How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

[spider0804]

I was taking apart my trailers hubs to check if the guy I bought it from did indeed give it new bearings, he did but he did not replace the races and they are pitted to holy heck.

I am worried the bearings before these spun on the spindle and wore it down a bit.

This is my first time replacing a trailer bearing so I do not know what is acceptable and what is not, one of those things people tend to learn from others.

SO! The bearing has a natural clearance in it where you can wobble the inner and outer rings I know this is normal.

The inner ring wobbles on the spindle by about a mm side to side.

I can not move the entire bearing up and down though.

Here is a picture for reference, from what I have read I should probably clean the darker areas with emery cloth, and the spindle is only finished where the bearings ride.

The bearing feels the same clearance wise on the finished and unfinished part but I am just trying make sure it will last, got a 1000 mile trip coming up.


EDIT: For the record I am not trying to cut corners, it should have been obvious from me saying the races are pitted. I am buying new bearings and races.

This has nothing to do with the races or the play of the races.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

If you have 1/2 to 3/4 inch for play in the bearing THROW IT AWAY. Is the wobble between the race and spindle? There should be nearly zero play between the inner bearing race and the spindle. Your spindle looks to be in fair shape and i don't see any evidence of previous bearing failure. Just for piece of mind i would replace both bearings and races and have the spindle looked at by a qualified mechanic. A 1000 mile trip pulling a trailer is not the time to start cutting corners. Good luck.

 

[spider0804]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

"SO! The bearing has a natural clearance in it where you can wobble the inner and outer rings I know this is normal.
The inner rings wobble on the spindle is about half to 3/4s that."

Like if you take the bearing and play around with the inner and outer rings there is play there.

What I mean by this is the wobble is about 1/2 to 3/4 the play in the actual bearing between the outer and inner rings.

Was trying to give a comparison that people could relate to.

 

[duke33]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

The bearing race should not "wobble".

 

[airshot]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

If you are seriously planning a 1000 mile trip, why on earth would anyone want to cut corners with their wheel bearings? A complete replacement of all wheel bearings and races and paying to have it done if you can't do it yourself, will be cheaper than a service call along the road when one fails.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

I think i understand better now what you are trying to explain. There is play in the cage of the bearing. That is the part that holds the rollers in place. If the races are pitted as you described and the bearing cage has a lot of play in it throw it away. If there is play where the bearing goes on the spindle have it inspected by a qualified mechanic. I have been a mechanic for 35 years and have seen alot of bearing failure. None of it is good. You never want to be driving down the highway and see you tire and wheel pass you up.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

As I understand it, you are placing new bearing on the Spindles and noticed that there is some amount of clearance between the spindle and the inner surface of the inner races. If there weren't you would not get the bearing installed. These are tapered roller bearings. All play will disappear as you tighten the axle nut.
There is no need to clean up the spindle to make it look pretty. You will only make the spindle even smaller.
The Inner races are supported by the spindle and are not supposed to rotate on the spindle, so the condition of the spindle is of little importance.

After reassembling the bearings and mounting the wheel; Tighten the Axle nut finger tight while spinning the tire.
Then grab the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and alternate pushing one side while pulling the other side.
There should be no play.
Now loosen the Axle nut as little as possible to allow the cotter pin to be installed.
Push-Pull the tire again and there should be the slightest of free play.
You will feel a "Click" more than see much motion.
This is the correct tightness of the bearings.
You should have as little play as possible while still having more than None.
Some of the remaining play will disappear when the bearings heat up in operation.

You are over-thinking this.
After you get it all together, drive ten miles around the block and feel the hubs.
They will be warm like a nice warm bath, but not too warm to touch.

 

[bigdee]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

As I understand it, you are placing new bearing on the Spindles and noticed that there is some amount of clearance between the spindle and the inner surface of the inner races. If there weren't you would not get the bearing installed. These are tapered roller bearings. All play will disappear as you tighten the axle nut.
There is no need to clean up the spindle to make it look pretty. You will only make the spindle even smaller.
The Inner races are supported by the spindle and are not supposed to rotate on the spindle, so the condition of the spindle is of little importance.

After reassembling the bearings and mounting the wheel; Tighten the Axle nut finger tight while spinning the tire.
Then grab the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and alternate pushing one side while pulling the other side.
There should be no play.
Now loosen the Axle nut as little as possible to allow the cotter pin to be installed.
Push-Pull the tire again and there should be the slightest of free play.
You will feel a "Click" more than see much motion.
This is the correct tightness of the bearings.
You should have as little play as possible while still having more than None.
Some of the remaining play will disappear when the bearings heat up in operation.

You are over-thinking this.
After you get it all together, drive ten miles around the block and feel the hubs.
They will be warm like a nice warm bath, but not too warm to touch.

^^^x2

 

[spider0804]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

For the record I am not trying to cut corners, it should have been obvious from me saying the races are pitted. I am buying new bearings and races.

I put the bearing on, and there was slight play between the INNER RING of the bearing and the SPINDLE all I was wondering is how much is too much play.

This has nothing to do with the races or the play of the races.

