How to Check for a Bent Trailer Axle Spindle

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Question:

Other than by looking, is there a way to measure or determine with some level of precision if a welded on spindle is bent? I think maybe I can take a carpenters speed square and put it on the spindle and the other side against the brake drum backing plate and that will give me a pretty good idea if its bent. Any ideas? Thanks.

asked by: Mark

0

Expert Reply:

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 tire. If the distance is the same then the spindle isn't bent.

Beyond that your best option would be to take the trailer to someone qualified in trailer repair to have them check the spindle alignment.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

Greg D.

2/6/2020

I have a Midwest boat trailer that keeps wearing the inside tread of the right tire only left side wears perfect, I do have a kicker motor on the right rear of my boat any thoughts, my thinking is that the axle must be bent is there any way of checking this

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Jacob H.

2/7/2020

There's a few different things that could be going on. You could have a bent spindle which is most commonly caused by curbing or overloading. The bearings could be going out on the right side which would cause the inside of the tire to wear unevenly. And lastly your axle may be bent. To check if your bearings are going out, you will need to lift the tire off of the ground and if there is any movement side to side then that means that there is play in the bearings and they need to be replaced. To check the spindles you can take both wheels of and compare the right side to the left and make sure they are at the same angle. Lastly, checking if your axle is bent you will need to take the wheels off and make sure the axle is level and sitting on level ground. You will then take a measurement from the ground to the end of the spindle. If the measurements are different, it means that your axle is bent.

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Answer 1

I have included a picture that shows the measurements needed for a spindle, bearings, seals, faces, and hubs. The spindle measurements are labeled A through F. A is the spindle shaft diameter B is where the grease seal sits C is where the inner…

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Answer 2

The #99 trailer spindle is typically found on 9,000 lb and 10,000 lb axles. This is not a spindle that we carry at this time, but I did find some of the measurements. I have attached a diagram showing the dimensions of a #99 spindle for you to check…

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Answer 3

You will need to measure the diameter of the spindles where the seal and bearings ride. Check out the picture I attached that shows where this is. You will need an exact measurement so either a digital or dial caliper will be needed. To pick out the…

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Answer 4

A leaf spring being 1-1/2" longer is going to be to much of a difference to work properly for the trailer suspension. While it may bolt up the positioning of the axles will change by quite a bit and may bind up as the suspension travels through…

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Answer 5

You need the Wheel Retaining Ring #33-52-1 for your 10K axles and wheels. This ring has the single tab and will allow you to use your current flat faced wheel with Coned Lug Nuts #6-109. The retaining ring will sit outside the the wheels(see image).…

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Answer 6

While trailer axles do feature an upward bend like you are describing, there isn't a particular amount/measurement that is standard across the board. This bend in the axle is designed so that it will straighten under a trailer's loaded…

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Answer 7

The grease seals in Kit #BK3-100 are not the same as 21333TB. The correct replacement seal for that would be #RG06-090, which have a 2.125" inner diameter and 3.376" outer diameter.

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Answer 8

Typically a trailer axle will have some camber in it - some bend - such that when it is not loaded the tops of the wheels bow outward slightly, with the outside edges of the tire treads making first contact with the ground. This allows that when the…

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Answer 9

Thanks for the information and picture James! Your Curt 5,100 lbs capacity axle uses item #25580 inner bearings and item #LM67048 outer bearings. So you would need the Bearing Kit item #BK3-300, which includes both bearings, along with both races, a…

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Answer 10

If the trailer wheels scrubbed (dragged and scrapped the ground instead of rolling) when jack knifed then it could have thrown something out of alignment or damaged something. First, inspect the suspension. Look for any elongated holes where…

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Answer 11

We do have a wiring diagram for you! Whether you have the 1,000 psi Dexter DX Series #K71-650 or the 1,600 psi Dexter DX Series #K71-651 the wiring will be the exact same. I have attached a wiring diagram and review videos for you to check out. Just…

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Answer 12

Hello Steve; yes, a bent axle or spindle can indeed cause uneven tire wear. Excessive wear on the inside of the tire is most commonly cause by a bent or overloaded axle. Even a very small bend, like a fraction of a fraction of an inch can throw…

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How to Check for a Bent Trailer Axle Spindle

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