axle problems

[vcu70]

Everyone is concerned about replacing axles-can someone explain-are they breaking, bending,? how do I know I need to replace my minuet axle?

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by vcu70

Everyone is concerned about replacing axles-can someone explain-are they breaking, bending,? how do I know I need to replace my minuet axle?

I'm not replacing mine, but the problem with the axles on the older trailers is the rubber inside the axle gets hard and "dead" with age and no longer has any spring to it.

The way to determine if yours are bad is to look at the swing arms from under the trailer and see if they are still angled down. If they are bad the swing arms will either be straight with the frame or even angled up.

You can also jack up the trailer and if the axles are good, the wheels and swing arms will have some downward travel.

[overlander64]

Greetings vcu70!

There is an excellent article on Vintage Airstream.com that explains how the Dura-Torque works and how to assess its condition.

Another reason to replace the axle on a Minuet 6.0 Metre is that the base axle is easily overloaded if the coach is not packed carefully. I went with the next heavier axle having a rating 500 pounds greater than the original.

Good luck with your axle assessment!

Kevin

[adore]

Originally Posted by overlander64

Greetings vcu70!
Another reason to replace the axle on a Minuet 6.0 Metre is that the base axle is easily overloaded if the coach is not packed carefully. I went with the next heavier axle having a rating 500 pounds greater than the original.
Kevin

Hi Kevin:
What is the rating of the axle you selected?
André

[overlander64]

Greetings Andre!

Originally Posted by adore

Hi Kevin:
What is the rating of the axle you selected?
André

The 1978 Minuet 6.0 Metre had a 3,000 pound axle as standard. The new axle was ordered with a rating of 3,500 pounds. I just wish that I could have convinced the shop doing the work to go with the maximum down angle as I only gained 1.5" of additional clearance with the new axle.

Kevin