Bent Trailer Axle?

buy a new axel

Do you think I can buy the just the Axle by itself. The brake backing plates, shoes , drums  and bearings are just fine. I priced them online complete at almost $300 not counting the shipping. Coaster axles are $180.  The brake wireing is inside the axle tube on this one.

I do recall something going "bump in the night" when I was coming home in the dark. I was going about 65. That was well over a year ago. I have no clue what I ran over but everything looked OK at a glance when I checked things out the next morning.

Ken,

bump

The guy in Hudson has all sizes. I was just showing you that you could buy without buying a complete assembly.  He has all lengths and complete assembly also. 

Edited by Dick L - 28 Oct 2011 at 6:30am

Taqke it to a traqiler shop, like one that does big rigs.  They can look at and give you an estimate.

A bend between the spring perch and the spindle isn't something I'd bend back and run on the road unless I had absolutely no choice.  Reason- it usually requires cutting, or applying heat, and of course, stressing it again... and doing so means you've got a embrittled Heat Affected Zone in a high-stress spot.

Replacing the axle is always a better plan, and you can accomplish that many different ways. 

If you have fabricating skills, and the axle style is simple, you could get a set of spindles and some appropriate axle tubing, cut it yourself, push in the spindles, and weld them in.  You'd need to have the beam bent to apply the proper 'camber' (noted in one of the previous posts above).  If you can take good measurements and an effective weld, you'll be fine (the welding process for spindles makes the weldment hold the pieces together, but the weldment doesn't actually hold the load, and doesn't even HAZ the high-stress area).

You CAN buy the proper beam to fit everything you've got.  Last time I ordered a replacement, I think I got it through Champion Trailer Supply... and I just told 'em exactly what I needed, and they sent it out the next day... and replacement axle beams are relatively inexpensive... think it was around $130 for one beam for a tandem-axle boat trailer, with backing plates for hydraulic surge brakes.

By the way-  don't pitch that old axle.  Take it off, and grind off the weld holding that spindle in place.  Pull the spindle out of the tube, cut the tube back, make it narrower, and then make it into a utility trailer for around the farm.  I used old bent axles to make my wife's ultra-heavy-duty garden cart, and another to make a rolling workbench with an engine-driven welder and air compressor underneath, grinder and vise on one end... it's a heavy pig, but I can move it around to anyplace with a 3-point.  I've got a mobile-home axle underneath a big lathe, and others I've used to make engine cranes more useful on soft ground.

And I don't get too bent-outa-shape when someone borrows a trailer.  Trailers are always subject to things that go bump-in-the-night, they become invisible in dark and rain, bounce over curbs, and invariably end up being overloaded, (like Nathan says) hitched at the wrong height, pieces of road debris tangled up in the suspension... but all in all, trailers are, considering what they do, very inexpensive, and one of the best tools to have around when one has the space to keep it handy.  Many folks don't have the ability to have trailer(s) around, so having friends willing to loan 'em out is a godsend.  I'm careful about who I loan my trailers out to, but expect damage.  My friends usually replace damaged tires, safety chains, etc, but sometimes things go unnoticed 'till later.  I don't sweat it, because things that happen to others, happen to me too.  IMO, any piece of equipment or machinery tool that isn't being used, has no actual value.

Wheeler metal carries all kinds of axles. I think they have a location in TX. Now I've found 15" trailer rated tires to wear out very fast. Does anyone else have this problem? Could be the brand I bought but my former boss had the same problem with utility trailers and most never carried much more than extension ladders and such. I can put on used truck tires and get 3 times the miles as new trailer tires.

Charlie-  when you say it's tearing up tires... explain exactly what you're seeing on the tires... the answer may not be obvious, but it's never complicated...

Did you jack it up and make sure the bearings didn't fall apart?  Could be other things than the axle!

Straightening a bent axle in this case in my opinion is one of those "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" situations. They talked about TIG welding on Extreme 4X4 and how in some instances when you weld something, the material can get brittle and crack next to the weld. My thoughts are is it worth the risk to save $100 over repair vs replace? With the inside edge of the tire worn, you have a toe (toe out) problem with that wheel. Might even have a camber problem too. No question on how I'd fix it if it were mine...

Well Folks, I got it straightened out just fine by Micheal at Hanks frame and Alignment on Hwy 80 Longview TX. They did it while I waited. No muss, no fuss, no bother. Did it on the trailer for $57 and 2 one Gallon Ziplock Freezer bags of Fresh Green Shelled Pinkeye Purple Hull Peas and a couple pounds of yellow crookneck squash. Well worth the money and the produce in my book. I actually thru in the Yellow Squash for free.