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08-23-2012, 08:32 PM
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#21
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3 Rivet Member
1976 31' Sovereign
Bothell
, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 176
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Thank you so much for the pics and spending your lunch time helping all of us
__________________
Did you want fries with that?
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08-23-2012, 08:46 PM
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#22
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1 Rivet Member
1972 23' Safari
East Olympia
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 15
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Very good info.
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08-23-2012, 09:11 PM
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#23
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,523
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I think negative angle (with negative in this case being above horizontal) or lack of travel when unloaded is the more important indicator. I guess negative angle indicates overloading?
In any event, my 37-year-old axles were slightly negative at rest with the trailer empty, but the reason I just replaced the axles was that they only rotated around 5-8 degrees when I lifted the trailers on jacks. Oh, and Argosy wheel wells seem to be cut a little higher than same-year Airstream wells... plenty of tire showed above the rims even with a bit of negative angle at rest.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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08-23-2012, 09:25 PM
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#24
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Trying again.
Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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08-23-2012, 09:40 PM
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#25
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage
Trying again.
Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?
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Sorry, I thought you were being funny with your earlier post...
Yes, that is the front, which is welded to a almost square rod that goes into the axle tube. The other (rear) end is where the spindle, backing plate and brake drum reside.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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08-23-2012, 10:01 PM
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#26
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage
Trying again.
Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?
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The back of the trailing arm, is towards the back of the trailer, as well as where the spindle is located.
Andy
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08-24-2012, 07:24 AM
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#27
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage
Trying again.
Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?
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All seriousness aside, the arrow points to the point where the trailing arm attaches to the axle shaft.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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08-24-2012, 08:00 AM
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#28
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 488
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There is no doubt that when the rubber gets old and inflexible, the axle is shot. It is too bad that they don't make a removable cartridge that can be easily replaced.
By the way, Flexiride makes their axles adjustable for the angle. It is a real nice feature.
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08-24-2012, 08:55 AM
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#29
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic
All seriousness aside, the arrow points to the point where the trailing arm attaches to the axle shaft.
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That arrow points to the "leading" end of the torsion arm.
It also appears that the arm, as it goes rearward, is going slightly uphill.
Andy
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08-24-2012, 12:57 PM
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#30
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Always learning
1972 29' Ambassador
1962 19' Globetrotter
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Central
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,881
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Angle of the dangle arm as viewed from the rear
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage
Trying again.
Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?
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Yes. The big crayon arrow is pointing to the back/aft/rear end of the trailing arm. You can see to the left of the big red crayon arrow the spindle and the brake backing plate with the brake wires going into the backing plate. You can also see the spare tire in its carrier. That would lead me to believe that this photo was taken from the back of the axle looking forward.
__________________
Lance
Work is never done, so take time to play!
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08-24-2012, 01:42 PM
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#31
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Top
Yes. The big crayon arrow is pointing to the back/aft/rear end of the trailing arm. You can see to the left of the big red crayon arrow the spindle and the brake backing plate with the brake wires going into the backing plate. You can also see the spare tire in its carrier. That would lead me to believe that this photo was taken from the back of the axle looking forward.
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The tongue jack and safety chains are pretty good indicators as well.
So these arms are slightly below horizontal as the trailer sits, the spindle end is lower than the torsion end. That's what we like to see, right?
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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08-24-2012, 04:40 PM
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#32
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX
So these arms are slightly below horizontal as the trailer sits, the spindle end is lower than the torsion end. That's what we like to see, right?
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Except it is the camera angle from me crawling under the trailer. The arms are horizontal.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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08-24-2012, 04:46 PM
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#33
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Okay, here are the promised Sport photos. This is a 2013 Sport 22. Thanks to Greg for letting us know about this, before it bit somebody:
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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08-24-2012, 05:20 PM
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#34
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
So, ... The only real way to tell if the axles have life left in them is to jack up the trailer (properly), and observe how much the tires drop when the load is removed....
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It seems I recall a particular case in Florida where jacking up a 31'er caused the tire/hub/trailing arm/square shaft to drop...OFF? Now who could that be?
Great work Overlander63!!!
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08-24-2012, 05:26 PM
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#35
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV
It seems I recall a particular case in Florida where jacking up a 31'er caused the tire/hub/trailing arm/square shaft to drop...OFF? Now who could that be?
Great work Overlander63!!!
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It worked its way out, then when the shock was removed, it slid the rest of the way out of the tube, and off the trailer. No massive hydraulic presses or liquid nitrogen involved.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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08-24-2012, 09:58 PM
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#36
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Thanks very much, all.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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08-27-2012, 10:47 AM
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#37
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1 Rivet Member
1991 25' Excella
Salt Lake City
, Utah
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11
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These two pics from the factory are the best explanation I've seen showing how the "rubber meets the road" in a torsion axle. Not much of an angle seen on these particular fresh from the factory axles....
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08-27-2012, 12:33 PM
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#38
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3 Rivet Member
Commercial Member
1960 24' Tradewind
Riverside
, United States
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 111
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You mean like this?
__________________
Greg Paulsen
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08-27-2012, 02:29 PM
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#39
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 488
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Flexiride makes the torsion arms adjustable with splines.
I could never understand why an axle manufacturer doesn't make the system with a steel tube insert inside a slightly larger axle tube. You could just remove a bolt (bolt would be used to keep cartridge assembly inside axle tube) and slide the old axle cartridge out and dispose of it and slide a new assembly in. If the axle was built with torsion arms like the Flexiride, then the only part to change would be the splined cartridge. There would be no more need to throw away perfectly good axles. The only part that usually goes bad is the rubber. As long as you don't spin a bearing, most of your axle components will last a long time.
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08-27-2012, 03:19 PM
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#40
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Rivet Master
1972 27' Overlander
Denver
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 768
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Terry,
Great work you are a phenomenal resource to newbies like me. Thanks!!
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