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Old 02-07-2012, 10:15 AM   #1
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 10:22 AM   #2
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This is normal, not a bad sign.
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Old 02-07-2012, 10:26 AM   #3
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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.
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Old 02-07-2012, 10:27 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 02-07-2012, 10:35 AM   #5
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 10:44 AM   #6
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 10:48 AM   #7
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 10:50 AM   #8
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How does the torsion arm angle look on your axle when referencing the drawings in Andy's article?
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Old 02-07-2012, 11:02 AM   #9
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 11:05 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by ASNomads View Post
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
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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Old 02-07-2012, 12:51 PM   #11
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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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Old 02-07-2012, 01:11 PM   #12
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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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Old 02-08-2012, 01:05 PM   #13
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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.

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Old 02-08-2012, 02:39 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by TG Twinkie View Post
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?
That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.
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Old 02-08-2012, 02:45 PM   #15
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That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.
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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Old 02-08-2012, 03:02 PM   #16
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That makes complete sense to me. But then again, I been hitting thr bourbon. Sal.

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.

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