Spindle Wear - Replace or run them

[66BlueGoose]

Have not had to deal with spun bearings before, just guess I have been lucky all my life. Got a rig with spun outer wheel bearings (inner has some damage but seems ok). Looking for guidance on if the spindles are runnable or need to be replaced. They measure out at 1.625 in the unworn section just inward of the bearing spin, one measures at 1.623 (.002 of wear) and one at 1.621(.004 of wear) in the wear zones. Pictures included.

 

[Rustytruck]

Most of the time this happens because the bearings were set too tight. The bearings need room to expand when hot. If you don't leave the room the heated up bearings will make it. There is so much metal mass in the front spindle/bearing assembly. Its not a car and isn't set up like a car.

Follow Fords procedure in setting the bearings especially the part about end play after the lock nut is properly torqued down. I have seen spindles far worse than what you have being used and most time people will rotate the spindle so the best side is down taking the weight.

This is a safety issue with worn spindles and a catastrophic failure will not be a pretty sight. The decision to run them has to be made by you as your taking the responsibility for the work you do. Check the bearing race in the hub too as they like to spin when over heated and set too tight.

 

[66BlueGoose]

Thanks for the advice on checking the hub, I will take a look at those too. The failure was due to the local shop putting the hub spring retainer plates in backwards thus the outer bearing race was running on the spring retainer plates. Ended up tearing up one hub (spring, outer gear and inner gear),looks like Blue Baster is going to come to my rescue with those oh so fun find 66 parts. The bearings have been blued the worst I have every seen. Luckily, I heard the noise in the side with the hub failure and immediately got if off the road (the hub locker was attempting to engage itself). Good chance the hubs were not torqued properly, as the spindle nuts look like they had been set with a chisel and there were issues with the spindle locking washers. There is also some where in the inner bearing against the base, probably from being too tight.

Only reason it went to the shop was that it was a new bronco I picked up and the drums were rusted on. Figured they had some bigger pullers to get them off than I did.

 

[DirtDonk]

Even back when these differentials were common in vehicles, it wasn't uncommon to see pro shops that did not have the proper hub nut/bearing adjusting nut sockets in their tool boxes. So out come the hammer and big screwdrivers!
If they were even aware that the outer lock nut needed at least 75 lbs to get close to spec, they would have opted to find a proper tool or tell you they could not do it.
Unfortunately, it looks like there are still shops that don't know the proper procedure but will take on the job anyway. Bummer.

Sorry to hear you're going through this.
I feel that some light bluing is acceptable, but a lot is not. And I don't like the look of the worn area either.
If it was me and I had to get it rolling right now, I'd run them temporarily and only on light low speed duty (little to no freeway trips in other words) until I got a new one.
Or drive something else if that was an option and just get the new one and wait until then to put it back together.

Yes, many people have run spindles as bad as yours, and worse, but it's such a critical part of the driveline (and I sell new ones too! ) that I definitely recommend a new one.

Good luck.
And adjust them yourself if you can. That way you "know for sure" how they were done.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

I guess I should have asked how yours is set up too. Is this the LUBR in your avatar? If so, and with small tires like that, there is much less stress of course, and these things were overbuilt pretty well from the factory originally.
So you're in less of a hurry to replace it perhaps. But I'd still do it at some point.

I guess the bottom line is that even though a few thousandths doesn't sound like much, if the inner bearing is too loose on that worn surface to get a good bite when adjusted, don't gamble. Just pay up now.;D

Paul

 

[JAFO]

If I ever think about putting questionable parts on a vehicle I just ask the question "Do I want to die or kill anyone in my truck?". Nope.

 

[66BlueGoose]

Thanks for the input, just wasn't certain what shape they were in, they are getting replaced!