Last spring, during the pre purchase inspection,
my mechanic alerted me to damaged
threads on the spindle on the middle
axle passengers side. The mechanic
noted that the bearing was not loose
and he believed that the damage had
occurred during some past service.
>
Last night during the rebuilding of =
suspension and brakes on my coach
I discovered damaged threads on the
spindle on the middle axle drivers side.
The bearing was snug also suggesting
damage during some past service
(or the mechanical inspection I initiated
prior to purchase)
>
Now that I have found another instance,
with both being on the middle axle I wonder........
>
I think the question worth asking is "has
anyone had the threads on the end of any
rear spindle fail in service and if so in what
position and if so under what circumstances?"
>
I would rate a failure under service as one where
a spindle with a properly lubed and adjusted rear
bearing had a problem in service and when dismantled
the castle nut (or spindle) was found to have stripped
allowing the bearing clearances to open.
>
Please note that I am not saying I have had a failure under
service. In both cases the bearings were snug. It is only the
coincidence of both damaged spindles being on the center
axle with the configuration of tandem axles at the rear that
causes me to wonder what caused the problem in the 1st
place. Under certain conditions (like tight turns)
the tandam axles can create significant side loading on the
threads at the ends of the spindles. Has significant side loading
ever caused these threads to fail?
>
I also will need to decide how I feel about the mechanic that did the
prepurchase inspection and his lack of notification at that time
of the problem with the second spindle.
>
Regards
>
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
my mechanic alerted me to damaged
threads on the spindle on the middle
axle passengers side. The mechanic
noted that the bearing was not loose
and he believed that the damage had
occurred during some past service.
>
Last night during the rebuilding of =
suspension and brakes on my coach
I discovered damaged threads on the
spindle on the middle axle drivers side.
The bearing was snug also suggesting
damage during some past service
(or the mechanical inspection I initiated
prior to purchase)
>
Now that I have found another instance,
with both being on the middle axle I wonder........
>
I think the question worth asking is "has
anyone had the threads on the end of any
rear spindle fail in service and if so in what
position and if so under what circumstances?"
>
I would rate a failure under service as one where
a spindle with a properly lubed and adjusted rear
bearing had a problem in service and when dismantled
the castle nut (or spindle) was found to have stripped
allowing the bearing clearances to open.
>
Please note that I am not saying I have had a failure under
service. In both cases the bearings were snug. It is only the
coincidence of both damaged spindles being on the center
axle with the configuration of tandem axles at the rear that
causes me to wonder what caused the problem in the 1st
place. Under certain conditions (like tight turns)
the tandam axles can create significant side loading on the
threads at the ends of the spindles. Has significant side loading
ever caused these threads to fail?
>
I also will need to decide how I feel about the mechanic that did the
prepurchase inspection and his lack of notification at that time
of the problem with the second spindle.
>
Regards
>
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
