Axle condition: it ain't just the angle

[Uzzah]

Thank you so much for the pics and spending your lunch time helping all of us

[JM7]

Very good info.

[DKB_SATX]

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.

[Aage]

Trying again.

Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Aage

Trying again.

Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?

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.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Aage

Trying again.

Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?

The back of the trailing arm, is towards the back of the trailer, as well as where the spindle is located.

Andy

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Aage

Trying again.

Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?

All seriousness aside, the arrow points to the point where the trailing arm attaches to the axle shaft.

[M2HB]

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.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

All seriousness aside, the arrow points to the point where the trailing arm attaches to the axle shaft.

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

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by Aage

Trying again.

Is the item I point out with the red arrow the back of the trailing arm?

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.

[DKB_SATX]

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.

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?

[overlander63]

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?

Except it is the camera angle from me crawling under the trailer. The arms are horizontal.

[overlander63]

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:

[HiHoAgRV]

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....

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!!!

[overlander63]

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!!!

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.

[Aage]

Thanks very much, all.

[Ducatiman]

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....

[Greg@AirLA]

You mean like this?

[M2HB]

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.

[mccrosti]

Terry,

Great work you are a phenomenal resource to newbies like me. Thanks!!