FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

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FreighTer Jim
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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:20 am

:P Apparently it can be done …. 💡

Earlier this year I donated my transport services
to pick up and deliver this Ford 8N tractor
with a mow deck free of charge to a museum.

8E532AD5-9DF3-4E0E-850D-498F5BB23573.jpeg

The pick up location was in Upstate New York.

On the way there I hit something in the road
that caused an immediate impact flat to the
front tire on the passenger side of my trailer.

B3E23128-23DF-4E3B-80BC-E1FE4B060AB0.jpeg

It destroyed the rim.

I replaced the tire and noticed it didn’t look quite right.

3059CA92-6A9C-4612-B8F7-1CBCC7CE8F2D.jpeg

Closer inspection revealed the spindle on the
7000 pound torsion axle had been bent.

B0B50A13-F0FD-4608-A8F6-68043274789C.jpeg

I pulled the drum - inspected and repacked
the wheel bearings - kept an eye on the tire
and continued down the road.

In the months that have passed - I have spent
a lot of money on replacing that one tire.

I run 14 ply all steel ST trailer tires and with
flipping the tire on the rim about every 1000
miles I usually get about 2000 miles out of
a $200 tire.

It adds up …. 💵

FJ
Last edited by FreighTer Jim on Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:38 am

Over the past several months I have:

Tried ordering a new axle ….

There is a waiting list of axles to be built
and at the top are trailer manufacturers
who take priority - 6 months to 18 months
is the average wait time to have a custom
7000 pound trailer torsion axle built.

Tried sourcing a axle in stock at various
trailer manufacturers and surplus dealers
across the country ….


Found a pair of axles that were special
ordered but never installed at a trailer builder
in Indiana but they were too short.

Researched buying shorter axles
and lengthening them ….


You can shorten a torsion axle - but you
can’t lengthen them,

Looked into spindle replacement ….

No guarantee - probably would work
but it is risky.

FJ
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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:28 pm

So on Friday I was having that tire
flipped to even out the tread at a rural
small tire shop in Central Ohio.

I asked the owner if he knew anyone
that could possibly straighten out
a trailer spindle - he made a call
and referred me to this place ….

@ http://blubaughs.com/m-index.html

It was on my way to New York
so I stopped by to see if they
could do it - turns out they
can pull the axle and straighten
the spindle in a press.

I made an appointment 👍

FJ
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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:29 pm

I was thinking a truck frame, spring, and axle shop could handle it.

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:04 pm

This is the first shop I have contacted
that is willing to straighten a spindle on
a torsion axle.

I have contacted several around
the country over the past several months.

FJ
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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:17 pm

I arrived at 8:00 am this morning.

A8ED1968-0560-48F8-8A56-00EF3710F0DA.jpeg

By 2:00 pm they had the spindle arm off the torsion axle.
It appears the spindle arm bent - not the spindle.

862E47FE-EB9F-4207-B850-2110836E1A25.jpeg

8E5044AA-4F20-4FC5-9C49-F3DDA933C53F.jpeg

They are going to straighten the spindle arm
in a press - put everything back together
and then square the axles to the frame
so everything is aligned correctly 👍


FJ
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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:34 pm

They did a great job 👍

Straightened the spinindle arm …..
Replaced all the axle mounting fasteners ….
Aligned both axles …..

The estimate was a little less than $800.
The bill was $575.


FJ

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3FD03889-EBFB-4D9A-A125-1B93C859B0BD.jpeg

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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by Duey_C » Wed Oct 27, 2021 1:31 am

Good thing FJ. Interesting thread.
Since I lost my mind mind, I feel more liberated


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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:08 am

You should save that much on tires in about four months!


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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by DickC » Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:19 pm

Someone tell me the advantage to having a torsion axle trailer. I too had to replace an axle (7000 pound) on my newest trailer. I felt a jolt while driving at 55 mph and when I got to the tour sight (about 100 more miles) I noticed a tire looked worn and was very hot, couldn't touch it. I did not hit a bump or curb or anything in the first 100 miles. I was told that sometimes when you turn sharply (like backing into a spot) the force on the wheel can bend the spindle arm. The lesson to me is that I will not never have a torsion axle trailer and go back to the tried and true springs. I only had less that 2000miles on the trailer. A friend who sells the trailers got a new one for me at a $900.00 cost. My son and I installed it in about 2 hours and sold the bent axle for $500.00 to a person knowing the bent arm. I figure I got out the best I could.

