I wanted to mention one more thing. I noticed that you had not posted anything yet. The Members Introduction section is a good place to start http://www.airforums.com/forums/f368/ . There are hundreds of fellow Airstreamers just waiting to tell you how, I mean help you, with your project.

Post some pictures also. We looove Airstream photos. Most here have never seen one they didn't like.

Good luck with your project and let me know if I can be of any help. But if you look close enough you will realize that I am a newbie also (since Feb.).

Welcome to the Forums. The first clue I had that my axles were bad was when my brother followed me home the first day. He mentioned that the rear of the Airstream was bouncing up and down like a fishing pole. The original axles were made with a 22 deg. downward angle on the trailing arms of the axles when not loaded. Loaded they would be probably somewhere between that and 0 deg. or parallel with the frame. Mine were parallel or might have had a slight upward angle.

Even if mine had had a downward angle I probably would have replaced them anyway. After nearly 40 years the rubber in the center of the axles would have to be shot. I think they changed to a better grade of rubber somethime around 1975.

BTW - when I jacked up my Airstream to replace the axles my trailing arm did not flex at all - stayed parallel with the frame. i.e. - no life left in them.

If you jack up yours be sure to do it from the correct locations or raise one axle at a time by running the other axle up on a block. If you plan on doing any other repairs to the under side I suggest you leave it up on blocks to give greater access. I did not and I have surely regretted that.

Hi Vhord,
I saw your pics on the restoration project...looks great. We just picked up our first Air-project, a 72 31' in need of repairs. What did you notice about the axles that made you think they need replacing?