On this episode of Tech Talk with TMC on Road Gang Radio, host Robert Braswell is joined by Roger Maye, National Service Manager for Consolidated Metco (KMET), to break down one of the most critical—and often overlooked—areas of truck maintenance: wheel ends and spindle inspection.

The conversation centers on TMC’s newly proposed Recommended Practice RP 665: Spindle Inspection Guidelines, which is currently out for ballot. Roger explains why spindle wear frequently goes unnoticed during seal or bearing service, how cone race rotation causes hidden damage, and why technicians must inspect every component once a wheel end is disassembled—not just the part that failed.

Key topics include:

What actually makes up a wheel end (beyond just the wheel itself)

Why spindle shoulders, journals, and mounting hardware matter

How cone race rotation leads to spindle wear and seal failures

Proper spindle measurement techniques and acceptable wear limits

Go/no-go gauges, micrometers, and inspection best practices

How excessive end play contributes to tire wear, bearing failure, and ABS faults

Common mistakes during seal replacement and hub reassembly

What drivers can catch during pre-trip inspections before failures occur

Why clean, correctly filled lubrication is critical to wheel end health

Robert and Roger also explain how TMC Recommended Practices are built through industry consensus, why they are valuable to fleets, owner-operators, and technicians alike, and how RP 665 fits alongside established wheel end RPs like RP 644A.

This episode is essential listening for technicians, fleet managers, owner-operators, and drivers who want to prevent wheel end failures, reduce downtime, and improve safety through proper inspection and preventive maintenance.

Learn more about the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC):

https://tmc.trucking.org 

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