Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

[w2much]

I need to replace the grease seals on my trailer. The bearings and races appear in good condition. Some string got caught up on the axles near the seals and tore the seals up. My spindle measures 1 1/4" so that would be the inside diameter of my seal. The hub has an inside diameter of 2 1/4" where the seal inserts. I have been seeing ads for bearing kits and seals for a 1 1/4" spindle. Does that mean that the seal or bearing kit for a 1 1/4" spindle fits all and any hub because they all measure the same? Meaining if you have a 1 1/4" spindle your outside diameter on your grease seal or even bearing race would be 2 1/4" ?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

Go here:

http://www.championtrailers.com/bearings_races_seals.html

The measurements you have don't correspond to standard sizes. Did you use a caliper to get these measurements?

 

[w2much]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

Went to Champion trailer. Found that I have spindle seals. Would rather have regular ol bearing seal. I need to know how to measure these thing. I now have a caliper in hand and find that my OD for the seal is 2.33". Does the seal ride on the same surface as the bearings or does it ride on the larger diameter behind it where the spindle seal stainless steel ring covers.That would be my ID I guess. Are spindle seals worth the money?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

Spindle seal is a different name for grease seal...same thing.

The seal can ride on the same diameter portion of the spindle or another surface which is raised to a larger diameter...depends on the axle spindle. Sounds like yours is the raised type.

Have you looked at your seal yet to get a number off of it? If you get that, you can cross ref it to a Trascon, National or NOK number.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

wipe your bearings clean, there should be a number stamped on the side of the bearing, and race. this will give you a lead to the seal number. if the seal went i'd just get a bearing kit, has seal, bearing, race. usually $10-12. Napa Auto Parts store usually has them, or can by separately. this looks like what you need.

http://www.iboats.com/mall/?keyword...=420824350&list_time=1173098345&view_id=40406

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

The race number will give you what the outer diameter of the seal will be but so will measring it. Won't help you for the inner diameter because that will vary depending on the spindle.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

If the spindle is straight all the way back to a raised area, chances are it uses a 1-1/16" inner diameter bearing front & rear. The raised area is where the seal rides. Measure that area. Because of the way a seal is built, its inner diameter must be slightly smaller that the surface it rides on so you can't really measure it. If you take the number off the seal or tell the sales guy/gal you have 1-1/16 spindle you will get the right seal. Take the old one with you. The next size spindle uses a 1-1/16 inch front bearing and a 1-3/8 rear. That spindle takes a different seal. You can also get bearing sets, including the seal, at any sporting goods shop, farm store, or department store that sells boating equipment. Even if you don't need the bearings now, having a spare set is a grief saver if you burn one up on the highway. Another way to determine what you have is to compare the bearings. If both the inner and outer bearings have the same inner diameter, you probably have a 1-1/16 inch spindle. If they are different, its a 1-1/16 outer and 1-3/8 inner bearing. Very high capacity trailers will have even larger bearings.

 

[w2much]

Re: Are all hubs made the same? Bearing / seal question.

Thank You Gentlemen, I am now armed with the info I needed. Found a caliper in my midst which I had forgotten about. Will be a handy tool in the future for certain. Thank You all again.