Post by CorvettCrzy on Aug 13, 2018 17:52:49 GMT -8
Got the scoop on the Franklin wheels/brakes/hubs today.
1. The wheel bearings are a version where the outer bearing is smaller 3/4 OD, which they don't make anymore, they are fine but if they go bad my axle is toast.
2. Brakes are in surprisingly good shape, "maybe someone replaced them at some point".
3. Ordered seals (seems to think these are tough to find, I've never read about a problem from anyone else) hoping they will be the right size.
4. The studs (two are broken) are the old size 7/8", he could replace them but the standard is 1/2" now, my wheels are plenty big and could take the 1/2" no problem.
5. The brake plate rivets had to be drilled out (knew this) and that he always replaces them with a bolt and cone? type nut, but those are getting harder to find, will probably be obsolete soon.
6. New axle would be around $600 with shipping and labor, and although he's been trying to convince me that it'd be better to replace the whole thing so I don't get stuck on the side of the road and not be able to get parts, he sounded like now he thought it'd be wiser to fix the old one.
What I decided to do:
1. Fix the original axle.
2. Repack the existing bearings.
3. Replace all studs on both wheels with the standard 1/2" (removing both break plates) and replacing the rivets with the bolt/nut combo he normally uses.
Did I do the right thing? It's not too late to change my mind, he's waiting on the seals.
1. The wheel bearings are a version where the outer bearing is smaller 3/4 OD, which they don't make anymore, they are fine but if they go bad my axle is toast.
2. Brakes are in surprisingly good shape, "maybe someone replaced them at some point".
3. Ordered seals (seems to think these are tough to find, I've never read about a problem from anyone else) hoping they will be the right size.
4. The studs (two are broken) are the old size 7/8", he could replace them but the standard is 1/2" now, my wheels are plenty big and could take the 1/2" no problem.
5. The brake plate rivets had to be drilled out (knew this) and that he always replaces them with a bolt and cone? type nut, but those are getting harder to find, will probably be obsolete soon.
6. New axle would be around $600 with shipping and labor, and although he's been trying to convince me that it'd be better to replace the whole thing so I don't get stuck on the side of the road and not be able to get parts, he sounded like now he thought it'd be wiser to fix the old one.
What I decided to do:
1. Fix the original axle.
2. Repack the existing bearings.
3. Replace all studs on both wheels with the standard 1/2" (removing both break plates) and replacing the rivets with the bolt/nut combo he normally uses.
Did I do the right thing? It's not too late to change my mind, he's waiting on the seals.
