Troubleshooting A Slipping Wear Plate On A Reese Sidewinder Pin Box

Updated 07/27/2023 | Published 07/24/2023

Question:

Hello, I purchased a Reese airborne sidewinder from y’all 5AS16k a while back. I noticed my wear plate has shifted a bit. I loosened the 4 bolts to realign the wear plate. I seen the torque on the bolts is 45. Is this accurate? Also can I add a couple of grade 8 lock washers to ensure they don’t loosen too much? How does the wear plate stay lined up? Doesn’t seem to have too much to grab into.

asked by: Scott C

Helpful Expert Reply:

The 5th Airborne Premium 5th Wheel Air Ride King Pin with Sidewinder # 5AS16K has a plate welded on the back the would hold the wear plate in place and prevent any movement. If your wear plate is able to spin then it could be because of the following reasons:

The welded tab could have been welded too far back at the factory and would be a manufacturer defect.

When the turret was installed the nuts weren't torqued to 150 ft/lbs to set the wear plates/pivot bushing and then backed off and retorqued to 45 ft/lbs, allowing movement of the components and possible wear to plate.

Lube wasn't applied to wear plate and pivot bushing or the wear plate was installed upside down, allowing the turret to grab onto the plate and drag it as you made turns.

I recommend removing the entire pin box from the trailer and disassembling the turret to get a better look at the wear plate. Based on the pictures the cutout hole in the plate is most like rubbed oblong at this point or the corner of the plate has been sheared down allowing the movement. You can pick up a service kit from Reese that will have replacement wear plates/pivot bushings and lube so that you can replace the ones you have. Just make sure when you reassemble everything that your torque the 5/8" bolts to 150 ft/lbs and set the plates and then loosen and re-torque to 45 ft/lbs so that it can pivot.

expert reply by: Kevin C