Expert Answers about Tire Repair Tools

• Is the Slime Rechargeable All-Purpose Inflator Repairable
• The Slime Rechargeable All-Purpose Inflator part # SLM40028 is not repairable so since it is malfunctioning it will need to be replaced or you can just continue to use it without the adjustable pressure settings or battery gauge. The only other rechargeable air compressor we offer with AC and DC adapters is the Wagan JumpBoost V10 Air part # WC7556 which also doubles as a battery pack.
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• Troubleshooting Tire Chain Loose Ends or Improper Fit
• The Titan Chain Snow Tire Chains with Cams - Ladder Pattern - Twist Links - 1 Pair # TC2221CAM if being used on the correct tire sizes should not have loose ends. The cam tighteners should remove any slack that would be an issue. Your option is to trim the cross chain links to shorten and then use the Titan Chain Cross Chain Repair Link - 0.25" Thick - Qty 1 # TC250CCRL to replace the removed link(s) and hold the chain together. You likely will need the Titan Chain Repair Pliers for Light...
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• Should Spindle Be Replaced After Wheel Came Off Weekend Warrior Tri-Axle Trailer
• Now would be a really good time to have the entire system inspected by a qualified shop. If the lug nuts were not tightened properly that could cause the wheel to come off the trailer. The bearing should have been inspected for obvious signs of wear or damage as well as the spindle. If the hub came off with the wheel and tire I imagine the threads on the spindle have been damaged. I would have someone inspect the entire system and replace or repair anything that is worn or damaged. Since...
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• Uneven Tire Wear on a Single Tire on Tandem Axle Trailer
• There's numerous possible causes, but an underinflated tire would be the most common. A trailer tire should be kept inflated to the maximum pressure that's listed on the tire sidewall. If it were a bent axle or an overloaded trailer, the excessive wear wouldn't be on both edges of the tire. If the tire is properly inflated, make sure that the suspension is in good repair, with nothing worn or damaged. A faulty tire would also a possible cause. It would explain why only one tire is experiencing...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Tire Wear on Outer Tread
• The first and easiest thing to check is to make sure the tire is inflated properly. If the tire is under-inflated, the sides of the tire tread will wear quickly. The recommended psi should be listed on the sidewall of the tire. It is odd that your tire is wearing on the outer portion of the tread. When abnormal tire wear is a problem, it is more common on the center tread or inner tread caused by over inflation and overloading. If your tires are inflated properly or you continue to have...
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• Do Shackle Straps Need To Be The Same On Both Sides of a Trailer?
• It sounds like the previous owner broke something and instead of repairing the one side and changing the other they just decided to fix what was wrong. After owning the trailer for 2 years if you're not having uneven tire wearing issues and the trailer isn't lop-sided when loaded up you shouldn't have to fix anything. The shackles need to be the same on both sides of the trailer though. Like this one Curved Equalizer for 1-3/4" Wide Double-Eye Springs item # TREQE1. It is 7-3/4" Long that...
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• Trailer Brakes Lock Up when Trailer is Plugged into 2015 Nissan Xterra
• The issue you are describing comes up now and again with certain Nissan vehicles. Apparently, depending on which plant the vehicle was built in, the brake output wire and the 12 volt power wire are reversed on the vehicle wiring harness. Basically to fix the problem all you have to do is swap the blue and black wires inside of the Curt harness 7-Way part that plugs into the vehicle # C56226. There are a couple of ways to do this: Repair Option 1 This option is the best for the longevity...
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• What is Causing Wear on Outer Edge of Passenger Side Tire on Trailer
• I first recommend checking to make sure the tire is properly inflated to the maximum psi listed on the tire's sidewall. If the tire is under-inflated, the sides of the tire tread will wear quickly. If the tire is inflated properly, then it's very possible that there is an issue with the trailer's suspension components or axle/spindle. Since the wear you noticed is only on the outer edge of the tire, this might indicate that the spindle is not parallel to the ground. There could be a suspension...
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• Shackle Straps Break on a 20ft Tandem Axle Trailer and the Rear Axle Slides the Tires
• One of the most common causes for shackle straps to break is over-tightening of the shackle bolts. If the shackle bolts are too tight, the shackle straps are not able to move with the suspension. This causes binding and it can bend or even brake the shackle straps, bolts and hangers. The sliding that you are experiencing on the rear axle is common for tandem and triple axle trailers and it is usually called scrubbing. The rear axle scrubs because trailer axles are not steering axles,...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Bounce on a Fifth Wheel Trailer
• First thing I would check is that the trailer is being towed as level as possible. Typically the problem of trailer bounce is due to a major problem with the trailer's suspension. I would recommend you go over the suspension of the trailer looking for any worn components and repair as needed. Do the trailer's tires look to be wearing evenly? Check to see if there is any strange wear on the tires. Typically suspension problems will cause trailer tires to wear strangely.
