Replacement Wheel Bearings for Henschen Dura Flex 3.5K Axles

Updated 07/25/2024 | Published 02/08/2021

Products Featured in This Question

etrailer Rubber Hitch Cover for 2" Trailer Hitches - Qty 1

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Hub Bearing Kit for Lippert, Dexter, and AL-KO Axles - 3,500 lb with #84 Spindle

(2827)

$15.39

4" Carbon Fiber Digital Caliper

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$12.46

Question:

Hello, I have a tandem axle boat trailer with Henschen Dura Flex 3500# axles. One axle has drum brakes. I am wanting to replace the bearings and brakes w\ backing plates. Do you have a cross reference on these axles? Thanks, Billy 405-426-7883

asked by: Billy M

Expert Reply:

Henschen has been out of business for about 12 years, so I wasn't able to find much information about your axles online.

From what I saw in the forums, they used a standard spindle for a 3.5K axle, so it should use a L44649 outer and a L68149 inner bearing. The grease seal should be a standard 10-19 double lip seal.

You can confirm this by checking the cages on your wheel bearings which should have the reference numbers mentioned above etched on them. If you can't find reference numbers, you can measure the inside diameter of the inner and outer bearing using a digital caliper like part # PTW80157. The L44649 has an ID of 1.063 inches, the L68149 has an ID of 1.378.

To confirm the grease seal, the ID of the hub bore where the grease seal sits should be 2.565 inches, and the journal surface of the spindle where the seal rides should be about 1.72 inches.

If your measurements confirm what's listed above, you'd use the # BK2-100 bearing kit, which includes the L44649 and L68149 bearings, their compatible races, a 10-19 grease seal, a cotter pin and a tang washer.

In the unlikely event that you get different measurements, please reply and let me know the ID of your inner and outer bearing, the hub bore diameter where the seal sits and the diameter of the surface of the spindle where the seal rides and I'll look for the proper replacements.

expert reply by: Mike L

Korby H.

7/25/2024

Mike, I have the same axles on my boat trailer. The Henschen Dura Flex 3500# axles. Mine are at the time of this email 23 years old. Given the design of this type of axle over time the swing arms will begin to sag. Is the a way to determine when it’s time to replace the axles? Is there an equivalent axle if a person wishes to just replace them?