GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

What causes bad spalling on the axles? My wheelbearings got noisy about 3K ago and i replaced the bearings with the axlesaver type so that the rollers ride in a different area on the axle. 3K later I had bad spalling again on one side. How could the axles get pitted so badly in only 3K miles? I just replaced my stockers with moser axles and I dont want these to get pitted up!

TRex

iTrader: (3)

Usually spalling is caused by overloading of the bearing on the shaft, effectively deforming the metal. Sometimes it can be from a vibration condition. Is it possible you have a bent axle (out of round could hammer the bearing)?

Is it happening only on the one side - same side both times ?

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Both showed signs of spalling at 82K miles. I then installed axle-saver bearings. at 85K miles the pass side had heavy spalling on the new wear path even worse than the original. I then installed new moser 10 bolt axles and standard timken bearings / seals. Hopefully I wont need new axles again in a few K.

I believe the stock pass axle may have had some runout as some of the brake vibration is now gone. Im not sure how the axles could have bent though. Never hit a curb or anything, and only run street tires.

Thanks for the info.

TRex

iTrader: (3)

Highly unlikely but imbalanced tires could have contributed

chicane

In your case, its poor heat treating.

TRex

iTrader: (3)

I thought about poor heat treating, however because the axle actually forms the inner race, if the heat treating was improper (soft surface) the failure mode would have been grooving of the axle instead of spalling.

99PontTA

poor materials and poor workmanship heat treating the axle....i've replaced my right axle also....also be sure the level oil level is high enough to keep oil out in the tubes...i over fill mine slightly to be sure the bearings are lubed good all the time.

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Yes, The oil was and is always filled up to the fill hole.

This makes me think of something. While I dont yet have one yet, most girdles (rear covers) have the fill hole at what seems to be way below the centerline of the axles. Filling it from this hole would make me think that the axles will not receive any gear oil. What is the general concensus, simply use the stock fill hole?

chicane

Spalling is just the beginning, of what will turn into grooving the axle bearing surface.

99PontTA

one other cause could be dirt-metal in the oil ...but i would think would cause wear not a complete failure.