Sorry. Another axle question

[whistler]

I have searched the forum for the answer but has unable to find it. The position of the axle looks fine pointing down with a load. Trailer seems to tow fine, but over the weekend I was doing some repairs and noticed that the axle bar itself has a bend upward in the center. I didn't check to see how much of a curve the axle has from side to side and if needed I can post a photo in a day to two. My question is........ Should the axle have a arch in it or over the years did someone bottom out the axle and bend it? If bent , should it be replaced or left alone? I thought maybe it's normal to have this arch because the axle doesn't appear to be bent backward like I would expect if it was struck by something.

whistler

[Ken J]

I'm sure you'll get other more techical responses, but that bend in the axle is normal - its supposed to be there.

Ken

[whistler]

Thanks,

I thought it looked normal, but wanted to be sure. All photos I've come across don't really show it from the angle to tell if it was normal to not.

whistler

[Inland RV Center, In]

Whistler.

Go to:

http://www.inlandrv.com/tours/axle-plant/

Click on "completion."

Look at the three photo's. That is how the bend is put in the axle.

Sorry, for some reason, a direct "to" address doesn't want to work.

Andy

[dkekrksk]

Originally Posted by whistler

I have searched the forum for the answer but has unable to find it. The position of the axle looks fine pointing down with a load. Trailer seems to tow fine, but over the weekend I was doing some repairs and noticed that the axle bar itself has a bend upward in the center. I didn't check to see how much of a curve the axle has from side to side and if needed I can post a photo in a day to two. My question is........ Should the axle have a arch in it or over the years did someone bottom out the axle and bend it? If bent , should it be replaced or left alone? I thought maybe it's normal to have this arch because the axle doesn't appear to be bent backward like I would expect if it was struck by something.

whistler

I just had my axle replaces this week. I asked the person performing the service about the bend in the axle and they advised me that it is normal.

[Inland RV Center, In]

The bend in a Henschen axle, shows that it was "aligned."

Most any axle has some sort of bend, indicating alignment.

Andy

[dtbw]

Andy,
I just took your Henschen plant tour and interesting process. One thing that I noticed was the diagram showing the torsion arm/spindle assembly position relative to the frame in no load, normal load and overload conditions. It would seem from the diagram that a Henschen axle torsion arm/spindle assembly, under normal load should be about parallel to the ground as well as the frame. Does that seem correct? On my '02 19' Bambi, which has a gross weight of 4500, A/S used a 4300lb Henschen axle (the 500+lb hitch weight offsetting the apparent overload). Under typical conditions on my rig, the torsion arms are indeed parallel to the ground and the frame. I had been a bit concerned that A/S should have installed a 5000lb axle and had considered doing such on my own, but after seeing the diagram, it would seem that mine is running just about right. Any thoughts

david