New Henschen/Axis Axle installation

[Aviator]

OK, let's see if I can make this work.

Here is what I started with:



In early November, I contacted Andy at Inland RV and asked about a new set of axles. He had purchased several sets before the Henschen plant was shut down in Jackson Center. His price was good, but shipping was a killer. (His axles are in CA, and I am in GA plus they are about 150# each) After some discussion it was mentioned that the axles would be back in production in mid November. With this information, I ordered three axles from Inland RV, and requested that I be able to pick them up at the factory (now Axis Products in Elkhart, IN) The people I spoke with at Axis were very nice, and the axles were ready on time. (Incidentally making this type of axle is nothing new for Axis. There were some huge ones sitting the the yard awaiting delivery, and a lot of them)

What I ended up ordering looks like this:


Three axles, new grade 8 hardware, six new shocks, and six Centramatics

Next began the original axle removal. The trailer had been sitting for about 10 years without moving resulting in the old axles absolutely freezing in position with the rubber hardening due to lack of exercise. The nuts just wouldn't come loose no matter how hard I wrenched on them. So, I resorted to daily soaking sprays of PB Blaster for a week (I did have to spend some time in training for work, so I couldn't work on it in the days following the initial attempt at removal). After some work, off they came!



While I had the axles off, I cleaned up the wheel wells and painted in an attempt to keep ahead of the rust.

It took a few hours to install the first axle (learning curve). The next two went on in about two hours total. In order to mount them I used a floor jack with an expanded pad designed to keep the axles from rotating as I raised them up. It would have been easier with a helper, but for some reason my children disappeared when I headed out to work.





The axles lined up perfectly with the old holes. No modification what so ever was needed.



As I understand it, Axis purchased the tooling from Henschen. It is good to know that there is an available source of direct bolt on, original style axles for our trailers.

As you can see from the label, these are fresh axles. I have the first three in the run.



My trailer now rides about three inches higher than when I started the replacement process. It was easy and definitely a do-it-yourself type repair. Reattaching the brake wires is a simple matter of soldering them together and covering them with shrink wrap. I still need to "seat" the new brakes, and adjust my brake controller setting. After that, it should be many miles of smooth towing.

[FreshAir]

Good job!
Neil

[tkasten]

Graig, Outstanding job both with the installation and with the documentation. I only had to replace 1 last spring. Wish I had a torch as I experienced the same problem as you with the old bolts. I find it amazing the the kids do seem to disappear as the work starts.

[driftless]

Thanks for posting the pics and information. I am going to be doing axle replacement later this winter and am glad to know the new axles should fit without modification...hopefully...

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by driftless

Thanks for posting the pics and information. I am going to be doing axle replacement later this winter and am glad to know the new axles should fit without modification...hopefully...

No, hopefully for your Airstream, can be deleted, as they are guaranteed to fit, PERFECTLY.

No if's, and's, but's, maybe's or even an ought to.

The exception is from 1968 and older, when 3 holes must be drilled in each side.



Andy

[Air Cruiser]

Craig,

We, too, thank you for taking the time to post and the pictures are wonderful. Do you happen to have a pic of the "after", so we can compare the amount of tire showing above the wheel to the trailer? Thanks.

Also, what is your "take" on the centrimatics? I've been talking to my DH about them, as I feel they are a good thing. He has reservations, checked them out on their website (I think that's where), and is concerned that if something goes wrong with them they could add more problems for the wheels/tires (too much weight on one side if they don't continue to "flow"). Just wondering what your thoughts are on them. Have you had them before?

This kind of scares me about your '97 needing new axles. Our "new" 1999 had two previous owners, and as I understand, both were seniors -- nothing against seniors -- I'm one, but some are more active than others. We were told the second owners only used it once for a one or two-week period while he was receiving chemo. I don't know how long they owned it, but it could have been sitting a while with both previous owners, I just don't know.

Thanks so much.

Deb

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by D. Hall

Craig,

We, too, thank you for taking the time to post and the pictures are wonderful. Do you happen to have a pic of the "after", so we can compare the amount of tire showing above the wheel to the trailer? Thanks.

Also, what is your "take" on the centrimatics? I've been talking to my DH about them, as I feel they are a good thing. He has reservations, checked them out on their website (I think that's where), and is concerned that if something goes wrong with them they could add more problems for the wheels/tires (too much weight on one side if they don't continue to "flow"). Just wondering what your thoughts are on them. Have you had them before?

