1964 22' safari

[AFTER TAXES]

does anyone know if 1964 22' has leaf spring or torsion axles, thx

[66Overlander]

Torsion axles. All Airstreams have had torsion axles since the 1961 model year

[AFTER TAXES]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Torsion axles. All Airstreams have had torsion axles since the 1961 model year

thx joe, looking to buy 22' safari, I will get bearings packed and new tires
hope to make it home.....how will I know went axle needs replaced ?
thx

[Hittenstiehl]

If they are the original they will need to be replaced. There is no rush left in those rubber innards. You will also be able to tell by how many things fall off inside on the way home. It makes for a very rough earthquake on wheels during travel. We always make sure to travel with a couple rolls of silver duct tape. It holds mirrors on inside, holds the outer compartment doors closed. It can close the air gap of the entry door if the rubber gaskets are no longer sealing it in.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by AFTER TAXES

thx joe, looking to buy 22' safari, I will get bearings packed and new tires
hope to make it home.....how will I know went axle needs replaced ?
thx

If it's original it will need to be replaced as the 55+ year old internal rubber rods will have hardened to something approximating the hardeness of steel. But in the interest of information, in case you cannot tell if it was previously replaced, the best way to tell is to jack up the trailer. If the wheel does not move downward significantly with no weight on it (enough to remove the wheel and tire without deflating and compressing the tire or without cutting the wheel well opening larger), then the rubber rods have hardened and are no longer providing any spring force - they are no longer performing as the suspension to isolate the body from road bumps. If the trailer continues to be pulled down the road with an axle with hardened rubber rods, road bumps will cause the body to tear itself apart and can even cause the frame to bend.

[AFTER TAXES]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

If it's original it will need to be replaced as the 55+ year old internal rubber rods will have hardened to something approximating the hardeness of steel. But in the interest of information, in case you cannot tell if it was previously replaced, the best way to tell is to jack up the trailer. If the wheel does not move downward significantly with no weight on it (enough to remove the wheel and tire without deflating and compressing the tire or without cutting the wheel well opening larger), then the rubber rods have hardened and are no longer providing any spring force - they are no longer performing as the suspension to isolate the body from road bumps. If the trailer continues to be pulled down the road with an axle with hardened rubber rods, road bumps will cause the body to tear itself apart and can even cause the frame to bend.

hello joe....sending u a pic of camper, had many vintage trailers but
not airstreams...so u think its a torsion axle, not leaf springs
the trip I am making is about 200 mi. all highway at 55-58 mph.
get it home, then I can fix everything thats wrong, hope Im not making
a mistake. also send u pic of our last a/s 1993 classic

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by AFTER TAXES

hello joe....sending u a pic of camper, had many vintage trailers but
not airstreams...so u think its a torsion axle, not leaf springs
the trip I am making is about 200 mi. all highway at 55-58 mph.
get it home, then I can fix everything thats wrong, hope Im not making
a mistake. also send u pic of our last a/s 1993 classic

Everyone has to pull their vintage Airstream home before they can get working on it. 200 miles isn't going to magically make it fall apart, but you could pop a rivet on the inside skin or something like that. However, if you continue to put thousand of miles on it with a hardened axle, the damage will add up over time. I also agree that the slower you go the less damage might occur.

[putback]

Be certain the entry door is secure, maybe even an extra tie off between grabhandle and door. If not secure and wind catches it oh oh.

[AFTER TAXES]

thx to all.... now its time to find someone to put a new axle in.
by the way, thats not a dent.....lol