I was in the process of replacing my wheel bearings when I noticed this small crack on the tapered part of the axle spindle. Is it normal or is the spindle/axle need to be replaced?
I would replace it,
At first I thought whoever machined it nicked it good, but it surely appears to be a crack.
Just out of curiosity what kind of weight do you have on these axles, could you be overloaded???
It sure looks cracked. But what gets me is the tapered area is a different color... almost looks like a sleeve pressed onto the spindle. And that crack would be the seam. Dunno... just throwing it out there. Hard to tell from a pic.
The crack is right where the taper starts. The photo lighting may be a bit off. Both parts seam to be the same color. Does the axle need to be replaced or can the spindle only be replaced? From what I've seen on the web, it looks like the whole axle.
Thanks for the info guys. I can get the bearings replaced and brakes adjusted enough to get the boat in the water and the trailer to a repair facility to check it out. Replacement of the axle is probably a little beyond my DYI skills.
The crack is right where the taper starts. The photo lighting may be a bit off. Both parts seam to be the same color. Does the axle need to be replaced or can the spindle only be replaced? From what I've seen on the web, it looks like the whole axle.
You can have the spindle replaced. Some are bolted on and some are welded on. Take the trailer/unloaded to a trailer repair. They will weld a new one on. You can save yourself some labor by taking the axle off and deliver it to them
Before repairing a spindle look around at the cost of replacing an axle. They're pretty easy to do, and around here it's more expensive to weld on a spindle and replace bearings than it is to get a replacement axle with brand new hubs and bearings.
It sure looks cracked. But what gets me is the tapered area is a different color... almost looks like a sleeve pressed onto the spindle. And that crack would be the seam. Dunno... just throwing it out there. Hard to tell from a pic.
If that is actually a crack you are one luck fellow to have found it immediately after it happened.
Assuming that is is a crack, it is in such a high stress area that I would expect the spindle to fail entirely at the next bump you go over.
Unless it just happened when you went over the curb pulling into the driveway just before doing the Bearing job; A crack in that location is going to have the whole wheel come off very soon.
Thanks for the additional info guys. It is indeed a wear sleeve. I went to a local boat dealer and as chance had it, they used the same trailer manufacturer for their boats. It's just the seam for the wear sleeve. The other side is the same. And yes the other side has the same seam. .
