Measuring from the ball socket back to the ends of the axel on a single axel trailer, I get a 3/8inch variation. Is this enough to try to adjust? There was uneven tire wear on one of the tires just replaced.
Trailer alignment
- Thread starter Tsam
- Start date
Yes, I'd start by marking the current position on both sides with a sharp pencil then loosen the ubolts that hold the shortest side and see if you can move it back 3/8" using a ratchet strap may help then tighten it back down and drive it around the block and redo your measurements to see what you get.
After rereading your post I'd do that after measuring from a point on the springs to the coupler. If you get the same results move the springs. If your result is different than the original one look to see if it is your axle that is bent rather than misaligned.
After rereading your post I'd do that after measuring from a point on the springs to the coupler. If you get the same results move the springs. If your result is different than the original one look to see if it is your axle that is bent rather than misaligned.
Maybe but there is the undeniable fact that you are experiencing uneven tire wear. The upper limits in Toe In adjustment rest around 1/8". How does it drive, are you experiencing any drifting? There are other factors that could influence tire wear, like uneven load distribution along the axle where one tire is more loaded than the other or a bent axle spline, or excessive and uneven camber. We do not know how that axle came to be 3/8" off in one side but a hard thump on the road or a ramp could have force it back and bent the spline. Before you move the axle either one side forward or the other backwards make sure to the best of your capabilities that nothing is bent in the axle or suspension, and that the wheels are vertically straight (camber) that the top of the wheel is not either leaning to the inside or to the outside too much. As for "toe in" the front of the tires are the they pointing in or out? Sometimes if there are no problems on how the trailer drives and as long as the uneven tire wear is not too excessive sometimes it can be cheaper to replace a tire here and there than to replace an axle or chase some load factor or alignment problem. In some trailers it is easy to move the axle in others welding may be involved and be more complicated. You would have to make that call to move it or not.
Did the affected tire wear on the inside or outside? It could possibly be another problem, such as a bent axle. An easy way to check toe in/out, is to measure inside on tires (side to side) and front and back .