Blew a bearing, is my spindle reusable?

[movietvet]

Way over thinking this. Ground up bearings and damaged spindle. Replace the damn thing and get new bearings and pack them full of grease, the correct way, and install new seal and adjust end play correctly, cotter pin and install cap. Tear down the other side and clean/inspect and put new grease and seal and adjust correctly. This repair and maintenance is as simple as it gets. Move on.

 

[fancyTBI]

The spindle isn’t hard to change on these trucks. I had never done any sort of front end work until last year. Though I know enough to be dangerous, it was not something I would consider difficult. @someotherguy laid out pretty much how I did it and I didn’t even look anything up prior to that. I did put a jack stand under my LCA while I worked on other parts of the front end. This kept the spring in place and I didn’t rely solely on the floor jack.

The mechanic may be right, it’s hard to say without being there or without seeing a very well made video of it. However, I think a lot of good info has been shared here advocating for a new used spindle. Hell if you want new you can buy a brand new one from Rock Auto. I’d probably grab a used one only after comparing to the other side and cleaning the surface with some emery cloth.

You could always blow the other side apart and see how that bearing feels and looks. Compare the two and let us know.

 

[Supercharged111]

Here's my thread from last year.

Spindle Thread Restoral, What Size Threads?

I've got a 97 C1500 in my garage with a pretty new rotor that's trashed. The threads are a little boogered up and I'm not getting them 100% here with the thread file. It's a 1.25mm pitch and the threads are just over 19mm in diameter. Would this be a 19x1.25 or 20x1.25 die? Any other tips or...

www.gmt400.com

 

[Erik the Awful]

I advocated for running it if it checks out, but I'd have a hard time not using the opportunity to put in a dropped spindle.

 

[someotherguy]

I advocated for running it if it checks out, but I'd have a hard time not using the opportunity to put in a dropped spindle.

Mission creep of course for entire drop kit. 4" front/6" rear suggested. DO IT

Richard

 

[Supercharged111]

Mission creep of course for entire drop kit. 4" front/6" rear suggested. DO IT

Richard

He won't. . .

 

[someotherguy]

He won't. . .

Those worms don't go back in the can once opened.

Because then it's also tires and wheels, and fender rolling, and wheelwell trim removal, and.. and..

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Richard

 

[Isaacmacleod]

Way over thinking this. Ground up bearings and damaged spindle. Replace the damn thing and get new bearings and pack them full of grease, the correct way, and install new seal and adjust end play correctly, cotter pin and install cap. Tear down the other side and clean/inspect and put new grease and seal and adjust correctly. This repair and maintenance is as simple as it gets.

New junkyard spindle just came in today, but I’m driving in it in the meantime until I get the time.
I also want to do my ball joints while I’m at it.

 

[someotherguy]

New junkyard spindle just came in today, but I’m driving in it in the meantime until I get the time.
I also want to do my ball joints while I’m at it.

Ball joints at 42K miles? You sure you wanna go there? They're usually good for 100K+ easily, even if they've been neglected for greasing. When I finally replaced the ones on my old '92 they were around 225K but they were pretty bad, as well as the entire rest of the front end.

It's not a fun job. I wouldn't do it unless I could prove they were bad.

Richard

 

[Supercharged111]

I have over 300k on one of my lowers on my 1500. The rest have been replaced, but I kept the original upper that was near 300k. It looked dirty but was still fine. Your replacements will likely be inferior to what's on there now.