Wheel Alignment on a Fiver

B.O. Plenty wrote:

Ron Nielson wrote:
Since you already know you have uneven tire wear, you know you need an alignment. Trailer axles are made by several different manufacturers and some of say that you can align the wheels by bending the axle tubes, and some say that you cannot do the alignment by bending the axle tubes and if you do, it will void any warranty that may be in place.

My trailer uses Dexter axles and they CAN be bent and I have had one of my axles corrected for a 1/2" tow-in problem. Before you decide to bend your axles, determine who manufactures them, and investigate if and how their particular axles can be corrected. It could be that you just need to replace the entire axle and not bend your existing axle.

Why waste all that money and possibly end up with another junk axle? They are all made the same way unless you have a Mor-Ryde IS which is adjustable. My axles were both tracking to the left. If new axles would have been installed they would have done the same thing due to the way they were attached to the frame. The spring hangers were off. For around $150.00 which is way less than replacing an axle, you can have it aligned and it's done..end of story. They will also set the tow and camber. No guaranty a new axle will be perfect. By the way, a new axle comes pre-bent in the center to set the camber on it. Don't get suckered in to buying a new axle thinking it will fix anything.

B.O.

Correct.

And...Not to mention...a new axle needs to be aligned.

You have not mentioned which axle needs attention. Or both axles. If the tires on the same axle are wearing on the outside of the tread, you may have a "toe in" problem. If there is a camber problem that will cause that issue, it is because someone jacked the axle in the center. Makes the tires go like this \\====//. Or you pinched the wheels on both sides against a curb or two. Our sharp turns on a dry pavement. Maybe some other reasons.