| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
What's up with the corrosion ring? Looks like it's right where the bearing sits. Could the inner race be wearing on it?  ~SM | ||
| Skully |
Mine does that too if the anti-seize gets wiped off. I think it's corrosion. Keith | ||
| Darthane |
Steel bearing race + aluminum axle = metal on metal corrosion, perhaps? You've obviously got it off...clean it up, liberally apply anti-sieze, and make sure the bearing ir rolling freely with no hint of play or grinding - then slap it all back together and ride! | ||
| Barnyard |
my axle has the same corrosion on it I think it has to do with dissimilar metals touching each other. | ||
| Hughlysses |
That's it- bimetallic corrosion. The aluminum axle is less "noble" than the steel bearing races. Add moisture and the axle serves as a sacrificial anode for the bearings, just like the hunks of zinc bolted to the hull of a ship. The aluminum axle is slowly dissolved while the steel remains unaffected. Anti-seize will help protect the axle from this effect. I agree with most of what Darthane says, but the bearings don't really need to roll on the axle. Once you put it together on the bike, the inner races of the bearings are "pinched" between the swingarm, spacer, and axle shoulder and don't turn on the axle at all. Still, that's probably a good check. If the axle's so corroded that the bearing won't turn freely on it, it might even be structurally damaged, and it might be best to replace it. | ||
| Swordsman |
Thanks for the feedback. Hell if it wasn't for Badweb and the search tool, I'd still be scratching my head over how this thing comes off. The manual instructions are frikkin' vague: "Remove the axle".  ~SM | ||
| Kmfw160 |
anyone know how much a new rear axle costs? I think I'll replace mine. VA has given her hell. lol | ||
| Swordsman |
Alrighty! Done deal... the wheel is off and currently riding in the trunk of my car. I'll be dropping it off at the shop this afternoon for new rubber. I checked the bearings, and while they're not pretty, they still spin freely without any noise. I got the axle corrosion cleaned up best I could (some super-fine polishing compound and a rotary tool). Hopefully I can get it all put back together without incident! ~SM | ||
| Wardamneagle |
My axle does the same thing | ||
| Nik |
That's it- bimetallic corrosion. The aluminum axle is less "noble" than the steel bearing races. Add moisture and the axle serves as a sacrificial anode for the bearings, just like the hunks of zinc bolted to the hull of a ship. The aluminum axle is slowly dissolved while the steel remains unaffected. Anti-seize will help protect the axle from this effect. The axle isn't aluminum, its galvanized steel. Same principle though. | ||
| Hogs |
Nik, Thanks for that bit of info there, The axle isn't aluminum, its galvanized steel. Same principle though. HAd thought it was some special Grade of Aluminum, Never did give it much thought though, Good to know the difference ,just the same... | ||
| Brumbear |
put in a new one if you don't like it also change your wheel bearings the money will be well spent even if it doesn't need one |
