Ranger trailer axle question

[PropsterII]

I have a long story, I'll try to be succinct with my questions! Bought a used 95 Ranger with single axle Ranger trailer 5 years ago. Bearings went on one side the first time I drove it after picking it up from the party. It was obvious the previous owner hadn't take very good care of it or changed or re-packed the bearings on a regular basis. So I put all new bearings, races, seals, and washers in right away, and cleaned up the spindles, though there was some gouging and scarring. These are welded on the axle, and it is a "drop" type if that is the right terminology. So I have re-packed the bearings every year, and actually replaced the bearings every other, with new seals each year. So new bearings in '11, repacked spring of '12. Last week when I left Bemidji the one side blew about a mile from the access. I pulled into a driveway and fortunately the owner let me work on it there. Also fortunately I had spare bearings, one seal, and one washer along, as well as grease and tools. Everything was shot so it must have been going bad for awhile with no indication - no noise and when I felt the cap the day before no heat. But I had since put about 40 miles on it. I got it cleaned up, though it took a bit of work with the hook file and sandpaper to smooth out the spindle, rebuild the hub (races pretty good shape yet) and headed home, but not before calling my brother in law an hour south to see if I could leave it there so the kid could use it the rest of the fall, and store it over the winter. No problem. Here are my questions as far as rebuilding them better, and any continued driving this year:

1. Can I buy aftermarket spindles or do I need to go direct to Ranger? I'd like to replace them with good new ones. These are the straight ones (not tapered) with the raised surface where the bearings ride on each end.

2. If aftermarket, how do I specify or measure to get the right ones? Weight rating? Length? Diameter?

3. Can anyone recommend places I can have the spindles welded to the axle? I'd heard there may be one in Maplewood - like a Ready Hitch or something like that. I'd hate to buy a whole new axle, especially from Ranger.

4. Can I also buy aftermarket hubs for this rig? Seems like on mine the rotor is a larger diameter than the generic replacement ones I've seen available. This has caliper brakes, and the fit of them has to be just so, so I assume any hub I would get as a replacement has to also be the exact same thickness for the calipers to fit.

5. With the cleaning up of the spindle - polishing it to get the bearings to slide over and fit all the way back - and assuming I rebuilt and packed the hub properly with plenty of grease - can my son drive it safely and continue to use it until I get spindles on next spring and redo the whole works?

6. Why do you think it blew so completely - do bearings sometimes just go bad? The ones I had in were Timken - anybody have experience with these, are they decent or do all occasionally have an issue? Or was it more a matter of the seal blew (there was grease everywhere) and then the bearings went?

Sorry for all the detail and questions, but I appreciate anyone's insight. I know just enough to be dangerous, but at least I was able to fix it well enough to get back on the road, and so far so good. Thanks guys.

[delmuts]

I had a similar problem a few years back, with my older Ranger trailer. I decided to bite the bullet and ordered a new axle from Ranger.Not cheap, but then all i had to do was take it to a shop, so we could jack the entire rig up; drop and replace the unit. Replaced the bearings and seals, and have not had any problems since.

As far as timken bearings. I used to be an inspector at John Deeres of purchased parts, an inspected lots of them. We had to check for any flaws, and if the dia. were in specifications.( which i thought was a joke since we could only check down to a .0001 of an inch. Timken checks then to .00001)Never saw a bad one unless something happened in shipping and they got some rust on them, or damaged.

[fivebucks]

I just got a new axle for my EzeLoader trailer as my one spindle was shot. I could not find a place to weld a new spindle on but I did not look too hard. The places I talked to all talked about the liability of the weld. My new axle is an oil bath hub which is nice.

[Surface Tension]

Yes you can get a new brake hub. If you have trouble getting one within spec then check with the trailer manufacturer.

Spindels, the bearing slips over the spindles shaft and does not spins on the spindle so a few blems aren't going to make a difference. The area the seal meets should be clean and free of rust and burrs. Most common reason why a spindles needs replacement is from complete bearing failure and the hub w/tire falls off and the threads drag on the ground.

Spindles can be cut off and replaced. A shop that won't do that because of liability is a shop that doesn't replace spindles. Keep looking.

Bearing failure. A hub assembly with good bearings and one that is greased won't fail.

There has to be one or more circumstances for that bearing to fail.

Overloading, a castle nut tightened down too tight, a spindle with an incredibly amount of

toe in or out and believe it or not the wrong size bearings and races.

Then the obvious reasons. dry bearings, rust, bad seal and water.

[JohnMickish]

I don't know about your '95, but I know Ranger has been using torsion axles for at least 10 years now. If you do your hub to hub, spindle to spindle and mounting pad to mounting pad measurments you can find a replacement out there but it might take some looking. One call to Ranger and you will get the right part the first time.

Northern tool has lots of trailer parts, check them out.

[PropsterII]

Thanks for the advice so far guys. Sounds like I'll be able to pull it off with spindles from Ranger and aftermarket hubs without costing me an arm and 2 legs.

[jkrash]

Contact Ranger. I've heard similar stories from some of our guests. They demanded new axels and they recieved them. Ranger new they sold junk and they will stand behind their trailers if they here from the squeeky wheel.

Squeek loud and often.

[PropsterII]

I'm not sure I've got much of a leg to stand on - it is 17 years old after all!

[LwnmwnMan2]

Pioneer Rim and Wheel in Minneapolis might be able to help you out as well. They have a TON of axle, brake, wheel, spindle parts, very reasonably priced, IMO.

[PropsterII]

Thanks for the heads up!