What causes a trailer axle to break?
The reason axles have an upward arc to them is so that when a load is placed on them they straighten out and your tires run evenly. When the inside of the tread on your tires wears on the inside that is a good indication that you are overloading the axle which is causing it to bend down too much.
When should a trailer axle be replaced?
If the wheel hubs have not been serviced or replaced recently, show visible signs of wear or damage, or are making noises indicative of worn bearings, this would be a good time to replace them since they have to be removed anyway. With all new parts in hand, it is now time to install the axle.
What happens if you overload trailer axles?
Too Much Weight… We’ve seen it before, a vehicle passes you on the highway and you cringe because their trailer is overloaded. Overload damages can range from bent axles, tire blowouts, structural damage such as weld failure to overpowering the tow vehicle.
Are trailer axles supposed to be bent?
First, axles are supposed to be bent. All major axle manufacturers apply a slight bend to the axles called Camber. If you look under your trailer you will see a very noticeable upward bend to the car or equipment trailer axle.
What can damage an axle?
Causes of Broken Axles
- Automobile accidents severe enough to cause wheel and/or undercarriage damage.
- Metal fatigue caused by rust and brittleness in older, high-mileage automobiles.
- Overloading vehicles with too much cargo or passengers well beyond its capacity.
How do axles get damaged?
What causes a broken axle? If your car shocks are becoming worn, hitting any bump or pothole in the road could cause damage to your car axles. Because the axle is constantly rotating and flexing to accommodate different road conditions, it can wear out and fail, resulting in a broken axle.
How can you tell if a trailer axle is bad?
The first sign of your axles going bad is when, after posting a photo of your trailer, an axle vendor tells you your axles are shot… Seriously, the way to tell is to raise the trailer off its wheels, and watch how far the tires drop before leaving the ground. The more travel the better.
How much can you safely overload a trailer?
Try to keep about 60% of the load in the front half of your trailer. Don’t overload the end of the trailer, or it could damage your trailer and cause other hazards. Try to keep your GVWR to about 80% of the allowed amount.
How do you tell if an axle is bent on a trailer?
In the case of a multi-axle trailer, you are looking for all of the bulges of the tires to make contact with the straightedge, or to be very close, say within 1/8″. If there are larger gaps between the bulges & the straightedge, it indicates a bent axle, a bent spindle, or a bent wheel.
How do you know if you bent your axle?
Shaft/axle wobble and vibration – When your vehicle has a bent or broken axle shaft, one of the clearest ways you’ll notice is how at lower speeds the car might seem to wobble. At higher speeds (over 20 mph), the wobble may turn into what feels more like a general vibration.