axle questions

[tracker]

I have a 69 safari that has a replacement axle. I would like to re-pack the wheel bearings and perhaps by replacement bearings, but the tag on the axle is worn away and I don't know what information I need in order to do these jobs or where to find this information. Can anyone help? Also should I jack up the A/S and remove the wheels for the winter or not? your thoughts! Thanks.

[55AS]

Remove the existing bearings and inspect. If they look good, simply repack. If not, you should be able to get a part number off of them in order to get correct replacement bearings. Most auto parts or trailer shops will have the ones you need.

[Bill M.]

I leave my wheels on and just park for the winter. Ditto clening a bearing and a seal and takng it to a auto parts store to match up numbers. The numbers are small and the parts people know what to look for.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by tracker

I have a 69 safari that has a replacement axle. I would like to re-pack the wheel bearings and perhaps by replacement bearings, but the tag on the axle is worn away and I don't know what information I need in order to do these jobs or where to find this information. Can anyone help? Also should I jack up the A/S and remove the wheels for the winter or not? your thoughts! Thanks.

Posting the bearing numbers and the grease seal number, will help identifying the axle.

Torsion axle equipped trailers, if being stored for an extended time, should be placed on jack stands, so that "ALL" the weight has been removed from the tires.

Andy

[kb0zke]

"Torsion axle equipped trailers, if being stored for an extended time, should be placed on jack stands, so that "ALL" the weight has been removed from the tires." What about a full-timer who is staying in one place for several months? Jack stands or not?

[tracker]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Posting the bearing numbers and the grease seal number, will help identifying the axle.

Torsion axle equipped trailers, if being stored for an extended time, should be placed on jack stands, so that "ALL" the weight has been removed from the tires.

Andy

Andy how do I tell if I have a "torsion" equipped axle?
Carl

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by tracker

Andy how do I tell if I have a "torsion" equipped axle?l

Any Airstream built since about 1962.

(But I have never jacked up our trailer for storage. It's never really in "storage".)

[nrgtrakr]

The bearings may not need replacing. If the metal is discolored, then absolutely replace them. As with most replacement parts, taking the old ones to get new sometimes saves trips. Also best to replace in full wheel sets.

More on axles here:
http://www.inlandrv.com/articles/dur...xle-92001.html

There is also a YouTube from Dexter:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GnH-h3W9XvI

I seem to remember Andy once saying 25 years life expectancy for axles.

Using a 4 ton floor jack to get it up in the air, my 75 is currently sitting on four 6 ton jack stands. Funny part, not sure if it will remain, but the measurement from wheel to wheel well has increased 1/4 inch in the last couple of weeks. Axle fountain of youth?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by tracker

Andy how do I tell if I have a "torsion" equipped axle?
Carl

Carl.

Look under the trailer.

If you DO NOT see any leaf springs, then you have torsion axles.

Also, Airstream has used them on every trailer they have built, since 1961.

Another thing to look for, is an arm that goes rearward from the axle tube that has the brake backing plate attached to it.

Andy

[tracker]

Thanks for all info it answers several questions. Carl