Hello Paul,

you could but as you will be taking the thruster out, why not do the simple job of replacing the bearings with new sealed ones? They are not expensive. All you need is a puller to get them off and a tube to tap them back on if you don't have access to a press. You will find that the thruster will sound smother afterwards. Amel now use sealed bearings or so I have heard.

Regarding the play in your hub, please note that the stainless sleeve does not extend much beyond the lip seal. (See my photo in the photo's section), so the pin does not go through the sleeve. Sounds like you need to replace the hub. They do get sloppy after much use.

Good luck

Ian Shepherd SM2K 414 Crusader About to depart for Cyprus