How to Confirm Compatibility of Replacement Hub for Boat Trailer

Updated 10/01/2018 | Published 09/29/2018

Question:

Hello i had a hub assembly blow out of my boat trailer last weekend. I am struggling to find the right hub. The one i bought says it replaces the one that blew out but it will not slide on far enough please help been battling this for a week! The spindle is 1 inch all the way through until where the grease seal fits it steps up to 1.450. I replaced the grease seal to 1 1/2 in on the new hub and it lides over it a fraction but thn stops and will not go anyfarther i thinkits hitting the bearing. Wht can i do!?

asked by: Michael B

Expert Reply:

For a new hub to fit on a spindle it must use the exact same set of bearings and the same grease seal as the original hub. You can check that this is the case for the hub you have. The linked diagram shows where to find the part numbers.

If your original hub had a major failure there could be damage to the bearings which would interfere with the fit of the new hub on the spindles. I suggest completely removing the original hub, bearings and seal to allow you to clean off and inspect the spindle; the spindle itself could have been damaged when the hub failed.

Wipe the spindle clean of all grease and check for nicks, scrapes or signs of heat damage. If the spindle is in good condition then verify that you new hub has the same set of bearings and grease seal as the original.

Some boat trailers will use special shallow-depth hubs and in certain cases an OEM part from the trailer maker is the only option that will fit.

expert reply by: Adam R