jimmwaller
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2013
- Messages
- 265
Hello all,
I think it's time for me to replace my trailer axles. My bearings/hubs are pretty rusted and now that both my tires have gone flat, this might be the motivation I need to replace the whole axle assembly.
Just to make sure I'm doing things right... what are the considerations that I need to keep in mind when replacing an axle? Things like fit, weight, etc. So far, I feel like I have to make sure that:
1) the length is correct. This one is pretty self-explanatory, I'll just match what I have now.
2) the "leaf spring center" is correct. However, my trailer doesn't have springs. The axle just basically bolts to a bar hanging off the bottom of my trailer frame. Is there any way I could add leaf springs?
3) The weight is correct. I have an old aluminum starcraft islander, so I figure that a #3500 should be plenty, or is that overkill? Or should I get a beefier one?
4) Do I need to consider the size/shape of the axle? My current axle is square, and I'm planning to stick with square. But do I need to make sure the dimensions of the tubing are exactly the same, or does that not matter as much as long as the U bolts fit?
5) I don't really care what hubs it has on there. I'm planning to replace the wheels/tires anyways, so I'll just make sure I get wheels that fit.
6) I use my boat in a saltwater bay, is there anything I can do with the axle purchase to ensure that it lasts? What's the best material for saltwater?
7) anything else I'm missing that I should be thinking of when buying/installing a new axle? I feel like it's really just a matter of unbolting the old and rebolting the new, is that the right way to think about it?
Thanks so much!!
I think it's time for me to replace my trailer axles. My bearings/hubs are pretty rusted and now that both my tires have gone flat, this might be the motivation I need to replace the whole axle assembly.
Just to make sure I'm doing things right... what are the considerations that I need to keep in mind when replacing an axle? Things like fit, weight, etc. So far, I feel like I have to make sure that:
1) the length is correct. This one is pretty self-explanatory, I'll just match what I have now.
2) the "leaf spring center" is correct. However, my trailer doesn't have springs. The axle just basically bolts to a bar hanging off the bottom of my trailer frame. Is there any way I could add leaf springs?
3) The weight is correct. I have an old aluminum starcraft islander, so I figure that a #3500 should be plenty, or is that overkill? Or should I get a beefier one?
4) Do I need to consider the size/shape of the axle? My current axle is square, and I'm planning to stick with square. But do I need to make sure the dimensions of the tubing are exactly the same, or does that not matter as much as long as the U bolts fit?
5) I don't really care what hubs it has on there. I'm planning to replace the wheels/tires anyways, so I'll just make sure I get wheels that fit.
6) I use my boat in a saltwater bay, is there anything I can do with the axle purchase to ensure that it lasts? What's the best material for saltwater?
7) anything else I'm missing that I should be thinking of when buying/installing a new axle? I feel like it's really just a matter of unbolting the old and rebolting the new, is that the right way to think about it?
Thanks so much!!