Drive axle is damaged

[Scott & Heather]

So update on our bus currently in the shop here in Texas, our drive axle spindle I guess is damaged from a bearing being too loose. They think it might be OK for us to drive on but they said it will probably continue to leak oil slowly out of it. They mentioned something about having someone weld it and build it back up and then machine it down, is there anyone that anybody knows that can do something like this? What are my options?  Do I need to replace the entire axle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stanton]

They weld them in the BIG Truck world .
Do it to it and forget about it .

[Scott & Heather]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brmax]

Ok I can see where some hammering from ?previous repair and cutting off bearing (not pretty though, needed several more coffees)
On the go side what kind of measures do we have to use, and what out of round shape is there here.
Being the pic is here, don't want to pry but anyway its a slip fit and basically clearance as the inner bearing would so comparing that is a good starting point.

bummer for sure

Floyd

[Dave5Cs]

Scott they are talking about spray welding where they will build it bigger by spraying it with Metal and yes it will make it bigger and then they machine it back to normal size and smoothness and hardness. Work very well if they know what they are doing...It is done all the time in big machines industries.
Dave

[belfert]

I am surprised the shop can't recommend a local company that can repair the spindle.  Axle Surgeons is a nationwide company that does this.

I damaged a tag axle spindle when the bearing failed.  My friend knew a local company here in Minneapolis that repaired the axle for a reasonable price.

[kyle4501]

When I talked to Axle Surgeons, they said they can fix the rear axles, but would not weld on the steering axle.

They said they could cut off the bad end of the axle & weld in a new spindle. A top of the line repair for sure.

Sad to hear you need this repair, but at least it isn't the whole axle that is bad.

Good luck!

[Oonrahnjay]

When I talked to Axle Surgeons, they said they can fix the rear axles, but would not weld on the steering axle.

They said they could cut off the bad end of the axle & weld in a new spindle. A top of the line repair for sure.

Sad to hear you need this repair, but at least it isn't the whole axle that is bad.

Good luck! 

       I'm confused.  His first post said "drive axle spindle" but the photo looks like a front steer spindle to me, too.  What's up?

[oltrunt]

I've had both crankshafts and axles spray welded a number of times without any failures--but there is always a first time I 'spose.  Jack

[B_K]

http://axlesurgeons.com:82/about_us.a5w

http://www.theaxledoctor.com/index.html
  BK 

[Jim Eh.]

       I'm confused.  His first post said "drive axle spindle" but the photo looks like a front steer spindle to me, too.  What's up?

Steer axle spindles are not hollow and the trailing arm with the shock connected to it would not allow too much turning radius. It's a drive axle.

[kyle4501]

What Jim said

       I'm confused.  His first post said "drive axle spindle" but the photo looks like a front steer spindle to me, too.  What's up?

The rear looks like the front - just larger diameter & hollow for the axle shaft to pass thru.
The top pic doesn't show the end, but the next one does.


The problem with spray welding is machining the part on the vehicle. The seal surface & bearing seats must be perfectly aligned and true to each other for the bearings & seal to last.

[B_K]

http://axlesurgeons.com:82/about_us.a5w

http://www.theaxledoctor.com/index.html
  BK 

A whole lot easier and cheaper than having it welded and machined!
  BK 

[Jim Eh.]

So update on our bus currently in the shop here in Texas, our drive axle spindle I guess is damaged from a bearing being too loose. They think it might be OK for us to drive on but they said it will probably continue to leak oil slowly out of it. They mentioned something about having someone weld it and build it back up and then machine it down, is there anyone that anybody knows that can do something like this? What are my options?  Do I need to replace the entire axle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That damage will not necessarily cause an oil leak. Did they slide the outer bearing onto the spindle and check the lateral runout? As long as the outer bearing does not "wiggle" and the inner/outer bearings are true to each other you should be able to set the bearing preload just fine. Make sure they (you) check the seal journal all the way around the circumference. Sometimes there is "hidden" damage to the journal on the underside.

Set the bearing with the pre-load method to properly set the wheel bearing   { https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63TD2vkMHbM } (a few mistakes in this clip but the jist of it is there). Pre load is now favored over the end play method now a days. Hard to quantify .001 - .005" of end play on a 300# hub and wheel assembly.

[Jim Eh.]

FWIW a growing number of government jurisdictions no longer accept spray weld repairs on axle stubs, spindles or trailer king pins. Axle stub REPLACEMENT is still acceptable tho.