axle hub issue?

[bcraigan]

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt92/bcraigan/cdeafd3a.jpg

Ok, I took the hub off of the other side of this axle without issue, replaced it, and I think everything is on right in the proper order. I get to this side and There is something jammed on the axle. I'm assuming it's not supposed to be there because I can't get the new hub on far enough... Is it supposed to come off? I am 99 percent sure there wasn't one on the other side because the hub slid right on... It almost looks like a piece that had bearings on it at some point... Thanks for the insight. Craigan.

[phatdaddy]

looks like the inner bearing race, take a hammer and punch and see if you can move it toward the outer end.

[bcraigan]

I have tried to hit it but it's in a very hard spot... I wasn't pounding too hard just because I wanted to make sure(from someone else..Lol) that it needed to come off...It does move a little but it's almost like it's hard jammed on there or something...

[phatdaddy]

i'm pretty sure its the race, should be able to tap the top & then the bottom and "rock" it off...
heat would help, but generally not needed.
what did the inner bearing look like when you took the hub off?

[bcraigan]

haha... NASTY! These were wheels with rotten tires and were rough... Axle looks to move ok... It was very hard to get the hub off and I had to hammer the hub a little to get it off.

[macojoe]

take a hack saw and cut it almost thur in one spot, then whale it with a hammer will come right off!!

[bcraigan]

Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure it needed to go before I went crazy on it... Appreciate all of the help!

[phatdaddy]

be very careful not to scratch the axel shaft. that's the surface the seal rides on,,,,,,

[bcraigan]

ok.. I'm gonna ask a dumb question.. What's the seal? Is that the piece that slid into the bearings on the backside? Thanks.

[bcraigan]

Another thing... This shaft is not smooth at all... It has some rough spots under it and some grooves where the piece was that wouldn't come off...

[spareparts]

seal surface is behind teh race, thats really the only surface you need smooth. If you have an anvil, you can prop the axle up on it so that it resr in the stuck race, then take a hammer and strike the top of teh race, it will usually crack the race, allowing it to come off.

[RWilson2526]

I borrowed a gear puller from someone at work to get my stuck ones off...

[bcraigan]

Anyone have a picture of what a seal looks like? All I have is an axle that runs into the square tube....

[phatdaddy]

the seal is like a large flat washer with a rubber gasket and spring in the middle.it is the last thing you tap into the hub after the bearings.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/bearingassy.jpg

this is the inner bearing, outer bearing, races & seal. the part you have froze on your axel is the inside of the bearing assy. the bearings should have been "captured" but yours had came apart and left part of the assy on the axle. when you reassemble, you have to preload the bearings with grease(unless you have a posi-lube axle).

[bcraigan]

Ok I have the seal on but is there supposed to be something between the seal and the square tubing the spindle somes out of on the inside of the hub?

[bcraigan]

What is the race? Thanks for answering all of these newbie questions. I figure I really need to know how to do this.

[phatdaddy]

the race is the surface the bearings ride on, the metal ring that came with the bearing is the race. you should have nothing on the axel, just the spindles sticking out of the square tubing. you then slide the hub assy on the axel withthe seal and inside bearing in the hub along with the outside bearing race. then place the outside bearing on the axel, then your flat washer and castle nut..

Make sense?

[bcraigan]

Ok, Sounds great. I had everything but the flat washer... Do I need to find something special? Apparently when I purchased the bearings the guy didn't include washers. I put the castle nut on slid cotter pin through then put my buddy bearings on the outside and filled with grease... How big of a deal is that washer, and where do I find one? Thanks SO MUCH everyone. Sure appreciate it.

[phatdaddy]

the flat washer gives the bearing a uniform surface ride against and distributes the pressure of the nut equally. not absolutely critical, but i'd feel better with it on there. did you pre-pack the bearings before installing or counting on the buddy bearings to grease them?

[bcraigan]

I rubed them down with grease as good as I could before I put them in...

[garbubba]

I'm thinking you'll need that washer. Did the castle nut tighten up OK without it? (& then you back it off 1/2 turn or so.)

Also like mj said you need to be sure the spindle (round part) is smooth & without grooves on the end closest to the axle or you'll be doing this again pretty soon. Getting a spindle replaced is no big deal, a good welder & a few minutes is all it takes.

Bearings are simple enough, but it's one of those things you want to be very sure to do just right, or you'll be cussing yourself as you sit on the side of the road.

Doug

[phatdaddy]

i hand packed them for years , until i found this little gem.



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97489

[bcraigan]

The castle nut tightened up fine with out it.. I tightened up and then backed off a bit to put the cotter pin in... I am hoping this will get me to the lake at least so that I can get the boat off of the trailer and into a slip for a few days then go from there... I have to replace the bunks at that point...

[bcraigan]

One more question.. Does it need to be a special washer?

[macojoe]

yes get the washer, they are flat on one end so they no turn with the wheel