DK Custom Products

Phone: 662.252.8828
Text: 662.420.4891
Email: [email protected]

Trike Rear Axle Bearing Retainer Plates and why you need them

 Rather see a video?

 

Does your Tri-Glide or Freewheeler's rear end feel like something is loose, or clicking, when rocked side to side?

Chances are it does!

...The reason for this is because of the very thin bearing retainer plates that are used in the rear end. 

Not only are the OEM retainer plates structurally weak, they also lack adequate capability to seal and protect the bearings from moisture, dirt, and debris.

Take a look...

Upon closer examination, you can see the plates have witness marks from all of the movement.

 

Here's a better photo of both plates, where the witness marks are clearly visible.

 

 

What may be even more disconcerting is how much the outer surface of the bearings can become banged up from all the movement in the axle housing.

 

What is supposed to happen is that the bearing fits snugly in the axle housing, and then the bearing retainer plate is supposed to tighten up against the outer bearing surface and hold the bearing immobile in the housing.

 

Instead, because of loose HD tolerances, AND because the bearing retainer plate is a stamped material, AND too thin, it loses (or never had) it's completely flat surface. The result is that there is space between the outer bearing surface and the retainer plate.

This allows the bearing to move inside the axle housing, resulting in:

1. Banging up the bearing

2. Banging up/wearing the inner diameter of the axle housing

3. Back & forth Tire/wheel movement, which results in clicking, clanking and #4 below

4. Since the wheel end of the axle has rocking movement, that means the far end of the axle (which sits in the differential) has even more up and down movement. This results in worn splines, or worse!

Photo of axle housing worn because of bearing movement-

Photo of worn splines...

  

As seen in this photo, water can just sit in the axle housing and start rusting...

  

 

 Here is the Solution

 

 

Replacing the OEM support plates  with our 2.5X thicker plates

These plates have a 2/100" shoulder that butts up against the bearing. This makes sure that there is NO rocking or movement of the bearing in the axle housing, even if that surface it bolts to is not completely flat (accommodating poor tolerances).

It also has a place for an o-ring, so there is no chance of water getting in there and sitting.

 

Installation is easy and straight forward... A Direct replacement  for the OEM bearing retainer plates

 

The Difference is Undeniable

 

Get yours HERE