third axel bent

[patrick mckenzie]

help. the third axel on my 84` 34.5 moterhome appears to be bent. when i bought her the rear two wheels had an angle to them. i did not think it was a problem. but this weekend on the road the tire started rubing on the sidewall. i had to take the tire off in order to get home. looking at the square tubing that makes up the axel i can see a bend of as much as one half inch most on one end. what can i do to straghten and reinforce this axel.

[Ultradog]

I believe if it were mine I would bring it in to a place that repairs axles and springs on heavy trucks and get their opinion.
They have the expertise to at least see maybe what caused it in the first place and could reccomend neccessary repairs. Then depending on what they told me I might try to tackle the job myself or just have them do it.
I don't know that you have to be brilliant to get it realigned and straight again. But you would have to willing to tackle some big, possibly rusted bolts etc. and either have a hydraulic press to straighten the axle or be able to weld in something new.

[geof]

Cost me $180 to get axels rebent-hubs relubed-seals replaced-bolts and shim/bushings replaced with new U-bolts and an alignment on my boat trailer....go to a truck shop and get it done right!....ain't worth you time to do it yourself in the driveway....with a truck alignment rack it was done in an hour.....tool another hour to do the odds ans ends....geof

[85MH325]

Your tag axle is most likely a Henschen Dura-Torque with electric brakes. At least it was on my '85 325. It sounds like you have more going on than just an alignment issue to me. If yours is indeed a Henschen, Call an Airstream motorhome dealer ASAP and see what they recommend. I'm not sure that the average truck alignment shop would know what to do with it. If you do take it to a truck shop, I would recommend that you call ahead and ask if they have experience with Henschen axles.

Roger