How to Check for a Bent Trailer Axle Spindle

Question

Question:

Other than by looking, is there a way to measure or determine with some level of precision if a welded on spindle is bent? I think maybe I can take a carpenters speed square and put it on the spindle and the other side against the brake drum backing plate and that will give me a pretty good idea if its bent. Any ideas? Thanks.

asked by: Mark

0

Expert Reply:

Assuming your tires are in good shape without any bulges the easiest way to determine if you have a bent spindle is to take a straight edge that is longer than the tire and lay it across the tire parallel with your trailer frame and then measure the distance from the frame to the straight edge in front and back of the tire. If the distance is the same then the spindle isn't bent.

Beyond that your best option would be to take the trailer to someone qualified in trailer repair to have them check the spindle alignment.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

Greg D.

2/6/2020

I have a Midwest boat trailer that keeps wearing the inside tread of the right tire only left side wears perfect, I do have a kicker motor on the right rear of my boat any thoughts, my thinking is that the axle must be bent is there any way of checking this

Reply

Jacob H.

2/7/2020

There's a few different things that could be going on. You could have a bent spindle which is most commonly caused by curbing or overloading. The bearings could be going out on the right side which would cause the inside of the tire to wear unevenly. And lastly your axle may be bent. To check if your bearings are going out, you will need to lift the tire off of the ground and if there is any movement side to side then that means that there is play in the bearings and they need to be replaced. To check the spindles you can take both wheels of and compare the right side to the left and make sure they are at the same angle. Lastly, checking if your axle is bent you will need to take the wheels off and make sure the axle is level and sitting on level ground. You will then take a measurement from the ground to the end of the spindle. If the measurements are different, it means that your axle is bent.

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Answer 1

I contacted MORryde and this does happen from time to time as the weight of the trailer can spread out the axles due to downward pressure on the springs/suspension. Odds are the 35" wheel base #MR27ZR will be the correct one for you, but…

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Answer 2

If the trailer wheels scrubbed (dragged and scrapped the ground instead of rolling) when jack knifed then it could have thrown something out of alignment or damaged something. First, inspect the suspension. Look for any elongated holes where…

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Answer 3

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…

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Answer 4

If a spindle is bent you cannot bend it back in place. Replacing the axle would be the best route. You are going to need to measure your current axles in a few places to get the correct one as we don't have access to what your numbers reference.…

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Answer 5

It really just depends on what you are looking to get out of the bushings. Bronze bushings, like part #K71-291-00, will last longer but are more noisy and it is recommended to use wet bolts like part #126B2 to keep them lubricated. Nylon bushings,…

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Answer 6

In order to choose the correct replacement axle for a trailer you'll first want to start with the weight capacity. The weight capacity can be found on the axle tag in the center of the beam. Then, you'll need to measure the hub face (center…

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Answer 7

I would not recommend reusing your existing u-bolts because the nuts are designed to mis-align the threads as they are tightened down to prevent the u-bolts from coming loose. You should choose the u-bolt kit that will fit the diameter of your axle.…

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Answer 8

Yes, you can upgrade to The 3-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 4,000-lb Trailer Axles - 25-1/4 inch Long #e57SR. Going up in weight capacity on your leaf springs will not increase the capacity of your trailer. Using springs that are rated higher than the…

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Answer 9

It is unlikely that worn bushing would cause poor tracking or sway unless something else was also worn. Look for any egg-shaped holes in the hangers, spring, equalizers and any other suspension component. This would be an indication of excessive wear…

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Answer 10

The #K71-359-00 is most likely the best choice to go with since it's a very universal and also well made design but it really depends on the equalizer size you have now. This one measures 5-3/4 inches from left to right hole centers and then is 2…

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Answer 11

Excellent question, and the difference between the two kits comes down to the dimensions of the equalizers. What you will want to do is match up the size of your equalizer with the size of the equalizer in these kits. - 6" Long, 4" Tall…

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Answer 12

I looked up the GVWR of your 2005 Keystone Outback Sydney Edition 29 FBHS and found that it would be right at around 10k so for springs you'd want the #e28SR which is 25-1/4 inches long and has a 5,000 lb per axle capacity.

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How to Check for a Bent Trailer Axle Spindle

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