looks like a bearing buddy in the end of the axle. Not really necessary on an RV, prevents proper maintenance and causes damage like this.

That is not a "BearingBuddy" in the end of the spindle, it looks like the grease zerk for an "E-Z-Lube" axle. A "Bearing Buddy" replaces the hub dust cap, and it is intended to be used on boat trailers to pressurize the hub to keep water out.
A competent mechanic can remove that bearing race, smooth out the dents and scars, install a Speedi-Sleeve on the seal surface, and that spindle will be usable again.
IF it isn't bent!
Or, a competent shop can remove the damaged spindle and install a new one. The parts are readily available.
Good luck, whichever way you decide to go.

[JIMNLIN]

Good grief.
When a axle stub has turned blue its trashed. Axle stubs are a alloy steel and have been heat treated. Heat from a ruined bearing draws or normalizes the heat treat process and can easily break later on.
Do it right and have a big rig trailer repair shop replace the stub or a new axle assy. They can check and realign if necessary. Or at least let them give you a professionals opinion.

[Dave_H_M]

mosseater wrote:
Speedi-sleeve for seal, file it flush, polish it a little and Locktite it.

good thought mosseater. I have used those things occasionally for years.

[mosseater]

Speedi-sleeve for seal, file it flush, polish it a little and Locktite it.

[gijoecam]

IMHO, it doesn't look totaled. The seal surface appears to be unscathed, and the inner races are obviously toast, but as long as the inner races didn't spin on the spindle, odds are it's salvageable. The chewed-up area between the races doesn't matter at all if it's chewed up. The only thing that sits there is grease that's been squeezed out of the bearings.

If it was mine, I'd cut off the races and see if the spindle has been damaged. If not, throw a new set on with a new nut and washer, and call it good!

[Likes_to_tow]

Welding a spindle properly onto the axle requires removal and placing it in a jig to get proper alignment. It can be done by guessing the alignment on the side of the road but this will only get you on home. The first thing you will notice is the tires wear out very very quickly!! Depending on how out of alignment it may be, you could scuff a tire beyond use in only a few hundred miles.

A few years ago Lippert had axles that were sent out of the factory with improper alignment and several folks had major issues with tire wear. I have experienced this and also lost a bearing on a large boat trailer that required spindle replacement. There are a few alignment shops that can handle welding on a new spindle properly but be very cautious about who you get. It's a very critical part of tire wear and few people can do it properly. Axles are not that expensive nor are they hard to replace. I would just replace the entire axle. There are several places on the Internet where you can buy axles at a reasonable price.

[Dave_H_M]

enblethen wrote:
Here is listing for both weld on and bolt on spindles.
Trailer spindles

I was curious so I peeked and think the spindle advertised with the flange specifically states that the flange is for bolting on the brake backing plate. :h

[enblethen]

Here is listing for both weld on and bolt on spindles.
Trailer spindles

[kenboat]

I havent ever seen a bolt on spindle, like other poster said, the four bolts you see in the pic is for the brake backing plate.

If that spindle wont clean up, you can have a new spindle welded on. They can come to you and do it. But it might be cheaper to just buy a new axle.

[GMT830]

smkettner wrote:
Just carry a set of spare bearings and you will never have this trouble again 😉

While this is good advice it won't prevent failures or magically correct neglect.

[rwgeiser]

Looks like the bearing races can be removed and the spindle cleaned up. Clean up the seal boss area and install a speedy sleeve from most any auto parts store. They can tell you which sleeve is needed by the seal diameter of the new seal.
The four bolts that were pointed out in the above post hold the brake backing plate on.

[john_b1]

smkettner wrote:
Just carry a set of spare bearings and you will never have this trouble again 😉

This is the reason that an annual look see or repack is prudent judgement. It is so much easier to do at home twenty then alongside the highway... Those four bolts in the smallest circle indicate it might be a bolt on spindle if so get a new one and go camping!!JMHO jb

[time2roll]

Just carry a set of spare bearings and you will never have this trouble again 😉

[jiveturkey69200]

I better go out and grease my bearings :S . I hope you get it fixed up quick, good luck on the repair 🙂