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Carvhors's avatar
Carvhors
Explorer
Jun 02, 2020

Inside tire wear on driver side

Apologies for the long post. Suspension/wheel question: I have a 2017 Coleman 17FQ, single 3500 lb Dexter axle. Over the last two seasons I’ve had the door-side leaf spring flatten a bit more than the other causing the rig to slightly list to the door side. On the last trip of the season last year, coming home, the leaf totally flattened out. I replaced both leaf springs (2000 lbs) after taken the unit out of storage this year. We’re getting ready to go on our first long road trip next weekend (about 1,000 miles round trip), so I took the rig out for a test drive with the new springs. After getting back home I crawled underneath to double check the torque on the nuts/bolts, I noticed that the inside of the driver’s side tire was extremely worn. Though the tires are Jaxxon China bombs they’ve actually worn very well for three years...until now. Could the listing have caused the wearing? I also noticed that the camber on that wheel is slightly off. The top of the tire/wheel tilts about 2 degrees inward. I adjusted the bearings...there was slight movement in that wheel, but it’s snug now. I’m getting Goodyear Endurance’s installed on Friday. Should I be concerned with that wheel camber being slightly out for this trip? Am I going to screw up these new tires? Any productive opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

10 Replies

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  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jun 03, 2020
    Huntindog wrote:
    Carvhors wrote:
    I adjusted the bearings...there was slight movement in that wheel, but it’s snug now.


    How did you "adjust" the bearings?
    There NEEDS to be a slight amount of play when the hub and bearing are cold. You can use a dial caliper to measure it, or follow the specific instruction of the axle manufacturer, which will result in the correct amount of play.
    If there is no play when cold, then they will be tight when hot!
    Too loose and too tight are both bad.


    X2!

    Don't drive it anywhere until you reset the bearings, you have them too tight if there is no slack and fix the axle and springs.

    Trailer bearings unlike an automobile axle bearing IS allowed to have some slack and running zero slack means you have them too tight. Look up Dexter axles website, they have some very handy technical information available for maintenance which includes setting the bearings which applies to any axle manufacturer.

    Since you have experienced damage to your axle springs and now the axle I suspect you are heavily overloaded on that side.

    You need to get your rig weighed when loaded then adjust your gear inside to get some of the weight off of that side..

    This maybe due to the interior design for your cabinets and may take some noodling to get it corrected.

    Get the axle and springs fixed now, do not attempt to go as is..
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jun 03, 2020
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    Find a big rig trailer repair shop and let them R&R/reset the axle back in proper alignment.


    Not likely an alignment issue if you re-read the OP's description of the symptoms.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2020
    Carvhors wrote:
    I adjusted the bearings...there was slight movement in that wheel, but it’s snug now.


    How did you "adjust" the bearings?
    There NEEDS to be a slight amount of play when the hub and bearing are cold. You can use a dial caliper to measure it, or follow the specific instruction of the axle manufacturer, which will result in the correct amount of play.
    If there is no play when cold, then they will be tight when hot!
    Too loose and too tight are both bad.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2020
    corvettekent wrote:
    I would not take this on a 1,000 mile trip until you get the axle fixed.
    X2 thst will just tear up a new tire.

    Have you ever weighed it loaded for a trip?

    This is a classic symptom of a bent axle, either from overloading or road hazard.

    If a new axle is needed (they are quite affordable) I recomend up sizing it. You can get them custom made with larger and/or thicker tubes. And it doesn't add much to the cost.

    Manufacturers tend to IMO, under axle trailers.
  • Mike134's avatar
    Mike134
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2020
    Carvhors wrote:
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    Find a big rig trailer repair shop and let them R&R/reset the axle back in proper alignment.


    Yes, the plan is to have it checked out by a shop. In the meantime, do you think it would be safe to take this on our long distance camping trip this weekend (1000 mls round trip), or will I just mess up the new tires? The camber is only about 2 degrees inward at the top of the wheel


    Safe yes but will wear the inside of the tire. Sounds like you have an axle problem.

    http://www.dexterpartsonline.com/page/398255222

    see question #6
  • Carvhors's avatar
    Carvhors
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2020
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    Find a big rig trailer repair shop and let them R&R/reset the axle back in proper alignment.


    Yes, the plan is to have it checked out by a shop. In the meantime, do you think it would be safe to take this on our long distance camping trip this weekend (1000 mls round trip), or will I just mess up the new tires? The camber is only about 2 degrees inward at the top of the wheel
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Jun 02, 2020
    Find a big rig trailer repair shop and let them R&R/reset the axle back in proper alignment.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jun 02, 2020
    Is the neg camber gone? Likely not. Bearing would have to be pretty loose to see camber and it would sit straight until stress on wheel.
    My internet diagnosis is sacked out the springs means they were overloaded. (Not that you overloaded it. Camper may just be too heavy for axle and old springs.)
    Overloaded axle = bent axle. Bent axle = neg camber in tire(s) because the axle is bent.
    Neg camber = tire wear on in side.

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