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• Troubleshooting Outside of Front Right Tire Cupping
• Cupping is caused by bouncing and generally the issue is you are out of alignment. It may look fine but I do recommend having your toy hauler taken to a trailer repair shop and having it checked out thoroughly to be on the safe side. Tires will also wear on the outside due to being under-inflated so they need to be inflated to max psi, rated for the proper load you are carrying and also balanced. There are a number of potential issues so as I stated, a trailer shop who specializes in...
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• Why Did Trailer Tires Only Last 4 Months
• There are several possible reasons for tires to wear that quickly. A bent or damaged axle, damaged or worn suspension components (like leaf springs, shackle straps or equalizers), an overloaded trailer or a tire being loaded above and beyond its load rating, improper inflation and exceeding the speed rating of the tire can all cause the premature tire wear you mentioned. Worn/damaged suspension, bent axles, improper inflation and overloading the tire can cause the tire tread to contact...
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• Trailer Wheel Bearings Burning Out Repeatedly After Little Mileage
• Thank you for providing the photo and the detailed history of the wheel bearing issues with your Fleetwood trailer. A potential cause for bearing failure is the castle nuts being over tightened. Castle nuts should be just slightly more than hand tight. If too tight this will put excessive pressure on the bearings and could lead to premature failure. I suggest an inspection of the tires on the affected wheels. If you notice uneven tread wear this could potentially indicate a source for...
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• Inspecting Axle/Hub On Tandem Axle Trailer w/ Single Tire Showing Excessive Wear On 1 Edge Of Tire
• You want to position your trailer on flat level ground when inspecting the trailer for any alignment issues. Since you mentioned the issue being on the one wheel and already seeing abnormal wear you will want to first raise this tire off the ground and check for any play in the hub on the spindle. If you are able to wobble the tire on the hub this means you will most likely have a bearing issue which needs addressed. Since the wear is on the curb side this tells me the inner bearing is...
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• Causes of Uneven Trailer Tire Wear
• Do you mean that the inside of the tread (the half closest to the trailer) is wearing unevenly? Or are you speaking of the inside sidewall? Many things can cause uneven tire wear, including a bent axle, an overloaded trailer and worn or broken suspension components. A trailer axle should be slightly arched, with the high spot in the center of the trailer and the spindles on either end being slightly lower. When the trailer is loaded the arch will flatten, placing the trailer tire treads...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Tire Cupping on Inside of Tire
• Cupping is usually caused by a bad alignment or suspension that is worn out and bouncing its way down the highway. Since you had suspension components go out while traveling I would be willing to bed that something got bent or pulled out of alignment during that incident. Best option will be to take the trailer to a shop that can do trailer alignments and have them get you straightened out (pun intended).
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• Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes with Worn Wiring to the Magnets
• Exposed bare wires can definitely be causing a short or bad ground which will definitely effect your braking. You'll want to repair the wiring. Also, if the brake magnets themselves are worn down to the copper wiring you'll want to replace them.
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• Trailer Brake Controller Shows No Connection to Trailer After Blown Tire
• I think I know what might have happened. When the tire let loose, it must have damaged the brake output circuit on your trailer. Each brake magnet has two leads, one that connects to the brake output circuit that leads to the trailer connector and ultimately to the brake controller. The other lead grounds to the trailer frame. If any of these wires has been severed, it'd cause the problem you describe. Start at the trailer connector, and trace the brake output circuit rearward to the brake...
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• How To Repair Yakima SkyBox Rooftop Cargo Box With Key Broken Off In Lock
• I spoke with my Yakima representative, who tells me that your best bet would be to get the remaining piece of the key out of the lock if at all possible. To do this, you'll need some spray lubricant like PB blaster or WD-40 and a small tool like a dental pick and some fine needle nose pliers. First, thoroughly saturate the lock with the spray. Then use the dental pick to work around the serrated edge of the key, pulling gently outward. Once you get enough of the key extricated, you can...
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• How to Tell if a Trailer Spindle is Damaged or Needs to be Replaced
• If you remove the hub and wipe away the grease on the spindle you can check to see if it is damaged. Look for an scarring, gouges, discoloration, or scoring on the spindle. If the spindle is damaged then the bearings won't ride properly and can fail again or it can cause other problems such as uneven or excessive tire wear and ride quality problems. If the spindle is damaged then you can't really repair it and the whole axle should be replaced. I doubt that this is the case based on your...
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