Repair spindle or replace the axle

BirchyBoy

Member
Aug 6, 2022
66
Boat Info
2006 185 Sport
Engines
Mercruiser 4.3 with Alpha Drive 1
We had a setback this past weekend. We left the lake and the trailer didn’t feel right. As I was pulling over I saw smoke on the left side and then someone pulled up and said a tire was ready to fall off. After waiting four hours for roadside assistance I called it a night and went back the next day and they hauled it to our place.

I took the wheel off and the axle nut was barely holding it in. The PO said they had done the bearings recently but something was done wrong. The spindle is shot to heck. It looks like the bearings slipped off the races and ground the spindle pretty good.

The trailer is a 2006 Shorelander single axle. My plan was to drop the axle and have a new one made, complete with brakes, at a local shop; they quoted about $800 after seeing the pics. I just read about something called a Speedi-Sleeve. Is this too far gone for that?
 

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Oh, boy. I'm glad you didn't lose a wheel! A Speedi-Sleeve is really only to repair a damaged seal surface. From SKF themselves: "This thin-walled sleeve [0,25 mm (0.01 in.)], developed by SKF, is simply pushed in position over the worn area, providing a counterface surface that is optimized for radial shaft seals." I'd be more inclined to replace the stub axle rather than scratch-build a complete unit, unless the other side is also damaged. Check out Stub Axle for one example, or a complete axle such as these 5200 pound examples. How does the hub look where the bearing's outer races reside? Having juice brakes adds a bit to the complexity, but, if you're even marginally handy with a wrench, swapping out an axle isn't a big deal.
 
Thanks. I thought the Speedi-Sleeve was a bit too good to be true. I think I can get the axle off in under an hour. I’ll have the shop look at it and decide if they can replace the spindle or not.
 
I agree with everything Nate said. Personally I’d go with a new axle. They’re inexpensive and easy to install and when your done everything will be new. I would stay away from EZ lube spindle ends though. I dislike those for any applications with brakes. IMO for boat trailers, bearing buddies are a better option. Just replacing the stub will certainly work though.
 
I got the axle dropped and it’s in the back of the truck. I couldn’t get the rubber brake line off so I had to cut that. I planned to replace that anyway so it’s no loss.

I had hoped to get it to the shop today but ran out of time. I’m hopeful they can get one built by Friday afternoon. I’ve got help lined up on Sunday for the installation and brake bleeding.

The OEM axle is 2x4 rectangular tube painted black with a brake line running inside. The trailer shop recommended going with a round axle; they said it was less expensive overall. My guess is that’s what they have in stock. Any concerns with that? Should they weld the U-bolt brackets on so the axle can’t spin?
 
The trailer shop recommended going with a round axle; they said it was less expensive overall. Any concerns with that?
No concerns as long as the axle they spec is up to the total weight.
Should they weld the U-bolt brackets on so the axle can’t spin?
Yep. Especially since you have brakes on that axle.
 
I went to pick up the new axle and it wasn’t correct. They didn’t measure the spindle “height” correctly and it would have made the trailer frame much lower overall. After some discussion, they rebuilt the axle so I now have galvanized marine axle to install this weekend.
 

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