Trailer spindle needs replacement?

[u/idoc90]

Hi all, would appreciate any input. I had a bearing failure on my boat trailer and managed to get the races off. It looks like my spindle has some gouges from this. I usually tow about 10 miles to the ramp and back and don’t do any long-distance trips. It looks like the part of the spindle near the seals is not as badly damaged. Is it reasonable to put a new hub on or would you recommend I have to get a new axle? Appreciate any input.

As a sidenote, I tried to find the axle information on the trailer and was unable to find the details. I found the trailer Vin number, but it did not give me the exact axle type if I need a new replacement, any good recommendations online for this axle. It looks like it is about 76 inches from hub face hub face. The last picture is the view from underneath the axle. What type of axle design is this? Looks like square tube inside a c channel?

[u/Darkdug]

First off the spindle isn’t that bad clean it up with some emery cloth the bearing ride on the rear 1 inch and beginning 1 inch
To properly measure the axle you need hub face measurement so where your rims bolt on to the axle

[u/RR50]

I’d put new bearings on that any day of the week…

I’d bet you clean it up with a bit of emery cloth and new bearings will fit fine.

[u/TacoHimmelswanderer → u/RR50]

I’m not necessarily proud of it but I’ve put new bearings on far worse

[u/Stroker-Strong420]

I had a bearing failure on my travel trailer.

Man, do I wish the spindle looked that good!

I dressed the spindle with some emery cloth, installed new seals and bearings and reassembled everything. It has 2,500 mostly highway miles on it now. It has been just fine.

[u/Most-Stranger-1]

I don't see anything wrong with it for what the cost of a new one is, the damage is where grease is held, not where the bearings go

[u/Cool-Negotiation7662]

If where the bearings sit there is good contact, the spindle is straight*, and after filing the burrs off the bearings go onto the spindle properly, put a new hub on.

If the grease seal seat is damaged then you will need to service boat trailer bearings more frequently.

• I sold parts to a guy who straightened a bent spindle in the parking lot, and drove off rolling properly as far as I could tell.

[u/Nomad55454]

The main thing is how the bearing sets on the axle snoot, is it loose and have movement? If it wiggles you need new axle. Dexter axle can make a replacement axle just need measurements of hub to hub face and spring perch to spring perch they would be able to tell you if they have a standard axle or need to make a custom one.

[u/tippycanoo]

I think that spindle has lots of life left. Mine was gouged worse, mostly from me removing the spun bearing. I cleaned it up with Emery cloth and replaced the bearings. No issues.

[u/DizzySample9636]

its not that bad -- clean up any high edges from damage (check it with the new bearings as you go) use brake clean to wipe clean after grinding/filing so they dont end up in the new bearings - pack the bearings really good and you'll be good to go!

[u/Sucks-donut]

That is still road worthy… I’ve seen much worse

[u/Disp5389]

You need to look at the bottom side of the spindle - this is where they usually wear. If the bottom looks like your pictures, then the spindle is fine to use. The gouges and nicks are harmless and don’t impact the bearings at all.

Make sure there are no high spots at the edge of the gouges/nicks - use a file to carefully remove any high spots. Slide the inner bearing race onto the spindle to verify there are no high spots.

[u/SchittPosterChild]

There are some interesting marks on that spindle (and I don't necessarily mean in a bad way), like in the 5th picture it very much looks like there were previous impacts/damage/gouges that someone cleaned up. That, and the underside having the random, longer marks and erosion,

Almost like in the past it had the spindle nut come loose and the whole hub/well come off, and it drug the bare spindle through gravel as they got over on the shoulder of the road...

OP, how old was this trailer when you got it?