Uneven Tire Wear

brapperdoodle

brapperdoodle

Location
Asheville, NC
So, I’ve been using this trailer for about 10 years and recently the tires started to wear just the inside of the tire. Both sides but the drivers side is definitely worse, From my research this indicates incorrect camber or an overloaded axel. I just wanted to get some opinions before I spend $250 on a new axle. One other thing I noticed when removing the axle is that the leaf spring bushing is worn badly and was allowing major play for the leaf. Does anyone have any suggestions, Should I try to just replace the leaf bushings before buying a new axle? Tire pressure was correct and checked regularly, bearing preload was correct and also checked regularly… bearing still feel smooth and appropriate. All that being said, the trailer is a 1997 and was originally for a single couch… maybe it’s time for a refresh?


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mrfist9

mrfist9

Location
ATL
Dude
Just put some heffers on that trailer.

Ziopetru Adjustable Magnetic Gauge Tool, Wheel Camber, Caster Pillar and Wheel Alignment Tools for Automotive Truck RV Tire Repair

Toss a jack under the center of the axle and bend it to the opposite camber you want it at. Then flip the axle 180deg

Don't ask me why my trailer has negative camber
 
brapperdoodle

brapperdoodle

Location
Asheville, NC
My concern is that now it’s “bent” it’s just gonna keep bending in whichever direction I place it. Supposedly trailer axles like this have 1 degree of camber and if that’s been bent, flipping the axle will only bend it back quickly and I’ll be in the same position. I just got some bushings for the springs and I have a new set of tires.. I guess I’ll just try those and see how it flies for a while. Lake is only like 10 miles away so hopefully I’ll catch it before it wears out my new tires lol

This set wore seemingly out of nowhere on an 800 mile trip…
 
mrfist9

mrfist9

Location
ATL
brapperdoodle said:
My concern is that now it’s “bent” it’s just gonna keep bending in whichever direction I place it. Supposedly trailer axles like this have 1 degree of camber and if that’s been bent, flipping the axle will only bend it back quickly and I’ll be in the same position. I just got some bushings for the springs and I have a new set of tires.. I guess I’ll just try those and see how it flies for a while. Lake is only like 10 miles away so hopefully I’ll catch it before it wears out my new tires lol

This set wore seemingly out of nowhere on an 800 mile trip…
Click to expand...
buy that magnet gauge it's useful to have for 10$

Bushings and springs seem like an honest chance, you would then be assuming your issue is toe, which frankly camber alone wouldn't murder a tire like that in 800 miles.
toe will actually make unwanted friction, camber just decreases the contact patch, but I mean your whole tires thrashed not just 1 tiny section
 
WFO Speedracer

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
brapperdoodle said:
My concern is that now it’s “bent” it’s just gonna keep bending in whichever direction I place it. Supposedly trailer axles like this have 1 degree of camber and if that’s been bent, flipping the axle will only bend it back quickly and I’ll be in the same position. I just got some bushings for the springs and I have a new set of tires.. I guess I’ll just try those and see how it flies for a while. Lake is only like 10 miles away so hopefully I’ll catch it before it wears out my new tires lol

This set wore seemingly out of nowhere on an 800 mile trip…
Click to expand...
If it's bent you straighten it in a press to where you want it, lay a piece of angle across it and if it's round lay the tube in the vee and weld it up, if it's square lay the angle where the two ends touch on the tube and weld it up, it won't bend again. after that , I have built axles before for single trailers, I never added any camber to them and they always worked just fine but my axle tubing was probably of a heavier gauge than these mass produced axles are made of.

I guess you have to determine what exactly is bent, is the axle tube itself bending or are the stub axle shafts bending , is that a solid square tube axle or is it made of channel ?

The last trailer I built for a Seadoo SP I was selling, I made everything including the axle, years later at the dealership a GTX came through there on the trailer I had built , it apparently worked well enough that they kept it when they bought a bigger ski.

All we had at that dealership was a nice bandsaw , a nice Miller mig welder and a very flat concrete floor, I chalked an outline on the floor and welded it up right therem, it turned out really nice.
 
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brapperdoodle

brapperdoodle

Location
Asheville, NC
I do have one of those magnetic angle gauges! And I also have a 20ton shop press so that could be an option to rebend it.. unfortunately I do not weld or have access to a person who does. The axle itself is square 1-1/2” tubing. I spent the axle is bent but the stubs are more likely. Since I have the axle off currently I’m going to do some measuring and make sure nothing is bent. I highly doubt the toe could have changed… I also don’t want to exclude the possibility that those cheap China tires were coming apart inside and causing that weird wear. Like I said though, I have new bushings for the springs and new wheels and tires so I’ll check the axle while it’s off and go from there. I’ll be sure to update with my findings! Thanks for the reply’s :cool:
 
mrfist9

mrfist9

Location
ATL
brapperdoodle said:
I do have one of those magnetic angle gauges! And I also have a 20ton shop press so that could be an option to rebend it.. unfortunately I do not weld or have access to a person who does. The axle itself is square 1-1/2” tubing. I spent the axle is bent but the stubs are more likely. Since I have the axle off currently I’m going to do some measuring and make sure nothing is bent. I highly doubt the toe could have changed… I also don’t want to exclude the possibility that those cheap China tires were coming apart inside and causing that weird wear. Like I said though, I have new bushings for the springs and new wheels and tires so I’ll check the axle while it’s off and go from there. I’ll be sure to update with my findings! Thanks for the reply’s :cool:
Click to expand...
if your spring bushings are bad enough in theory it could pitch the axle to not be straight going down the road

Which would be make one side toe in one toe out
 
WFO Speedracer

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
I had a thought , I know you probably don't have vee blocks for your press , if you do checking the axle would be easy , remove it place the spindles on the vee blocks and see what you have going on, if not we are not looking at being that accurate here , make a couple of wooden vee blocks , two intersecting 45 degree cuts in a piece of plywood , it doesn't have to be that accurate or pretty , then screw or nail that to another piece of plywood , make two of those and support the axle that way so you can spin it and see exactly where it is bent at.
 
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