Is there a way to replace spindle on rear FF axle ?

[RedTacoma]

Like a title says. I am rebuilding the rear axle and driver side spindle looks not so good. It has a ~ 1mm grove in it which could putting outer bearing at the wrong setup. Is there a way to replace just the spindle? Anybody done something like that?

 

[IdahoDoug]

There was some discussion of a product called Speedi-Sleeve that amounts to sliding on a steel sleeve to create a new surface. Nobody used it to my knowledge and I think that's as far as things went.

The spindle is obviously part of the housing, so replacing it would be another way. A serious machine shop may be able to weld into the worn area and remachine it to spec, but that would require the spindle be cut off, machined and rewelded onto the housing. Kinda like when this happens to a trailer axle - they cut off the damaged spindle and replace it. In your case there is no new spindle to purchase, however, so they'd be aiming to repair it.

The Speedi Sleeve is designed for this type of thing, however I think you'll still need the services of a shop to cut a groove into the spindle and fit the sleeve onto it and I don't know how they'd get the spindle onto a lathe without cutting it off the rest of the 5 foot long axle housing. A serious machine shop may have a machine that can make the housing stationary and the tool rotate around the correct axis. Seems like heavy construction equipment or similar would need this type of capability.

That's a knotty problem. As a temporary fix, I've staked a spindle to get a bearing to sit straight. This involves using a punch to make raised bumps on the spindle and it's an emergency measure that will further damage the spindle.

Personally, I'd see if a welder can add some material there and then expertly grind it smooth to the original dimension. Others may chime in here, but I don't think the spindle is surface hardened as the bearing is not supposed to spin against it (which yours did due to being loose), so this should be a permanent fix. The main objective would be to get the bearing to sit perfectly square again and this may require a specific machine tool to achieve. On a boat trailer, I'd do it by hand as the bearings are replaced every 12 months anyhow.

DougM

 

[IdahoDoug]

Ran this by an experienced auto machinist today and he says have a portable welding service come to your house and add material there, then you use a file to get it close in shape, and then emery cloth and repeated trial fitting until a bearing will correctly slide on again.

DougM

 

[elhombre]

I personaly have used the punch method with some success. I used a sharp scribe and hammer to make many rows of dimples which raised the spindle material up. I then took light sand paper and sanded the rows of raised metal until a new bearing would just slide on. Has been working well for over 40k miles. It is a cheap trick but I don't see why it would last for a long time.

I must admit that I bought two new spindles for the front and will replace the old ones this summer when I do a front axle job. My brake pads are about gone and I want to move up to the 100 series pads. It was all about not having the money back then.