Axel Grease Seal & Surface

[levittownnick]

The surface that the grease seal rides on is poor (at best) and months earlier one of the threads on this forum suggested that there is a sleeve that can be lightly pressed over the seal area to give a good surface for the seal to ride on. These sleeves are thin enough that the size of the original should still interface properly. The drawback is that these sleeves have to be very carefully sized and custom ordered therefore the trailer will be laid up for a while.

A post that was talking about trailer noise pointed me to a very informative site that has good technical information http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html
and I came accross an item that I was unaware of, "Unitized Seals" that press on the axel as well as the hub. Because these seals ride on there internal surface, I was wondering if these would solve the problem as well. Does anyone have any experience with the "Unitized Seal"?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Axel Grease Seal & Surface

i bet if you call Champion they can answer all your questions. they are the most cooperative people i have ever worked with. if they can't they will know who can.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Axel Grease Seal & Surface

The surface that the grease seal rides on is poor (at best) and months earlier one of the threads on this forum suggested that there is a sleeve that can be lightly pressed over the seal area to give a good surface for the seal to ride on. These sleeves are thin enough that the size of the original should still interface properly. The drawback is that these sleeves have to be very carefully sized and custom ordered therefore the trailer will be laid up for a while.

A post that was talking about trailer noise pointed me to a very informative site that has good technical information http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html
and I came accross an item that I was unaware of, "Unitized Seals" that press on the axel as well as the hub. Because these seals ride on there internal surface, I was wondering if these would solve the problem as well. Does anyone have any experience with the "Unitized Seal"?

Thanks,
Nick

A thin film of RTV silicone on the seal surface of the spindle just before you install the hub will eliminate cure the problem. You could also use the non hardening permatex gasket sealer as well or less desirably, a low strength loctite compound.

Like the article says, these seals are primarily for an oil lubricated hub but will work on a packed grease hub as well.

The down side of these seals is the fact that if you forget something or have to take the hub off again, you have a HIGH likely hood of damaging the seal and you should have a spare on hand.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Axel Grease Seal & Surface

The sleeve you are referring to is called a 'Speedi Sleeve'. I use them all the time. My local bearing supplier carries various sizes to suit most axles.

http://http://www.alliedbearings.com/mfg_prod/seals/cr_speedi/index.html

 

[fondafj]

Re: Axel Grease Seal & Surface

When I attempted to order the Unitized Seals they asked if my trailer had disc brakes --- and did not recommend using for disc brake applications.
Use what Dunaruna said -- available at NAPA.