Has anyone ever tried rejuvenating a rubber torsion axle?

[drboyd]

Seems like you could jack the trailer up to unload the wheel, drill a couple holes in the flat sides of the axle near the ends, squirt in half a tube of RTV silicone, and wait like 24 hours until it sets.

I'm sure someone has tried it; I'm just interested in what happened...

[Action]

I seriously doubt that would make a difference. And there are hundreds of old axles that have been removed. (if not thousands)

It isn't about the surface of the rubber which is all you would reach by spraying into a hole in the axle. AND the rubber over fills the metal tube. So drilling a hole might have rubber squeezing to get out the hole.

The longer the rubber rods the more weight it can handle. So the rubber rods come in different lengths and are nearer to the outside of the axles.

>>>>>>>Action

[drboyd]

I was thinking that if the trailer is lower, then it's because the rubber rods are permanently squished and hardened. The RTV would fill the space that used to be occupied by the now smaller rods.

[Action]

There is no space inside the axle housing.

The rubber has hardened not contracted.

>>>>>>>>>>Action

[SpletKay06]

You could squirt all the rtv you want in there. But the rubber wont magicly renew itself and there's little to no room anyways.

[AtomicNo13]

Conventional brake fluid will rejuvinate old rubber....temporarially

[eubank]

If you use silicone brake fluid, it may cause the rubber to swell. But the stuff makes pretty good shoe polish (do not ask; another MG story). And, needing a lot of it, you will probably be better off financially by buying new axles.
Lynn

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

Conventional brake fluid will rejuvinate old rubber....temporarially

[morganobenn]

Call Inland RV and talk to Andy Rogozinski -- 800-877-7311. He is an expert on axles. I think the answer is that you can't rejuvenate one.

[Thalweg]

I've often wondered if heat would rejuvenate the rubber. It will with some rubbers an plastics. I replaced my axle a couple of years ago, and my old one is still out in the yard, waiting to go to the recycler. I'm tempted to try it just to see what would happen. If only I could figure out a way to heat it without burning the rubber. The wife would probably be unhappy if I tried shoving it in the oven.

[Native143]

I have just dealt with an axle. And getting lessons about it. Yes the rubber bushings inside the axle compress, and do not rejuvenate. As they compress the axle bends. Speak with Billy at American Frame and Axle 813-620-9151. He's very helpful.

[mcomeaux]

No way....

[altnbndr]

After changing my axle I had to see the "mysterious" inside of the old one.

[Action]

The four rubber rods in that axle are what create the spring! The longer the rod the higher the load rating.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[dwightdi]

I have never measured the spring rate for my trailers. If the rubber compound Airstream/Henchel/Dexter uses is the same for all axles and only the length is increased to increase the load capacity, the axle's spring rate will also increase. That means, the higher the load capacity, the more severe the ride.

[drboyd]

Here's what I mean about drilling a hole in the side of the axle tube and filling some of the voids with RTV.....

Much thanks to altnbndr for the excellent photos....

[morganobenn]

It is a torsion spring axle. The square-ish rod is the torsion spring. The rubber 'rods' are the internal dampers. The rubber rods are inserted at the time of manufacture by freezing them in liquid nitrogen to make them shrink and become rigid for insertion. Over time, the rubber will harden and the torsion suspension takes a permanent set thus requiring replacement.

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by altnbndr

After changing my axle I had to see the "mysterious" inside of the old one.

Thanks for posting. I always wondered.