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Thread: Axle alignment

  1. #1
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    Default Axle alignment

    G'day
    I have just had a mates tandem axle van in bits and while we had the hubs off we measured the distance between the axles and came up with a 7mm difference from right to left. It's a off-road suspension probably 4.5t [9 leaf springs, big brakes and 15inch wheels] should we adjust the axles [about 1 mt b/c] to be all square or is it nothing too worry about.

    Thanks

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  3. #2
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    If the trailer tyres are wearing OK and it is towing straight behind your vehicle I would not change anything.
    If you do decide to change something in the axle alignment, which axle would you move.
    Basically the axles need to be square to the trailer centreline so either or both could be incorrect.
    It could be that both axles are out by a few MM but if that is the case I doubt that you will notice any difference if you move them both..
    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

  4. #3
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    At 7mm I wouldn't worry to much about it, probably one of the springs might be a little bit softer. Could also be a manufacturers slackness.
    To check for squareness, measure from the centre of the coupling to the axle centre, also check your spring centre bolts with the coupling.
    Kryn

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    You would be surprised how much a lot of trailers are out of square.
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  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    At 7mm I wouldn't worry to much about it, probably one of the springs might be a little bit softer. Could also be a manufacturers slackness.
    To check for squareness, measure from the centre of the coupling to the axle centre, also check your spring centre bolts with the coupling.
    Kryn
    Hi Kryn,

    could you explain this method of checking squareness?

  7. #6
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    Hi, to check for squareness, find the centre of the coupling on the front, is where I usually measure from. Sometimes there is a casting line where the 2 halve of the mold meet, is a good point and then measure back to the point for squaring, be it axle springs etc. You are effectively triangulating the measurement, similar to squaring a frame, as long as both measurements are the same or within your tolerance, it will be acceptable, (when I built trailers, I tried to get them within 2mm). Also check the distance from the chassis to the end of the axle, sometimes this can alter a reading as well. A lot of manufacturers slap the trailers together, not caring for quality but quantity.
    Hope this helps,
    Kryn

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    Thanks Kryn.

  9. #8
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    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Hi, to check for squareness, find the centre of the coupling on the front, is where I usually measure from. Sometimes there is a casting line where the 2 halve of the mold meet, is a good point and then measure back to the point for squaring, be it axle springs etc. You are effectively triangulating the measurement, similar to squaring a frame, as long as both measurements are the same or within your tolerance, it will be acceptable, (when I built trailers, I tried to get them within 2mm). Also check the distance from the chassis to the end of the axle, sometimes this can alter a reading as well. A lot of manufacturers slap the trailers together, not caring for quality but quantity.
    Hope this helps,
    Kryn
    Measuring the axle being central is the first step, because if it's not central, then triangulating it from the coupling will make it worse.
    Think of an isosceles triangle, then pivot it at the top, to the left or right, by a couple of degrees. The base/axle will still be triangulated from the top/coupling, but the axle will not be square with the chassis. So making sure the axle is central is actually a critical step, and the first step in aligning a trailer's axle.

    Also, aligning the axles on a tandem or tri-axle trailer is a little more critical than a single axle. A single axled trailer, if slightly out, will only crab sideways a little. But a multi-axle trailer, the axles will be fighting each other as to which direction they're travelling, which leads to premature tyre wear at best, and at worst, the trailer can want to sway (more so with a tandem slipper).
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  10. #9
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    Thanks for explaining it a bit better Yonnee. I tried to do it in simple terms and forgot to mention the axle first, it's been about 15years since I've had anything to do with them, and really had to rattle the brain box on that one.
    Kryn

  11. #10
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    Thanks for the Replies i'll leave it for a while and see how it goes, I have posted a couple of photo's it only has a 100mm chassis which might explain why it dips 30mm behind the axles to the back of the van, 150mm would have been the go.
    The guy who built it up apparently spent over 20k on it, you would not think it is a 1985 model it looks much younger.

    Cheers
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