Leaf Spring Replacement for 3,500 lb Trailer Axle that is 25-1/4 inch Long

Question:

Im in need of some technical support on some parts. Im wondering if your able to help. Im replacing the axle on my boat trailer. It is a 3500# 2-3/8inch single round axle. The current center-center measurements for my leaf spring hangers measure 25-3/4. My leaf springs measure 25-1/4inch eye to eye. After some online research I found that a 25-3/4inch c-c for leaf spring hangers require a 27inch leaf spring is that correct? So are my current leaf springs that came with the trailer are incorrect? Also how should the angle of the shackles look when they are holding weight? Should they be straight up and down, angled towards the axle, or angled away from the axle? At first I thought I bought the wrong leaf springs now Im second guessing whether my original ones are even correct...

asked by: Cole B

Expert Reply:

You want the the leaf springs to be just a little bit longer than the distance between the hangers so that the shackle angles away and can pivot properly as the spring gets compressed and flattens slightly. A 27 inch spring would be a bit too long.

So the best option would the same size you have now of 25-1/4 inches with the part # e57SR which is for a 4,000 lb axle capacity. When there's is a bit of weight on the spring it would flatten out to the correct length of what you need. We don't have a 3,500 lb axle spring in the right dimension but this is close enough that it would work great.

expert reply by: Jameson C