A fixture for replacing brake spiders on heavy duty vehicle and truck axles includes an assembly with a flat reference surface and two internal bores just slightly larger than the respective inner and outer bearing surfaces on the axle having a damaged brake spider. The fixture may have specifically sized bores or may include a plurality of collars which can be utilized in pairs and mounted and retained within the fixture. The fixture also includes longitudinally adjustable rods or fingers extending therefrom which include blind threaded bores. During attachment of the new brake spider, threaded fasteners are inserted into the blind bores to temporarily and properly position the brake spider on the fixture and axle.