Rear Axle Hubs of Tandem Axle Gooseneck Trailer Running Hotter Than Front Hubs

Updated 07/19/2020 | Published 07/17/2020

Question:

2 Dexter tandem axle trailer, oil bath hubs. Rear axle hubs, empty trailer, rear hubs running 128 degrees Fahrenheit and 123 degrees. Front axle hubs running 101 and 98 degrees. Should these hubs on the rear axle be dissassembled and inspected?

asked by: Bruce H

Helpful Expert Reply:

The difference in heat would lead one to believe that there is more friction on the rear # 8-288-3UC1 hubs that could be caused by some worn out bearings. Periodically inspecting these parts is never a bad idea and will help reduce the chances of a catastrophic malfunction.

If your bearings are worn out or damaged this would generate heat that could be conducted to all connected metal parts, including your hubs and brakes. You can try pulling one of the rear hubs to check your grease level, bearing wear and the overall condition of the spindles. Damage to the spindle's surface - nicks, gouges or excessive wear - will create more friction and more heat.

If the hubs you were linked from aren't actually the ones you've got and you have brakes on your trailer, I recommend checking the adjustment of both sets of brakes to make sure that they're both taking the same amount of braking load. If the front brakes are out of adjustment, the rear ones could be doing most of the work and putting the additional stress that would cause the increase in heat.

If you need to replace any of these components, let me know what bearings you find on your hubs, the bolt pattern, and the capacity of the axles and I can help you locate the appropriate replacement parts.

expert reply by: Erik B