I am just going to put the new bearings on and if the hub is hot I will get new spindles.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

I would look at that 1st picture and look at the hub part that the seal rides on. Looks as though there is a groove there. If so the seal can always be placed deeper or shallower than then groove. Emery cloth that area also,

 

[edthearcher]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

when you replace any bearing in a hub you should always replace the inner race, the bearing kits are really cheap and many come with a new seals, always clean axle shaft, lightly polish with emery cloth, remove old inner race i have a small brass rod i tap them out with if you use a screw driver blade or a steel punch be careful you dont ding the inside of the wheel hub, clean out all old greese from the hub, tap into the hud your new inner races, i also use a small brass rod to do this, prior to installing the tapered bearing always pre grease them, i put a dap of grease in my hand and roll the bearing race threw the grease, making sure the rollers are lubercated, notice the grove around the bearings with grease try to fill the groves. install bearings, tap your seal in place. install hub than washer and hub nut, finally your nut, tighten nut down untill its hard to turn wheel by hand, back off nut slightly so you can install cotter key, sometimes its best to install new cotter key, tap back on grease cap be carefull to get it straight, use a rubber hammer or plastic hammer, now check wheel play you should have zero up and down play ZERO

 

[bigdee]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

now check wheel play you should have zero up and down play ZERO

Zero up & down,yes. Side to side you should feel a little. Sometimes because of cotter pin slot position you have to choose between zero play and with the next spindle nut index the play may seem a little too loose. CHOOSE the later.....loose is always better that too tight.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

All this and I still can't believe noone else has said a word about the seal race! Good Luck!

 

[gm280]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

What I see looking at the picture is some discolored areas but nothing really unusual. If you want, take some fine sandpaper (400 or 600 or whatever) and clean those discolorations away. Then buy all new bearings and races AND seals too. And as previously stated, there has to be some clearance between the inter bearing shell and the axle spindle or you would never get any bearing to slide on. And also like previously stated they are taper bearings with races and the wobble will be gone when properly installed. Make sure the surface area that the new rear seal runs on is smooth and free of pits and rust. Then remove the old bearing races with a punch or whatever works and install the new ones on both ends of the hub until you know they are all the way seated in place. Then repack the bearings with quality grease and assemble the hub on the axle spindle and adjust. If you are using only a dust cap, make sure the bearings are totally packed AND covered with much grease. If you are using Bearing Bubby type system, then pump extra grease via a grease gun until the bearing buddy piston just started to move outward. Then stop, the are now properly filled... And if you follow those instructions, you'll be a happy and failure free camper...I mean trailerer... :facepalm:

 

[bonz_d]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

OK then. I work in the food industry were we use a lot of positive displacement pumps made from stainless steel. The flat part of the shaft is were the cone sits on, the raised part past that is were the seal makes contact. If you look closely you will see a line about 1/4" in that goes all the way around the circumfrance. That is a groove caused by the seal contact. Only 2 ways to fix that, either with a sleeve or to reposition the seal to a flat surface, other wise it will leak!

 

[gm280]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

OK then. I work in the food industry were we use a lot of positive displacement pumps made from stainless steel. The flat part of the shaft is were the cone sits on, the raised part past that is were the seal makes contact. If you look closely you will see a line about 1/4" in that goes all the way around the circumfrance. That is a groove caused by the seal contact. Only 2 ways to fix that, either with a sleeve or to reposition the seal to a flat surface, other wise it will leak!

bonz_d, I'll have to agree with you 100% IF the area in question is indeed a groove and not some discoloration or lighting effect issue. Only the OP will know for sure... But a good eye and post either way. But equally fixable too...

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

If you are seriously planning a 1000 mile trip, why on earth would anyone want to cut corners with their wheel bearings? A complete replacement of all wheel bearings and races and paying to have it done if you can't do it yourself, will be cheaper than a service call along the road when one fails.

+1 Wobble= bad things.....excessive wobble, or any for that matter=bearing failure=boke down on interstate wishing you replaced your current axle with new one.. new axle will take care of the wobble problem...new axles are milled nicely with defining lines so the new bearings and races you install ride nice and tight, like they are suppose to.......dont know what's worse.. breaking down on interstate, or middle of lake with engine problems,, interstate is worse

 

[bonz_d]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

SO! The bearing has a natural clearance in it where you can wobble the inner and outer rings I know this is normal.

The inner ring wobbles on the spindle by about a mm side to side.

The inner ring is called a cone, there should be little to no movement there, at times we have to put them on a bearing heater to get then to slide on. the bearing will have some play to it until it is packed with grease,

 

[bigdee]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

The inner ring is called a cone, there should be little to no movement there, at times we have to put them on a bearing heater to get then to slide on. the bearing will have some play to it until it is packed with grease,

That spindle or inner race will not wear against each other unless bearing spun. So you can rule out a bad spindle. Mic the shaft o.d and the hub i.d and buy the correct size bearings....cheap and simple. The only way we can give him a correct answer is if he posts these dimensions.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: How much inner bearing wobble on the spindle is acceptable?

Even a small amount of wear on the spindle shaft can cause a bearing to spin. Have seen it it more times than I care to.

The inner bearing race is normaly a cone and the bearing itself is a taper. But what do I know I only do this for a living. Water intrusion is a killer on bearings and seals are the weak link.