Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
The typical tandem axle suspension like this takes a real beating.
The triangle thing holding the shackles is called the equilizer. The nylon bushings are gone in as little as 6000 miles and then the hole on top of the equilizer elongates. The shackle holes elongate as well and break between 15k and 30k miles so you have to maintain them. Look at the grooves worn into the bolts. This is typical.
When packing the wheel bearings and checking brakes, the weight is off of the trailer. This is a good time to wiggle the parts and see how much slop is in the parts.
Dexter is the main source for good axle parts and they make all sorts of kits to maintain trailer axles. I used the EZ Flex kit because it has brass bushings, greasable "wet bolts" and the equilizer is hinged with a huge rubber shock absorber. Basically it comes with everything except grease. They make all sorts of claims about the new regulator but the RV camper crowd loves them and mine was worn out. This shows one side but both sides come in the kit.
You can see how much better the new stuff is.
The install is straightforward. Clean up the spring eyes and press or tap in the brass bushings. Mount the outside fixed end of the springs first, then raise or lower the axles to line up the shackle holes. It's just grunt work but plan time to do it right and use the torque specs.
Now every pivot can be kept greased! The EZ Flex is supposed to stop that "push me pull you" feeling called chucking and cushions the ride. I noticed that I can't hear or feel the trailer back there. Now every time I hit a bump, I look back to see if the trailer is still there.
The triangle thing holding the shackles is called the equilizer. The nylon bushings are gone in as little as 6000 miles and then the hole on top of the equilizer elongates. The shackle holes elongate as well and break between 15k and 30k miles so you have to maintain them. Look at the grooves worn into the bolts. This is typical.
When packing the wheel bearings and checking brakes, the weight is off of the trailer. This is a good time to wiggle the parts and see how much slop is in the parts.
Dexter is the main source for good axle parts and they make all sorts of kits to maintain trailer axles. I used the EZ Flex kit because it has brass bushings, greasable "wet bolts" and the equilizer is hinged with a huge rubber shock absorber. Basically it comes with everything except grease. They make all sorts of claims about the new regulator but the RV camper crowd loves them and mine was worn out. This shows one side but both sides come in the kit.
You can see how much better the new stuff is.
The install is straightforward. Clean up the spring eyes and press or tap in the brass bushings. Mount the outside fixed end of the springs first, then raise or lower the axles to line up the shackle holes. It's just grunt work but plan time to do it right and use the torque specs.
Now every pivot can be kept greased! The EZ Flex is supposed to stop that "push me pull you" feeling called chucking and cushions the ride. I noticed that I can't hear or feel the trailer back there. Now every time I hit a bump, I look back to see if the trailer is still there.
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