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:42 pm

I don’t see how sharply turning a trailer
would damage a torsion axle.

A hot tire can mean several things.

I will never have a leaf spring tube axle
trailer again - torsion axles are zero
maintenance unless you overload the trailer
or hit something to damage the spindle/arm.

Bought a new tire today for the repaired
axle arm - took these images of the repair
with the tire off.

0AAEF076-877C-4CB7-9702-7055015ACF69.jpeg

3436E08C-4DA8-4B11-A738-CC6A2086912D.jpeg


FJ
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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by TXGOAT2 » Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:37 pm

I believe the torsion axle allows a lower load floor and wider track while still providing springing. Turning a very heavily loaded multi-axle trailer very sharply puts a lot of strain on any type axle/suspension system, and it loads the heck out of the wheels while scrubbing the tires mercilessly. It also puts lateral strain on the hitch and the tow vehicle's frame. It's to be avoided. If it must be done, best to do it on a grassy surface, if possible.

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:16 pm

Any trailer having more than one axle
should be maneuvered by wide turns.

Correct spread axle design can minimize
stress to the axle - tire - mounting hardware
when turning.

Planning ahead by pulling thru without
backing up or turning around will help
minimize unnecessary wear & tear on
trailer running gear.

I have had triple axle trailers.
I will never own one again.

The load height of a trailer deck is determined
by what degree the axle is relative to the frame.

Four inch drop axles became the standard
years ago because they facilitated a low
deck height - that came at the expense
of dragging the rear of a trailer when you
bottom out on angled driveways.

It also meant higher fender wells and
interior boxes within the trailer.

Torsion or tube - it doesn’t make a difference
in trailer deck height - axle mounting angle does.

Ever since my first enclosed car hauler trailer
I have designed every of my trailers - incorporating
what I learned in real life on the road.

On tube axles - I specified straight axles
which gave me a higher deck that didn’t
drag on driveways and dips in the roadway.

Starting with my second trainer - I switched
to barn doors and commercial aluminum ramps.

I just loaded this 1963 Studebaker Avanti
on Wednesday that had a 12 year frame off
restoration done.

7DF4020C-9331-4B30-AB10-56817E138A99.jpeg

It is the closest match in color of any
vehicle I have transported since I replaced
my trailer floor and painted the interior.

A890FC85-0DB4-4748-AC9F-EDBEE64D9BD7.jpeg

It is just over 16 feet long with low clearance.
Load out was done by the side of the road
on a uneven surface.
By using a wireless remote control electric
winch combined with wood blocking
the load out went effortlessly.

91D3BE46-961E-480C-912A-BD387B5BFA13.jpeg


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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by DickC » Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:44 pm

freighterjim, I am aware a hot tire can be caused by several things. Let me be clear about the situation I related above. When I analyzed the hot tire, I realized that the wheel seemed to look like it was toed in. I proved this by using two straight 4 foot levels placed against the center of the two wheels. What I found was the front wheel level crossed the rear wheel level rather than meeting on the same plane. That proved to me that the wheel was toed in and the heat and wear was due to the tire scrubbing. Therefore the finding of a bent spindle arm. Still today, I can't relate anything I did to cause the problem. I guess it happens!!

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:21 am

I pulled my trailer most of the year with
the bent spindle arm - the inner tread
would prematurely wear and I would flip
the tire to extend the tire life.

You either hit something or your torsion
axle spindle arm bent on it’s own.


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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by Dan Hatch » Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:54 am

Not to change subject but since it is about torsion axles.
What is the life of one? I have been told the rubber cushions inside go bad after a few years.
Any input on that? Thanks Dan

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:18 pm

Dan 👋

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Re: FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by Dan Hatch » Sun Oct 31, 2021 8:34 am

Jim thanks for the info. Where is that from, I think I saw in Dextor catalog 7 to 9 years. Thanks Dan

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FJ - Can You Repair A Bent Spindle Arm On A 7000 Pound Trailer Torsion Axle ?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:16 am

Dan 👋

Just ask “ Google “ ….


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