Bold Trailers - Hub and Axle problems with trailers
Channel: Christian Bold
Date: 2012-01-06

www.boldtrailers.com.au
Hi, my name is Rory from Bold Trailers -- the trailer repair specialists.
I will take you quickly through a job which has come into our workshop.  This trailer here right next to me on the hoist has come in on the back of a tow truck.  Similar to one of our other jobs in the past, the wheel has come off on the other side of the trailer, basically because the bearings have collapsed.
In order to complete the job I have to take this side off as well.  The customer says his trailer was last serviced just before he bought it and he purchased it 6 months ago.  In order to take this off, I have taken the bearing cap off and gone to take the axle nut off.  Now generally you will have a split pin through the holes in the nut and through the hole in the middle of the axle.  This was missing.  This is possibly one of the reasons why the nut came loose on the other side.
Furthermore behind this nut, there is normally a washer.  That washer will hold the front forward bearing in place.  Again this was also missing.  So whoever last did the service, we have to assume left this out.  This causes big issues.  That has allowed both the front bearing and the whole hub to move.
Through the breakdown of the grease, as you can see which is black, you can tell from my hands, the wheel has not been able to rotate freely and is actually quite stiff.  In the process, over the course of time, this has now heated up and has welded itself in place.  Generally during a service, once I have all of these components removed, I am able to pull this hub off by hand.  As you can hear in the background there, this one is not budging and the whole hoist is moving.  
I am left now with no option other than to take the whole axle out and replace the whole axle.  This is resulting in a very costly repair for this customer and simple maintenance could have prevented this.
So, if I can help you in any way with your trailer, remember Rory from Bold Trailers -- trailer repair specialists, and I would be more than happy to help you.

Rory
Bold Trailers
www.boldtrailers.com.au