SB-10045092-4411

TP-1268
Issued 05-12

Replacing Grease-lubricated
Conventional Bearing Wheel Ends
with Oil-lubricated Conventional
Bearing Wheel Ends

Technical Bulletin

Meritor TL Series Trailer Axles Equipped
with Conventional Wheel Ends

Hazard Alert Messages

How to Obtain Tools

Read and observe all Warning and Caution hazard alert messages in
this publication. They provide information that can help prevent
serious personal injury, damage to components, or both.

Call Meritor’s Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket at 888-725-9355.

Issued
1TP-1268
Technical
05-12
Bulletin

WARNING
To prevent serious eye injury, always wear safe eye protection
when you perform vehicle maintenance or service.
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Block the wheels to
prevent the vehicle from moving. Support the vehicle with
safety stands. Do not work under a vehicle supported only by
jacks. Jacks can slip and fall over. Serious personal injury and
damage to components can result.

ASBESTOS AND NON-ASBESTOS
FIBERS WARNING
Some brake linings contain asbestos fibers, a cancer and lung
disease hazard. Some brake linings contain non-asbestos
fibers, whose long-term effects to health are unknown. You
must use caution when you handle both asbestos and
non-asbestos materials.

Replacement Procedures for Campaign
C11AA
This bulletin provides procedures to install conventional bearing
wheel ends with oil on Meritor TL Series trailer axles equipped with
conventional greased bearing wheel ends.

Remove the TL Series Conventional
Hub with Grease
1.

Wear safe eye protection. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Block the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. Set the
parking brake.

2.

Raise the trailer until the tires are off the ground.

3.

Place safety stands under the trailer frame or under each axle
spring seat. Figure 1.

Figure 1

CAUTION
Only repair areas on the axle spindle and seal journal with a
crocus or emery cloth. Do not use pneumatic or electric power
tools, which can excessively remove material from these
areas. Damage to components can result.

How to Obtain Additional Maintenance
and Service Information
4003159a

Refer to Maintenance Manual 14, Trailer Axles. To access this
publication, visit Literature on Demand at meritor.com.

How to Obtain Parts
Call the Meritor OnTrac Customer Service Center at 866-OnTrac1
(668-7221) to obtain service parts for the C11AA campaign.

Figure 1

4.

Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to the wheel
manufacturer’s service information for correct procedures.
Figure 2.

7.

Figure 2

Use a 5 mm Allen-head socket and wrench to loosen and
remove the two button-head screws. Thoroughly clean them
and place them in a clean area. They will be reused during
reassembly. Figure 5.

Figure 5

4003160a
4008979b
Figure 2
Figure 5

5.

De-adjust and release the brakes. Remove the brake drum.
Figure 3.

8.

Figure 3

BRAKE
DRUM

Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges on the
retaining washer. Remove the spindle nut and retaining
washer. Thoroughly clean them and place them in a clean area.
They will be reused during reassembly. Figure 6.

Figure 6

4009192a
Figure 3

4004310c

6.

Remove the hubcap and hubcap gasket. Figure 4.
Figure 6

Figure 4

9.

Remove the outer bearing and discard. These used bearings
will not be reused.

CAUTION
Always use a metal plate at the end of the spindle when you
use a puller to remove a hub to prevent damage to the spindle
end plug.
10. Either loosen the hub from the spindle by hand or use a puller
to remove the hub from the axle spindle as follows. Figure 7.

4004305a

A.

Install a metal plate onto the end of the spindle.

B.

Attach a three-pronged puller to the hub.

C.

While holding the puller screw stationary, spin the hub to
break it free from the axle.

D.

Remove the puller from the axle.

Figure 4

TP-1268
Issued 05-12
Page 2

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2012

(16579)
Printed in USA

Clean and Inspect the Hub

Figure 7

Spin the hub.

WARNING

METAL PLATE

PULLER
SCREW

Solvent cleaners can be flammable, poisonous and cause
burns. Examples of solvent cleaners are carbon tetrachloride,
and emulsion-type and petroleum-base cleaners. Read the
manufacturer’s instructions before using a solvent cleaner,
then carefully follow the instructions. Also follow the
procedures below.

4009139a

앫 Wear safe eye protection.

Figure 7

앫 Wear clothing that protects your skin.

11. Pull the hub as straight as possible off the spindle to avoid
damaging the axle spindle. Figure 8.

앫 Work in a well-ventilated area.
앫 Do not use gasoline, or solvents that contain gasoline.
Gasoline can explode.

Figure 8

앫 You must use hot solution tanks or alkaline solutions
correctly. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before
using hot solution tanks and alkaline solutions. Then
carefully follow the instructions.

4009140a

1.

Use a cloth or parts solvent wash to clean the hub cavity,
removing all the old grease and any contamination.

2.

Dry the hub to reduce oxidation build-up.

