Can you fix a bent axle on a trailer?
Fortunately, replacing the axle is not necessary unless it is extensively damaged. With welding skills and attention to detail, axle repair is possible. It is, however, important to weld the axle after straightening it in a step-by-step manner to prevent the axle from warping.
Why does my trailer axle look bent?
When the trailer is under load, the axle’s weight pushes down, making the axles straighter, and the tires sit flat; this helps increase the tire’s contact surface, even weight distribution, tire wear, and alignment. Without the Camber, the axle might sag when under load, increasing additional wear on the inner tread.
Can a bent axle be fixed?
In most cases a bent axle cannot be repaired and must be replaced. A bad axle will lead to other damage to your vehicle down the line. So it’s critical that the axle be in great condition to avoid other costly repairs.
Can you drive on a bent trailer axle?
A badly bent axle will quickly cause damage to CV joints, and it’s possible to damage your wheel hubs, bearings and other components. It can also damage the mounting flange where it attaches to the differential (in a rear-wheel drive vehicle), and possibly cause internal damage to the differential gearing.
Why do trailer axles have a bow in them?
Trailer axles will typically have this bow in order to provide a means for compensating the load they’re taking on. The bending helps them deflect the load down and out which will help maintain the proper camber in the trailer’s wheels.
What does a bent axle feel like?
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.
What causes axle to break?
Even though axles are built to be tough, an overloaded vehicle can sometimes crack or break an axle. Bad carrier bearings or bad potholes are other common causes of axle problems.
How do I know if my axle is bent on my trailer?
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 …