Trailer wheel alignment

[LarryB]

I broke a trailer axel near Mulege Baja this winter and had to do a roadside weld repair. Needless to say the alignment on my rear axel is really eating up the tires now. I could take it to a shop but I figured "How hard could it be?" I know the only way to align them is to bend the axels. I can build a hydraulic device to do the bending but I need to know where the alignment needs to be. My first guess would be straight and square under full load.



Anyone know anything about this?

 

[Prairie Dog]

I agree with your square and straight under load thoughts. It seems like it would be as simple as wrapping a string around both tires on each side and making sure their straight. You'll have to do some other measuring to compare side to side parallel straightness but it couldn't be too hard could it?

 

[B.G. Smith]

align

You need to check the straight ahead alignment if it is eating up the tires. As suggested above, stretch a string or hold a straight edge along the side of the tires, the trailer needs to be pulled straight for a few feet to make sure the axles are not in a bind from turning before you do the checking. The camber is important but should not cause undue wear except to one side of tire over time. Also chek the spring hanger and equalizer bushingsm mine were worn completely out. bg

 

[LarryB]

Thanks guys!

I checked and both wheels on one side are out, left front is toe-in 3/8" and the left rear is toe-out 1/2". Yeeow!



Now I'll need to make a jig for my 12ton jack to do some axel bending.

 

[Mac]

Don't know what size axle you have, but you can buy a new 3500 lb axle complete with bearings and drums for $200.

 

[Wally]

keep us posted on results of aligning axles there is a shop in town that charges 125 per but my 5er will not fit under there door I also would not be afraid of trying to align the problem with just replacing axles is that it all has to do with how they were jigged from factory and not the fact that they are BENT

 

[Ron Bissett]

You stated you broke a axle and that you welded it and now its out of alignment . The axle is bent at the factory and should be at a 12 o'clock position the weld you did was to the spindle was it not . Best bet cut and re weld the spindle the other side of the axle is still in position if it was not moved and the bend should still be in the 12 position do as others stated and align the spindle /wheel and re weld after cutting off the bad weld Or get a new axle from Dexter .com Ron in Louisville Metro KY

 

[Mac]

Wally

I'm not an expert on alignment, but I bet the factory never checks alignment. They assume the frame is built to a spec and the axle is built to a spec. If you put on a new replacement axle that has the same spec as the old one it should be very close to aligned unless you have bent the frame or hangers or the bushings in the suspesion are worn out.

 

[JPS]

New Axles

Where can you buy new axles for $200? jps

 

[B.G. Smith]

Where can

A 3500 pound axle would be like a boat trailer or utility trailer axle. I guess some of the smaller travel trailers might have them too. Places like Tractor Supply and Northern Tools and others sell complete axles. I don't thinlk you can get even a 3500 pound axle with brakes for that. Axles on my trailer are 5000 pound rated and many have 6000 rated axles. bg

 

[Mac]

JPS

Try here

www.southwestwheel.com

3,500 lb. Standard Spring Trailer Axle



Axle: 2 3/8" diameter x 3/16" nom. wall round tubing.



Brake: 10" x 2 1/4" electric is standard, a parking brake and a hydraulic brake are available as options.



Hub/Drum: Idler hubs and hub/drums available in 5-4. 5", 5-4. 75", 5-5", 5-5. 5", or 6-5. 5"



Lubrication: Grease



Spindle: Type 84 with an inner journal dimension of 1 3/8" and an outer journal dimension of 1 1/16"







Axles are available in different lengths or hub faces.







Axle price with idler hubs: $72. 64 each



Axle price with electric brakes: $186. 40 each



Axle price does not include springs, hangers, or u-bolts







Additional items for 3,500 lb. axles:



Leaf Spring Part Number: SW4B - $14. 63 each (need two per axle)



U-bolt Kit Part Number and Price: APUBR238BX - $11. 95 per kit (one axle)



Hanger Kit for Single Axle Part Number and Price: APS1BX - $15. 87



Hanger Kit for Tandem Setup Part Number and Price: APT3BX - $39. 51







5,200 lb. Standard Spring Trailer Axle



Axle: 3" diameter x 3/16" wall round tubing.



Brake: 12" x 2" electric is standard with a hydraulic brake available as an option.



Hub/Drum: Idler hubs and hub/drums available in 6-5. 5"



Lubrication: Grease



Spindle: Type 42 with an inner journal dimension of 1 3/4" and an outer journal dimension of 1 1/4"







Axles are available in different lengths or hub faces.







Axle price with idler hubs: $128. 08 each



Axle price with electric brakes: $249. 05 each



Axle price does not include springs, hangers, or u-bolts





My 28 ft Cougar fifth wheel has 3500 lb axles.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Wrong again

I was wrong again. I think that is less than I paid just for brakes on mine, good to know. Thanks. bg

 

[LarryB]

Thanks for the good source Mac.



Mine are UFP axels with disk brakes and I use a electric/hydraulic Ausco master cyl. I'm planning to add a third axel soon. These axels/brakes run about $650 delivered plus I would hate to mix and match so I think I'll try alignment first.



Larry



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