3.

Inspect the hub thoroughly for any damage to the hub cap
gasket face and seal area.

Figure 8

앫 If damage exists that cannot be repaired: Replace the
hub.

12. Remove the oil seal. This seal must be discarded. Never reuse
an oil seal after the hub has been dismounted from the axle.
Figure 9.

WARNING
Observe all warnings and cautions provided by the press
manufacturer to avoid damage to components and serious
personal injury.

Figure 9

CAUTION
Do not use old cups or cones, or damage to components can
result.
4.

Use a drift or press with a bearing cup driver to remove the
bearing cups from the hub, making sure that the bearing bore
within the hub is not damaged. Discard and do not re-use the
bearing cups.

5.

Make sure the hub cavity is clean, free of grease and free from
visual damage, debris, burrs or any oxidation.

6.

Inspect the hubcap face and clean any oxidation that is
present.

4009927a
Figure 9

13. Remove the inner bearing and discard. These used bearings
will not be reused.

(16579)
Printed in USA

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2012

TP-1268
Issued 05-12
Page 3

CAUTION

Figure 12

Bearing cups and cones are clearly marked by manufacturer
type for identification. Never assemble a bearing cone using a
cup from another manufacturer. Always check that bearing
components are new and from the same manufacturer before
installation. Damage to components can result.
7.

COMPLETE
SEAL JOURNAL

SPINDLE BEARING
JOURNAL
THREADS

Insert the bearing cups into the hub and using the correct
bearing cup driver, Euclid part number E-6040 or O.T.C part
number 7180, drive the cup fully home to make sure the cup is
seated squarely against the hub shoulder. Figure 10.

AREAS TO BE CLEANED

4009818a

Figure 12
Figure 10

BEARING
CUP

CUP
DRIVER

Figure 13

CUP MUST
BOTTOM
OUT ALL
AROUND

4009934a
Figure 10

8.

SEAL JOURNAL/SPINDLE BEFORE CLEANING

Check that the cups are retained correctly by making sure each
cup has no axial movement or rotation.

4009816a
Figure 13

Clean and Inspect the Spindle
Figure 14

1.

Clean the axle spindle and oil seal journal by wiping with a
clean rag and using solvent. If needed, these areas can be
cleaned using emery or crocus cloth. Figure 11 and Figure 12.
Figure 13 and Figure 14 are before and after cleaning
examples.

Figure 11

SEAL JOURNAL/SPINDLE AFTER CLEANING
4009817a
Figure 14

4004296a
Figure 11

TP-1268
Issued 05-12
Page 4

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2012

(16579)
Printed in USA

CAUTION

Figure 16

SEAL JOURNAL

Do not use pneumatic or electric power tools with a sanding
pad to repair the axle spindle and seal journal. These tools can
remove too much material and create flat spots. Seal and
bearing damage can occur, resulting in damage to other
components.
2.

Clean the entire surface 360°
all around 1.32" (33.53 mm).

4.623"
(117.42 mm)
MIN.

Check the axle spindle and seal journal for scratches, nicks or
wear marks. Repair them with a crocus or emery cloth or
electric power tool and wire brush wheel. Do not use
pneumatic or electric power tools with a sanding pad. Using a
pneumatic or electric power tool and sanding pad can remove
too much material and create flat spots. Figure 15.

4009917a
Figure 16

Figure 15

CAUTION
Remove all debris from the joint between the hub and axle
backup collar. Debris in this joint can cause the hub to lose
clamp load. Damage to components can result.
5.

CROCUS
OR
EMERY
CLOTH
4001730a

Use your finger to verify that the hub side of the axle backup
collar is clear of debris. Use a clean rag and solvent to clean,
as needed. Figure 17.

Figure 17

Figure 15

BACKUP
COLLAR

CAUTION
The seal journal must be clean and free from nicks, flat spots,
rust and debris. If not cleaned correctly, the seal journal can
cause seal and bearing damage, resulting in damage to
components.
3.

4.

4001731b

Verify the complete and entire seal journal is clean the full
1.32-inch (33.53 mm) width of the seal journal up to and
including the seal flange.
Measure the collar to ensure the diameter is
4.623-4.630-inches (117.42-117.6 mm). Figure 16.

Figure 17

6.

Check and clean the spindle threads. Figure 12.
앫 If the threads are not free running and no more than
two threads are damaged: Repair the threads with a
thread file, Snap-On® part number TFTFM932, or
equivalent.

앫 If the collar diameter is below 4.623-inches
(117.42 mm) after cleaning: Replace the axle.

앫 If there are more than two threads damaged: Replace
the axle beam. Refer to Maintenance Manual 14 for the
procedures.
7.

(16579)
Printed in USA

Apply a light coat of oil to the spindle and seal journal.

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2012

TP-1268
Issued 05-12
Page 5