New Axle Concerns

[ducks]

I have taken my 1973 Ambassador, to a trailer business to have two new Dexter axles placed on the Airstream. I got a call stating that the axles were on the Airstream, and that it was ready to go. Before I hooked up the Airstream I was checking out the new axles and I found that one tire on each axle was right up against the inside wheel well. When I told the manager of this matter he went out to inspect the tires. I also told him that I would not be able to take the Airstream down the road in this condition. He told me that he would give me a call later in the day has to a solution to this problem. When he did call he advised me that he would order new rims that would off set the tires by an half inch from the inside of the wheel well. The tires are new ST 225/15. Any opinions on this situation. Thanks

[TouringDan]

Ducks

I think you have a major problem here that needs lots of forum members to be aware of so they can help you. This post should not be buried in the middle of this thread. I recommend starting your own thread about the axle problem

Dan

[Aage]

Lots of people are looking at your thread here, and I am certain that someone much smarter and more experienced than me will come along and tell you exactly what's wrong.

In the meanwhile: it sounds a lot like they miscalculated the axle length needed, doesn't it?

And I can't imagine the fix is as easy as changing the offset on your wheels, either.

[DKB_SATX]

The bearings are designed for 0-offset wheels.

It does sound like the axles were ordered too narrow overall, probably an issue of the measurement from axle mounting plate to hub face if the axles mounted up right, but we'd need pictures and/or measurements to be sure.

The cheap fix of going to a different offset will cost you in bearing failures. Also, if it's only *ONE* tire on each axle touching the wheel well, it seems like either the axles aren't mounted properly (they should be centered, after all) or the axles aren't symmetrical.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ducks

I have taken my 1973 Ambassador, to a trailer business to have two new Dexter axles placed on the Airstream. I got a call stating that the axles were on the Airstream, and that it was ready to go. Before I hooked up the Airstream I was checking out the new axles and I found that one tire on each axle was right up against the inside wheel well. When I told the manager of this matter he went out to inspect the tires. I also told him that I would not be able to take the Airstream down the road in this condition. He told me that he would give me a call later in the day has to a solution to this problem. When he did call he advised me that he would order new rims that would off set the tires by an half inch from the inside of the wheel well. The tires are new ST 225/15. Any opinions on this situation. Thanks

What are the specs on your new axles?

I suspect that they were not ordered correctly.

The mounting brackets should be 61 3/8 inches and the hub face should be 80 inches.

Also, what size tires are you using?

Andy

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Where in Maryland is the trailer located? I might be able to give it a look over for you.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Oh, I see. Upper Eastern Shore.

[DavidsonOverlander]

I just had a look at our '74 Sovereign and there is about 1" clearance on one side and 1.5" on the other. This is between the sidewall of the tire and the wheel well. I'm thinking there was a similar variation on your trailer but it didn't matter until axles were installed that moved the wheels in.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

how can the shocks mount with it that close?

[featherbedder]

As far as i feel these are wrong axles, I ordered new axles from Colin Hyde they fit perfect. I would not accept this under any conditions & demand moneys back as they [messed up]

[Sphere Guy]

We're the one tires that were too close on the same side of the trailer?

You were right in not accepting the trailer and towing it.

The vendor's solution is not the answer either. Any offset will reduce your bearing life, ruin spindle's and run hot that normal.

It does seem to be a measurement error, I can't see a mounting error, but....?

Have them double check the measurements and mounting.

As well, with 62overlander, are the shocks mounted correctly? They should be parallel with the wheel and hub.

I would not accept anything less that perfect.

Sid

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I bet they talked him out of shocks. Dexter does not use or recommend them. Only Airstream uses shocks with their(Dexters) axles.

[M2HB]

Check the measurements and if they are wrong (which they are), have them get the correct axles. You didn't have offset rims when you went in there so you shouldn't have offset rims when you leave.

[DavidsonOverlander]

Ask them for the old axles so you can compare the measurements. You should find that they have the measurements that Andy stated in his message.

[M2HB]

What was the outcome of this situation?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I would love to know the same. I am going over to the Eastern Shore today and would have swung by. One post might be the reason for no response....

[Inland RV Center, In]

In the very early 70's, many Airstream's had a different tire clearance from one side to the other.

It had to do with how the chassis was attached to the floor.

The chassis was tilted to 90 degrees, and was only supported at the coupler and bumper.

That caused the chassis to sag, of course, in the middle.

Then the floor, which was assembled as one piece, was attached.

I caught that error when I was visiting a dealer in Ohio, while I was with Caravanner Insurance, training that dealership.

Shortly afterwards, that boo bo method was corrected.

Andy

[ducks]

Originally Posted by M2HB

What was the outcome of this situation?

I went back to the trailer business and told them that I was not going to accept different rims to correct the problem. I also told them that I wanted the axles sent back to Dexter to change the height setting on the axle so the AS was not setting low on the tires. The top edge of the outside wheel well was about level with the top of the rim. I felt if the AS was sitting higher that much less of the tire would be inside the wheel well. I did measure the distant between the front axle and the real axle and the measurement was the same. When the axles are replaced back on the AS I will re-check that measurement and that of the front axle. The tire size that is on the AS is ST225/75R15. Many thanks

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ducks

I went back to the trailer business and told them that I was not going to accept different rims to correct the problem. I also told them that I wanted the axles sent back to Dexter to change the height setting on the axle so the AS was not setting low on the tires. The top edge of the outside wheel well was about level with the top of the rim. I felt if the AS was sitting higher that much less of the tire would be inside the wheel well. I did measure the distant between the front axle and the real axle and the measurement was the same. When the axles are replaced back on the AS I will re-check that measurement and that of the front axle. The tire size that is on the AS is ST225/75R15. Many thanks

If a dealer, especially a non Airstream dealer was asked to order axles for an Airstream, how would they know what the original specs were, let alone increase them to raise the trailer higher than original.

Some Airstream parts, should be obtained from an Airstream dealer, who "hopefully" knows exactly what to order.

Maybe that's why only one Airstream dealer specializes in axles, amoung other things.

Not know where to start, doesn't help very much to get to the end.

There is more to ordering a torsion axle for an Airstream, other than measurements.

Andy

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by ducks

I went back to the trailer business and told them that I was not going to accept different rims to correct the problem. I also told them that I wanted the axles sent back to Dexter to change the height setting on the axle so the AS was not setting low on the tires. The top edge of the outside wheel well was about level with the top of the rim. I felt if the AS was sitting higher that much less of the tire would be inside the wheel well. I did measure the distant between the front axle and the real axle and the measurement was the same. When the axles are replaced back on the AS I will re-check that measurement and that of the front axle. The tire size that is on the AS is ST225/75R15. Many thanks

Those axles were doubly wrong, then. Sitting that low when they're brand new, someday when they wear out you'd probably be scraping the top of the wheel well with your tires and changing tires would be very difficult. On brand new axles you should see a few inches of tire above the upper edge of the rim and below the line of the wheel well. Maybe they were the wrong weight capacity, or the wrong start angle?