Can an axle wear out?

BC

BCM-ORO

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Just got my rear-most axle replaced. I checked out the original while it was laying on the shop floor and didn't really notice a problem with it other than some striations on the spindle on the door side. Service manager said the axle itself wore out... it lost its hump. Alrighty then. Is that possible? Slight concern now because if that's the case, what caused it and will I have to deal with this every 30,000 miles? Here are some pics.

The original axle:
IMG_6337.JPG


IMG_6338.JPG


I think I sit pretty level, so it can't be that. Most of my weight is in the basement storage. You'd think the fridge axle if anything would be the one complaining.
IMG_6342.JPG


IMG_6345.JPG


IMG_6343.JPG
 
I don't understand how an axle can lose its hump. In the manufacturing process the tube was bent into that arc. It would take a lot of load in the middle of the arc to straighten it to remove the hump. I cannot imagine side loads on the wheels great enough to do that without bending the wheels. The tube would have to be undersized for bounce down the road to fatigue the tube.
Curious.
 
Good insight, Ted. Thank you.

Just called a local axle specialist. He said that is exactly what happened and they see it a lot... the axles get fatigued and end up becoming bent.
 
I won't dispute that it's possible for an axle to wear out . But you have 3 axles and are not loaded super heavy. I feel that there is more to the story.
 
Mark, Was it a Dexter axle and do you know what the axle rating was? Ever had your individual wheels on a scale to know more precisely just how your load is distributed?
 
Mark, is it possible that in a visit to the shop some yoyo jacked it up from the center of the axle?
 
It's a Dexter, 5200 pounds.

As far as I know, no, Jim. That would imply the hump would be increased. It is decreased greatly.
 
From what I understand that hump in the axle is there to take load kind of like a spring. If the rear has a heavy load it will straighten the axle some. Over and over if the axle wasn't treated correctly it will lose the spring effect and go straight

Chris
 
drtnsnw":21xf3z7w said:
From what I understand that hump in the axle is there to take load kind of like a spring. If the rear has a heavy load it will straighten the axle some. Over and over if the axle wasn't treated correctly it will lose the spring effect and go straight

Chris
Click to expand...
Correct and with 3 axles I find that hard to believe.
 
Like most everything Lippert/ the RV designers spec out for Lippert to build, ( Lippert won't take ownership for checking the manufacturers specs and plans ), they build the units a lightly and cheaply as possible. You said the axles were rated for 5200 lbs. each. Giving a load max of 15,600 lbs. Have you ever gone to a truck stop and unhooked your trailer, loaded for camping and maybe your tanks at least half full, to find out what your GVW is reading. That might give you an indication if you should upgrade to higher capacity axles!
I agree with one of the other posters about weighing each individual wheel. Could be the rear of your trailer is heavy!

Ratracer
 
ratracer":py20ruow said:
Like most everything Lippert/ the RV designers spec out for Lippert to build, ( Lippert won't take ownership for checking the manufacturers specs and plans ), they build the units a lightly and cheaply as possible. You said the axles were rated for 5200 lbs. each. Giving a load max of 15,600 lbs. Have you ever gone to a truck stop and unhooked your trailer, loaded for camping and maybe your tanks at least half full, to find out what your GVW is reading. That might give you an indication if you should upgrade to higher capacity axles!
I agree with one of the other posters about weighing each individual wheel. Could be the rear of your trailer is heavy!

Ratracer
Click to expand...
I know his trailer is not over 15,600 on the axles. I doubt he's 15,600 including the pin.
His trailer is practically empty!


2014 427 BHS specs.
Dry Weight 11,840 lbs.Payload Capacity 3,760 lbs.GVWR 15,600 lbs.Hitch Weight 1,920 lbs.
 
I failed both of my 5200# axles in my JT340FLR. All four tires leaned in at the top. 12,000 miles. Talked to the Dexter techs & the quickie check is with a 24 inch straight edge And the trailer off the ground high enough to take all the weight off the tires (axles just hanging). The straight edge is centered under the bow & there should be 1/4 space at the bow in 24 inches. If not the axle lost it's integrity. Time for replacement.
The 7000# (1/4" wall) has a heavier tube wall thickness then the 5200# (3/16" wall) axles. The spindle neck is beefier also (especially on the drop axles). I upgraded to the 7000# axles. Bought a new pair of 7000# Dexter bare drop axles last CHR for $140 each. The wheels sit nice & square now!
The 5200# bearings & brakes go right on them. I'm upgrading to the 8 bolt disc brakes next. The 7000# hubs will provide bigger outer bearings, those are the ones that usually fail do to odd loading (small bearing). Ordered the disc's with the 9/19 wheel studs too!
 
Ponder this, when the trailer is on uneven ground the weight is shifted, its not always dispersed evenly. In some construction areas the crown of the road is quite heavy, that shifts weight to one side and takes it off another. The weight on any particular axle while going down the road or parking is dynamic and always changing.

As has already been mentioned, the RV business is always build it to a price, they aren't making these axles out of unobtainium that they bought from NASA.
 
As I wrote, my weight is in the basement area... chairs, hoses, electrical, junk. I hit the scales a few times and I'm well underweight, but... I didn't weigh the axles individually. This to me wasn't a problem until recently... something happened. I thought it was a pot hole initially late last season, and with about 10,000 miles since, it made sense. But now I'm not so sure.
 
I guess in the end we know if it is man made it can fail. There are lots of possibilities including the axle was defective from the start. Just took a few 1000 miles or the right pot hole, or both, for the issue to surface.
 
What was the initial sign that told you there was a problem? What should we all be looking for, tire wear?
 
My 337RLS came with 44K# axles. After some years, the tires on the curb side began wearing badly on the inside edge. I determined that the axles had lost their "curve" so I replaced them with 52K axles. Much better now and the rig rides a little bit higher (more level now).

While the original axles were within the weight rating of the RV, that didn't allow for the additional stress of rough roads, sharp turns and all the other things that torture them.
 
Dave, the inside edge of the tires wore badly... noticed it when it was below the tread wear indicator. Not sure how I didn't notice it initially as I check the tires religiously. I was even under there a few weeks prior, plus the disc brake installer had them off in March... you'd think he would have noticed. That was before the 4,000 mile run to Texas and back.

Dan that's interesting. Maybe it did just wear out. Good news is the repair only cost $400 for the replacement axle and labor to install. Extended warranty wouldn't cover it, which I figured. Now I'm curious as to what brand and rating the new axle is. Will be checking it out shortly and will report back.
 
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