And, I really didn't have to replace the spindle. It had a little damage an
hour or two of grinder/dremell work could have fixed, however, my parts
supplier, Wheco didn't have the brass bearing from inside the spindle, in
stock. The bearing didn't look like it suffered damage from this event, but
did show some wear. Rather than wait a couple of weeks for the part and do
the grinder work I elected to buy the spindle with the bearing in it.
Spindle aside, my parts cost of $66.00 amazes me. The 5 mile tow was more.
David
PS. After close examination in my laboratoy, I have discovered a secret
weapon our armed forces used in Vietnam and the Gulf, cleverly hidden in the
shape of an unassuming troop carrier (M35a2).
The axles are designed to jetison an unguided 400 pound projectile (the
Wheel, hub and brake drum assemply) one way, and a 13,003 lb. semiguided
projectile (the rest of the truck and passenger-former driver) the other,
when the outer wheel bearing fails. Successful destruction of the target
depends largely upon, carefully aiming of the vehicle just before a bearing
failure, and high speed.