Axles, brakes, drums, tires, fenders...

Tod Osier · 04-02-2018, 06:49 AM

So, here she sits as of yesterday, looks the same today, but with 4" of snow...

Close up of the area that needs attention...

I want to take some initial measurements before I tear it apart and I have some work on the phone with Dexter since I don't like the look of a couple of the areas on the spindle where the inner seals ride (one of the many reasons I went this route was due to leaks on the inner seals, so I want good surfaces for the seals). Need to let the snow melt anyway.

I set the new axles up in the shop on sawhorses (sans brakes) to look at the runout of the drums and was hampered by the fact that my (or any conventional) dial indicators will not fit inside a 10" drum to measure. I ordered a cheapie dial test indicator with an extra long bar and we will see how that works.

**Sunline Fan** · 04-02-2018, 08:40 AM

Looks like fun! Hopefully the snow melts quickly so you can start making progress again.

Tod Osier · 04-02-2018, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Looks like fun! Hopefully the snow melts quickly so you can start making progress again.

Now, I’m waiting on axles. Dexter is shipping a new pair due to defects on the seal surface and overall poor quality control. I talked to them this morning, sent photos, got a call back from the quality control manager at the plant and sent him more photos of the paint. You were right!!!! Fun, fun, fun.

**Sunline Fan** · 04-02-2018, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tod Osier

Now, I’m waiting on axles. Dexter is shipping a new pair due to defects on the seal surface and overall poor quality control. I talked to them this morning, sent photos, got a call back from the quality control manager at the plant and sent him more photos of the paint. You were right!!!! Fun, fun, fun.

Haha somehow this doesn't surprise me! It's a shame their quality control is so poor.

**JohnB** · 04-04-2018, 07:46 AM

Hi Tod,

Looks like your "into it".

Measuring drum run out, (new or old) I did this using an old axle as the spindle with the brake plate off. Soon, you will have a "test axle" too.

See here.

And using a feeler type indicator for the seal, bearing area

Glad Dexter stood behind their goof up. They have always stood by their work in the past.

Thanks

John

Tod Osier · 04-04-2018, 07:53 AM

Yep, I have two brand new test axles in the shop on sawhorses that I'm using exactly as you show above. In your photos with the traditional style indicator, I tried to follow your lead, but the traditional indicator won't fit inside the 10" drum on a 3500# axle, so I'm using the feeler type to evaluate runout. Hope to make the measurements today (got the new indicator yesterday), but I have to practice with the indicator some in a controlled environ (since I've never used one).

**JohnB** · 04-04-2018, 08:04 AM

ah, a 10" drum. The pics are of a 12" drum.... Those darn little details can get ya all the time....

Tod Osier · 04-04-2018, 08:58 AM

I have 0.0060, 0.0095, 0.0110 and 0.0125 for runout measured on the center of the drum surface. On 2 of the drums the min and max measurements are at 180 degrees apart, which seems that the drum is circular, just just cut off center to the bearings, but the other two the min and max measurements are about 90 degrees apart, which suggests that the drum is not round.

I wonder if their runout spec is a tighter tolerance for the smaller 10" drum.

**JohnB** · 04-04-2018, 07:57 PM

Well, they are not out if spec per "trailer wheels" which was 0.015" TIR the last I talked with them. I still think from a machine shop standpoint that is poor as with a little care and skill they can get them to run within 0.005 TIR all day long, but you may not get any better on a trailer wheel setup. Auto disk brake rotors run with 0.0005" so why can't a drum run 2 to 4 times worse and be 0.001 to 0.002" TIR? It takes a little more time and skill to get it to run that good. Not a lot, but a dedicated effort.

I'm not 100% sure there is a difference in spec for 12" drums or 10" drums for runout. My thoughts are, they really should not matter for that small a difference in ID. If the part runs out 0.010" on a 10" it is going to run out 0.010" on 12". The rotation center is shifted 0.005" and this really will not matter if the drum is 24" ID.

Thanks for reporting back. Interesting to see

John