We lost a wheel and hub during the trip back from West Texas this year and I'm not entirely sure the cause. The hubs had fresh grease (via the fitting) before the trip, tires were new and at correct pressure and the load was fairly light for this trailer. The hub temperatures never seemed to get hot to the touch when checked during pit stops.

The brake seemed to grab on the freeway and the whole thing lurched and ripped off on i10. No damage to other vehicles or property and we were able to unload the trailer and limp back home on 3 wheels.

I've only ever repacked bearings and replaced drum pads before, so I'm looking for some advice as to whether this axle can (or should) be salvaged or if it's safer to replace it. You can see that the grease fitting was sheered off at the end. I havent done a full post mortem yet, but I know someone on this board is bound to have seen something similar before.

TIA

Never done it, but I bet the entire axle assembly is easiest way to get this done. I would guess in all that mess, the spindle is damaged.

Most trailer supply places cane help you with sizing

Can I advise letting someone else pack your bearings in the future?

Thanks JB.

Follow-up question to you (or any lurkers), do you guys have any recommendations for a shop in the Houston area to do this? (I think it's an 8k lb rated axle)

lb3 said:

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Can I advise letting someone else pack your bearings in the future?

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Oh, for advice, just buy a new hub and drum set from etrailer. Skip the new axel.

ETA: Forgot that the spindle was burned up. Need new axel.

Your axle is toast. The bearing seat is ruined it appears but it's kind of hard to see. You can buy a new spindle but you'll need to weld it on. I can't see if the as has a bolted on hub. Doesn't look like but it might. Otherwise an axle like that is probably 400-600 and it's an easy swap. How many lug nuts were on it?

I used a mobile guy named Jesse that Husky Trailer Parts recommended. He replaced both axles on a utility trailer and was very reasonably priced. No website, but his cell is 346-917-9793

chilidogfood said:

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Thanks JB.

Follow-up question to you (or any lurkers), do you guys have any recommendations for a shop in the Houston area to do this? (I think it's an 8k lb rated axle)

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Don't know where exactly you are but I use trout trailers in porter for my service and typically buy parts from trailer wheel and frame. The ex lube axles are basically junk usually people over fill and cause failure. Oil bath axles are the only way to go for heavy duty applications. It's still good to pack bearings even if they have the ezlube fittings

Had something similar happen on my double axle boat trailer. Was at Toledo bend on holiday weekend so was in a bind. I went to a local boat dealer and they hooked me up with a new spindle and hub. My family recommended a welder who lived on the lake and I brought it to him and he made it right.

Funny story, I realized something wasn't right when we got to the lake because my hub was super hot and the tip was broken off. Told my wife she needed to ride with me to launch the boat and she could drive the truck and trailer about half a mile back so I could look/work on the trailer. When i pulled up in the boat I don't see my truck or trailer but saw my wife pushing my trailer tire down the hill to the camp. She wasn't very happy but I got the boat off the trailer just in time. Luckily she was using her mirrors and saw the tire fly off and bounce into the woods.

Jason_Roofer said:

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Your axle is toast. The bearing seat is ruined it appears but it's kind of hard to see. You can buy a new spindle but you'll need to weld it on. I can't see if the as has a bolted on hub. Doesn't look like but it might. Otherwise an axle like that is probably 400-600 and it's an easy swap. How many lug nuts were on it?

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Thanks for the advice. It was 8 lug.

I figured it would be a bit more than that since it was the electronic brake axle.

I would take the nut and what is left of the bearings off to see if the spindle is damaged. If not damaged, buy a brake and hub kit, pack the bearings, and install.

Had something similar happen to a hay trailer and the above worked out for me without issue for a few years now.

chilidogfood said:

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Thanks JB.

Follow-up question to you (or any lurkers), do you guys have any recommendations for a shop in the Houston area to do this? (I think it's an 8k lb rated axle)

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Nationwide trailers. 8410 N Freeway. There are about 4 trailer dealers/ repair shops right there together on 45N.
'Not sure if they service each others brands but they would give you advice on that.

Aggie Squared said:

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I would take the nut and what is left of the bearings off to see if the spindle is damaged. If not damaged, buy a brake and hub kit, pack the bearings, and install.

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Yeah, if the spindle isn't damaged, and if you can still properly seat the inner bearing on it, then I would think a new hub/brake kit would be the answer. However, I would want to know why this happened. Please report back if you get the cause diagnosed.

Eta, that stretch of 45 N has 3 - 4 trailer places. I've used Trailer Wheel and Frame and Nationwide Trailers for parts. Haven't been in Husky Trailer parts yet, but I may call their mobile guy that someone listed earlier in the thread.

I appreciate all the advice, guys.

I'll report back when I find out more.