mbgaski
Seaman
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2010
- Messages
- 54
Hey guys - I'm replacing the axle on my trailer and ran into some questions.
The current axle is a 2" square tube galvanized axle. It doesn't appear to have spring seats at all and has holes drilled into the axle where it sits on the leaf springs directly.
I've found a new axle (http://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/35...zed-Trailer-Axle-with-Brake-Flange_p_846.html), but rather than recommending drilling this axle, they supply a spring seat that sits on the leaf spring pin and then the axle is supposed to be set into the spring seat and then bolted down with the u-bolts for an apparent friction fit.
Naturally being a square tube axle I don't need to worry about the axle spinning, but I wasn't sure how confident I'd be regarding side to side play.
I had pondered drilling this axle like the old one was or having someone weld the spring seats at the proper location, but I've seen specific recommendations against this (obviously for the drilling holes that will allow water intrusion, but it was less obvious why they'd specifically say not to weld the spring seats).
So basically - I was looking for some opinions on whether or not you guys would trust a friction fit with just the U-bolts holding the axle against the spring seat?
Also - i haven't been able to find a torque recommendation for tightening down the U-bolts, so if anyone knows a good rule of thumb there it'd be appreciated.
Thanks!
The current axle is a 2" square tube galvanized axle. It doesn't appear to have spring seats at all and has holes drilled into the axle where it sits on the leaf springs directly.
I've found a new axle (http://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/35...zed-Trailer-Axle-with-Brake-Flange_p_846.html), but rather than recommending drilling this axle, they supply a spring seat that sits on the leaf spring pin and then the axle is supposed to be set into the spring seat and then bolted down with the u-bolts for an apparent friction fit.
Naturally being a square tube axle I don't need to worry about the axle spinning, but I wasn't sure how confident I'd be regarding side to side play.
I had pondered drilling this axle like the old one was or having someone weld the spring seats at the proper location, but I've seen specific recommendations against this (obviously for the drilling holes that will allow water intrusion, but it was less obvious why they'd specifically say not to weld the spring seats).
So basically - I was looking for some opinions on whether or not you guys would trust a friction fit with just the U-bolts holding the axle against the spring seat?
Also - i haven't been able to find a torque recommendation for tightening down the U-bolts, so if anyone knows a good rule of thumb there it'd be appreciated.
Thanks!