Aligning Axles During Leaf Spring Install?
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Aligning Axles During Leaf Spring Install?
I put new leaf springs on my trailer today. I tried to be consistent on both ends of the axle in how I placed the axle in relation to the leaf spring. The top and bottom bolts coming out of the leaf spring make it hard to get the axle badly out of alignment, but it seems to me that there is room for some fine adjustment. Less than 1/4", more like 1/8". Does it matter? Will my tires notice 1/8" of difference?
I haven't measured the axles center-to-center yet. I didn't have a tape measure.
I haven't measured the axles center-to-center yet. I didn't have a tape measure.
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Just a little play. Maybe 1/8" at the most. I measured the center-to-center distance between the hubs. It was close enough.
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Denny
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I got to thinking about it and that play is in the top plate where the u-bolts go through. The play between the axle perch and the leaf spring may be no more than a nudge. It's hard to tell.
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On our trailer I noticed toe in type wear on one front tire after 25K miles so I had the axles bent back into shape. Our axles are 8K and very hard to bend according to the alignment shop and its been done twice and everytime the front one goes back to the same wear pattern. It's not that bad and for $400 each time I just rotate the front and rear tires and replace the tires after 4 years.
Denny
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I didn't notice any tire wear issues prior to doing the spring upgrade. Around 10K miles on the tires.
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Denny
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One old dude at the spring shop said that GD had put "too light" axles under a bunch of trailers and it was causing problems. I dunno how many versions of the 3500 lbs axles Dexter makes. I wouldn't take financial advice from that dude, but he probably knows more about axles and prings than me. I shrugged.
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When I first started looking at my ratings I was appalled. Two 5200 pound axles under a trailer rated for 11,000 pounds??? Then I realized that the tongue is carrying some of the load. Still, it seemed to cut it a little close.
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Yeah, that's the standard. Trailers are designed for light weight and low cost first, and durability isn't in the top ten.
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