This kind of scares me about your '97 needing new axles. Our "new" 1999 had two previous owners, and as I understand, both were seniors -- nothing against seniors -- I'm one, but some are more active than others. We were told the second owners only used it once for a one or two-week period while he was receiving chemo. I don't know how long they owned it, but it could have been sitting a while with both previous owners, I just don't know.

Thanks so much.

Deb

Deb.

It's very easy for anyone to check out the torsion axles.

The following will teach you how.

The Dura-Torque Axle

Andy

[Aviator]

Deb,

I am out of the country at the moment, but will be back tomorrow. I will post a before/after picture. The tires are now almost completely exposed from under the trailer side as opposed to about one third covered. What really convinced me that I needed new axles was when I lifted on side of the trailer with all three wheels off of the ground, and the wheels assembly didn't droop down at all, but was frozen in the same position as when weight was on the wheels. Now, they move up and down depending on how much load is on them.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Aviator

Deb,

I am out of the country at the moment, but will be back tomorrow.

Craig

Dog gone, those triple 7's are "REAL" fast.

I went out of town one day, to find myself, so if I show up before I get back, encourage me to stick around, so I don't get lost again.

Andy

[Aviator]

I'm back! It was just a quick trip over to Dublin.

[Mikethefixit]

Craig
I did my tandem, much as you did. We (neighbor and I) used wheel dollys from HarborFreight(cause he had em) to roll em under. Then the jack like you did. We didn't have any problem with the bolts ,impact took em right out. The new axles fit just as you say.
I would encourage anyone who had any mechanical ability at all to tackle this. ITS not ROCKET SCIENCE and besides it saves alot of bucks.
GOOD JOB Craig
I know you are gonna love your new axles, we do.

[Aviator]

Deb,

Sorry it took a couple of days, but here is a picture of the finished product on the wheels.



If you look closely, you will see that only the top half inch or so of the tires are now covered by the wheel well opening. This is almost three inches difference from the old axles. Unfortunately, I didn't take a close in shot of the wheels before I started. I just have the wider shot of the trailer.

[Aage]

Here's your before and after. The original was somewhat distant, making the blown up version sorta distorted, but you can see the tremendous difference there is in the new axles!

[bmklawt]

Just an FYI and if you live close to Elkhart IN, Axis Products will rebuild your torsion axles for less than $100.00 each. Just the torsion rods not the brakes and drums.
I had my axles rebuilt but after buying new loaded backer plates and drums, I found I could have spent $70.00 more for a complete new axle.
See: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...ild-46697.html

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bmklawt

Just an FYI and if you live close to Elkhart IN, Axis Products will rebuild your torsion axles for less than $100.00 each. Just the torsion rods not the brakes and drums.
I had my axles rebuilt but after buying new loaded backer plates and drums, I found I could have spent $70.00 more for a complete new axle.
See: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...ild-46697.html

Please be advised that there have been a number of changes at Axis Products, regarding axles for Airstream and Argosy trailers.

Axis, will no longer rebuild any Airstream or Argosy trailer axles, because of liabilty.

Also, we are now a distributor for the Henschen/Axis axles made for the Airstream and Argosy trailers.

All calls to Axis regarding replacement axles for the Airstream and Argosy trailers, will be redirected to us.

Andy

[ck21084]

Does this mean that axle replacement is $170 per axle?

[SilverHoot]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Please be advised that there have been a number of changes at Axis Products, regarding axles for Airstream and Argosy trailers.

Axis, will no longer rebuild any Airstream or Argosy trailer axles, because of liabilty.

Also, we are now a distributor for the Henschen/Axis axles made for the Airstream and Argosy trailers.

All calls to Axis regarding replacement axles for the Airstream and Argosy trailers, will be redirected to us.

Andy

Are you the ONLY Henschen/Axis dealer?

[Air Cruiser]

Craig and Aage, thanks so much for taking the time to post the pics.

Wow, what a difference your new axles made! If I get time, I'll post a pic of our wheels/axles for you to see on our "new" '99 Safari.

Deb

[Aviator]

Aage, Thanks for cropping the before pic. I should have thought of that, and am glad you did.

[Aage]

My pleasure, C&C.

Happy New Year!