Trailer Spindle has Gouges After Bearing Failure

[19miked83@gmail.com]

Recently I had my bearings overheat and break off my trailer on the highway. Luckily, the wheel didn't come all the way off. The boat and trailer survived and we were able to flatbed them home, but the spindle now has several gouges on the under side where the inner rim of the wheel made contact. I'm sure the safest thing to do is to have a shop replace the spindle, but I'm trying to find out if I could simply pack new bearings onto it as it is. Does anyone think there's a chance new bearings would be ok riding on this spindle? Or, if they die a quick death?

In case you're wondering, the picture includes the two bearing cores and what's left of the seal.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would replace the axle

 

[MTboatguy]

If you put new bearings on that spindle, they will destroy themselves very quickly, the spindle needs to be replaced, when dealing with rotating surfaces, there is no compromises. Pull the axle and take it to a shop to get it back in shape, or buy a new axle.

 

[smokeonthewater]

You won't know anything until you get it cleaned up and get the races off...

The bearings don't ride on the spindle they ride on the races... Normally the inner races stay in the bearings but since they came apart they're on the spindle.

If the parts of the spindle that the bearing races are called then I would strongly consider a new axle.

 

[Frank Acampora]

From your photos it is impossible to determine if the spindle is OK. The gouges are in a area between the bearings where only grease resides so those will cause no problem HOWEVER: WE can not see the seal surface and the outer bearing race appears to be "welded" to the spindle. Take off the bearing races and the old seal. Clean the spindle. Then take a couple of good photos. Then we can help with advice.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I personally wouldn't mess with it. I would replace. Maybe it's the pic, but it looks bent.... The gouge next to the inner bearing looks deep and compromises the integrity of the spindle......

 

[littlerayray]

I would replace it it's not worth another breakdown you got lucky last time why risk it

 

[funk6294]

If I had to get it home I would probably try putting new bearings on and take my chances, but i wouldn't want to leave it that way permanently. I don't know what someone charges to change just a spindle, but if you have to take the axle out to have it changes you might just replace the axle all together. Last I looked they are not all that expensive.

 

[oldjeep]

Looks like a lot of work even if you wanted to try to replace the bearings. Those raised gouges all have to be sanded down flat to even get what is left of the old bearings off. I'd either replace the spindle (assuming it can be removed and you know how to weld it properly) or the whole axle.

 

[gm280]

While it looks bad initially, nobody has seen the actual bearing surfaces in any of those pictures. You have to remove the bearing races (inter bearing rings) before any one could see what the real damages are. The gouges and such are not where the bearings ride and therefore I don't see anything that looks like it would cause any issue if the bearing areas look good yet. So before spending money, remove the entire bearing pieces and look at the bearing surfaces. Could be nothing is needed other then a good cleaning and new bearing AND races replaced in the hub(s) JMHO!

 

[MTboatguy]

One of the biggest problems when you spin a bearing or both bearings is the heat, how much damage has the heat done to that spindle. I would not take a chance on it, I have seen the spindle look just fine after a spun bearing and seen the spindle still fail due to heat stress.

 

[smokeonthewater]

If it has heat damage it will be discolored..

There really is no point debating this stuff until the races have been removed and all the grease cleaned up...
Then take a little 80 grit paper to the gouged area and remove any burs...
After that we can see if it has any real damage...

We may still not be able to judge the bearing surfaces... If it passes visual inspection, next step is to mic the journals.... If no mic available at least test fit new bearings... They should slide on with minimal effort but should not wobble at all.

 

[MTboatguy]

I agree, there is no point in debating at this point in time, not enough information to really diagnosis it right now.