Can Damaged Axle on 1999 Shorelander Boat Trailer Be Sanded Smooth

Updated 07/23/2015 | Published 07/22/2015

Question:

Bearing blew on one side of my boat trlr. Had to use a puller just to get what was left of bearing case off my spindle- it was not fun. It left some gouges/pits in the spindle. Spindle is not bent or cracked or disformed at all. It is still straight and true. I bought some 50 grit sandpaper to try and sand it smooth. Based on info I have read here, I cant replace the spindle and should leave that to a pro anyway. I dont think it needs to really be replaced anyway. But, how smooth does the spindle have to be once I am done sanding it down?

asked by: Glenn K

Helpful Expert Reply:

In all honesty, you're almost certainly going to be best off by replacing the axle. The spindles are likely gouged in the locations where the bearings ride. The act of sanding out the damaged area of the spindle has likely removed some material to the point where the spindle is no longer within its diameter specifications. This means the bearing won't fit well on the spindle, and might spin against the spindle which can cause it to heat up to the point where it could be damaged.

We offer a few off-the-shelf axles sizes, If you'd care to reply with the following information, I'd be happy to check to see if anything we offer would work for you. I'll need to know:

-Inner and outer wheel bearing reference numbers
-Capacity of your existing axle
-Hub face to hub face distance of existing axle
-Spring center to spring center distance of existing axle

I've linked you to a diagram showing how to measure your existing axle.

expert reply by: Mike L