Measuring to determine which axle???

[MacHaggis]

I've been cheating more than I'm really proud to admit on repacking the bearings on my flatbed -- doing the job right on the outside, but putting off the inside bearings. The holdup has been identifying the seal for the back side. They're Dexters, and their book lists the seal P/Ns by brake size, i. e. 10x2-1/4, 12x2, etc.



Any nifty tips on what I need to be measuring to get past this little hitch so I can do the job right?

 

[HBarlow]

Simply remove the seal and measure the inside diameter of the hub. If the trailer is only a few years old any utility trailer dealer or parts supplier such as SouthWest Wheel can probably tell you what bearings and seals you need just from telling them the name of the manufacturer (Dexter) and the number of lugs on the hub. I think eight lug, six lug, and five lug hubs/wheels use standard components.



Harvey

 

[MacHaggis]

I hear ya, Harvey. I went on a rant last night on another board I hang around about my trials just trying to assemble a spare rim and tire for this trailer. Retailers are only too happy to have my business. Thier suppliers are being driven by lawyers and insist that I present the trailer itself so THEY can determine what I need or want. AAaaaarrrggghhhh! Sad to say, the DMV is easier to deal with than suppliers these days.



The Dexter book I have lists two different seals for a ten-inch drum, and two different ones for the twelves, and no specs for any of them other than "Brake size. " They're Dexter numbers and I haven't found a counterman that can cross them to Chicago Rawhide or any of the others.

 

[R C Cola]

Which seal ????

? Take it apart and take the seal in your hot little hand to the parts counter

and ask the parts man to match it. When dealing with problems that don't seem to match this is what the mechanics do. Just a thought. R C

 

[MacHaggis]

If I can identify the Dexter number, I've got any number of sources. But even my good counter guy over in NY doesn't have any cross for the Dexter numbers. Chicago Rawhide doesn't even cross to them. If I had any confidence in the counter boys hereabouts (The countermen have all retired. "A carbure-what?") I'm equipped to do the measuring (spindle and drum), and if I can get one of the seals out clean, that'd be a plus. I just dont' want to get hung up on blocks.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I've been cheating more than I'm really proud to admit on repacking the bearings on my flatbed -- doing the job right on the outside, but putting off the inside bearings. The holdup has been identifying the seal for the back side. They're Dexters, and their book lists the seal P/Ns by brake size, i. e. 10x2-1/4, 12x2, etc.



Any nifty tips on what I need to be measuring to get past this little hitch so I can do the job right?

The 10x2-1/4" indicates the brake size, 10" drum and 2-1/4" wide shoes, measure the diameter of the plate behind the wheel and go from there, the plate will be slightly larger than the brake size. 5 hole wheels could be up to 3500 pound axles, 6 hole is probably 5200 pound axles. The seals are different because the inner bearing on some axles has smaller or larger bore depending if the spindle is straight or tapered, short of pulling the old seal as suggested above, go buy one that is supposed to fit, if it's wrong then take it back with the old seal. A tip for removing the inner bearing and seal, remove the cotter pin, axle nut and washer then put just the nut back on the shaft a few threads, vigirously pull the hub assy. against the nut and the inner brg. and seal will be left on the axle instead of on the ground. bg

 

[MacHaggis]

The 10x2-1/4" indicates the brake size, 10" drum and 2-1/4" wide shoes, measure the diameter of the plate behind the wheel and go from there, the plate will be slightly larger than the brake size. 5 hole wheels could be up to 3500 pound axles, 6 hole is probably 5200 pound axles. The seals are different because the inner bearing on some axles has smaller or larger bore depending if the spindle is straight or tapered, short of pulling the old seal as suggested above, go buy one that is supposed to fit, if it's wrong then take it back with the old seal. A tip for removing the inner bearing and seal, remove the cotter pin, axle nut and washer then put just the nut back on the shaft a few threads, vigirously pull the hub assy. against the nut and the inner brg. and seal will be left on the axle instead of on the ground. bg ornow kinda slam the the outer bearing, put jo

Thanks! What you said was what I was hoping, and about the only sense I could make of it. If that seal comes out that easy, it'll be a first for me. Not doubting you at all, I just work on old tractors a lot. Seals that hain't been touched since they left the factory back in '41 (Yep, some of them actually rawhide). They don't come out quite so easy.



I'll be off to the RV shop Monday fer parts.



Thanks, again!

 

[LarryM]

Hey Mac, I just went through this with my car hauler by Wells cargo. It has the Dexter 3500# EZ-Lube axles. As the other guys said, the 10 is the diameter and the 2 1/2 is the width of the brakes. Be careful when replacing the seals on these axles, as they must be double lipped with spring compression. If a regular seal is used, grease WILL easily get by and contaminate your brakes. I have the maintenance book from Dexter that gives the part number, but my local parts stores were unable to come up with a seal that would cross to the Dexter number. I pulled an old seal and we tried the numbers there too to no avail. I finally found a great place to get these parts, and they are really priced well and will give great service too. It's on E-trailer.com. They have all kinds of OEM trailer parts and stuff and will ship right away with great prices, give them a try, you'll be glad you did. Hope this helps... ...

Larry

 

[MacHaggis]

Thanks, Larry, for the tip. These aren't EZ-Lubes, durnit, but it sounds like you've had the same experience I have tryin' to cross the numbers. Appreciate the confirmation on the measure, and the source. Thanks, again!

 

[jwduke]

Check out Dexter Axle's web site. They have all of the manuels for all of their axles, that you can download & print. It also includes part numbers. Good luck!

 

[Blu-meanie]

Just take the seal to an "independent" autoparts place. You know, one of those with an actual machine shop. A bearing supply house should be able to come up with them too. I doubt that Dexter has them special made, they will fit a number of axels. Even NAPA could have someone that doesn't require a computer with a make and model.

Hopefully they are as ignorant as the Sears parts guy I talked to a while back. I had the part number for a Sears part and he couldn't look it up without a make and model. I sincerely hope he never gets a "real" job that requires a simple thought beyond dah.