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02-07-2012, 10:15 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1978 28' Ambassador
Byfield
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 23
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Curved Axles?!
Hi everybody,
The axles on my 1978 Ambassador are not straight and have a curve from one wheel to the other (see attached pictures).
Is this a sign of worn out axles as well? I read Andy's article from Inland RV regarding signs of worn out axles, however this "issue" is not mentioned in it, although I have seen it in a few vintage trailers.
Thanks for any advice.
Best,
Georgie
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02-07-2012, 10:22 AM
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#2
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
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This is normal, not a bad sign.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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02-07-2012, 10:26 AM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' International
Leonardtown
, Maryland
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 262
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Looks like someone jacked the trailer up from that point on the axle. I am not knowledgable enough to know what part that would play in your wheel alignment and tire wear.
__________________
_________________
Rebee - WBCCI #1325
2002 Classic Ltd 30'
2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7 Cummins
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02-07-2012, 10:27 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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Kind of hard to tell from the pics (the first one is pretty blurred, too) but it looks more bent than curved to me. Like some put a jack under it and jacked up the trailer.
__________________
Vaughan
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02-07-2012, 10:35 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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The factory bends the axles to give the proper amount of camber to the wheels. All torsion beam axles have this bend.
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02-07-2012, 10:44 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2023 30' Globetrotter
Pleasanton
, California
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,905
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This is normal. It is bowed from the factory. Most full-width trailer axles are bent this way whether they are torsion axles or not; Airstream or not.
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02-07-2012, 10:48 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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I had a prospective buyer for one of my trailers tell me I must drove over somethin cause the axles were bent. I explained the real deal , but he was not biting. Sold it later to someone with a better brain.
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02-07-2012, 10:50 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2002 25' Safari
Fountain Inn
, South Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 714
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How does the torsion arm angle look on your axle when referencing the drawings in Andy's article?
__________________
Bud
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02-07-2012, 11:02 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
1978 28' Ambassador
Byfield
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 23
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Thanks to everybody for the quick replies!
@Ridgerunner3 the torsion arms still have a positive angle.
I'm thinking about replacing the axles in any case, since we will have to do a full shell off frame/floor repair and this would be the best opportunity to replace the axles as well and upgrading to disc brakes.
I was just wondering if this curve is stock or a wear issue
Best,
Georgie
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02-07-2012, 11:05 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ASNomads
Hi everybody,
The axles on my 1978 Ambassador are not straight and have a curve from one wheel to the other (see attached pictures).
Is this a sign of worn out axles as well? I read Andy's article from Inland RV regarding signs of worn out axles, however this "issue" is not mentioned in it, although I have seen it in a few vintage trailers.
Thanks for any advice.
Best,
Georgie
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Georgie.
The bend in the axles is normal.
That is how the axles are aligned, when manufactured.
You might check the position of the torsion arms as it appears they may have out lived their usefullness.
Andy
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02-07-2012, 12:51 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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The bend is to keep the wheels vertical when under load. An axel will tend to bow under load and become U shaped. They put a bend in there so it actually bends itself straight. Solid axels are made this way as well. It is like a leaf spring in the other direction. It is bent with no load and flattens out under load.
Perry
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02-07-2012, 01:11 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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The technical term is called "camber". When you take your TV in to have it aligned part of the process of alignment is to set the camber, caster and toe in to the specs for that vehicle.
On a trailer axle the camber is set to "full" and the toe in is "zero"
If you stand with your two big toes touching and your heals apart, it's toe in, if your heals are together and big toes apart it's toe out.
If you stand with your feet flat on the floor, then rock each ankle outward it's akin to "camber".
Does that make sense?
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02-08-2012, 01:05 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1967 17' Caravel
Pocatello
, Idaho
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 944
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Wow! Thanks! I had noticed the bend in the axles on our new-to-us '64 Overlander and had said nothing to my husband, thinking to delay the bad news of damaged axles, but now I don't have to worry. Whew, that's a load off for sure.
Vivian
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02-08-2012, 02:39 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TG Twinkie
The technical term is called "camber". When you take your TV in to have it aligned part of the process of alignment is to set the camber, caster and toe in to the specs for that vehicle.
On a trailer axle the camber is set to "full" and the toe in is "zero"
If you stand with your two big toes touching and your heals apart, it's toe in, if your heals are together and big toes apart it's toe out.
If you stand with your feet flat on the floor, then rock each ankle outward it's akin to "camber".
Does that make sense?
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That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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02-08-2012, 02:45 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noreen
That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.
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Sal.
Always be kind the the bourbon or scotch.
While you may be hitting "IT", .........................................in a little while it will pay you back, with a "KICK" or two.
Andy
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02-08-2012, 03:02 PM
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#16
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,501
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noreen
That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.
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I have heard that if one hits the bourbon enough times repeatedly the caster will change such that one would loose control and go into a ditch. And this is just what I heard.
>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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