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07-22-2018, 05:06 PM #11
My plan is to call LCI in the morning to see if they will cover it under the six year warranty on the axle beam. I'm expecting to them to deny my claim, but will be pleasantly surprised it they decide to honor the warranty. I don't mind doing the labor if they'll provide the parts.
If LCI denies the claim, my next step will be to visit Arizona Spring in Tucson. According to their website, they can perform alignments and bend axles on all kinds of RVs from Motor homes to trailers. Even if LCI provides a new axle, I think I'll take it to these guys and have them check the alignment after the replacement is made.
http://www.arizonaspring.com/wheel-alignment.html
Jim
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07-22-2018, 05:47 PM #12
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There are differences of opinion on bending/correcting axle beams. My years with Hunter Engineering were where I heard their position that axles out of specification should only be discarded as bending them did weaken them significantly. My go to alignment shop in Colorado Springs has lots of experience with Lippert axles, much of it bad, because many Lippert axles are out of spec and Lippert sends them replacements. They will not bend axles I do not know what are the limits of acceptability, but I know that they are checked with Hunter equipment. I KNOW Hunter checks all angles. Others have stated that laser equipment is fine, but I do not know whether it truly checks all angles. I do agree it will be best to have the alignment checked should you get them to supply an axle. The results hopefully do not create a follow up issue.
AKA Steve and Lynne
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07-22-2018, 06:48 PM #13
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Dang Jim, can't you get a brake? I wonder if it has anything to do with the spring hangers? I have restored a few old 50's Dodge and Ford straight axle pickups that needed their axles adjusted / bent for alignment. There is a semi / dump truck alignment shop here in Austin that I use. I know is not the same kind of axle and they most likely wouldn't work on trailers but uyou never know. Looks like you found someplace in Tucson, all you can do is talk to them. Around here there are a lot of Big Tex (and others) trailer shops and fabricators, many guys around here are hot shot trailer haulers. Got any of those around you?
Hoping for the best.Steve & Tami Cass - Escapee's, FMCA Members, Texas Fulltimers Since July 2020
2019 Solitude 3350RL S-Class, 2018 Ram 3500 DRW, Laramie Longhorn, B&W Companion, Texas Class A Non-CDL Drivers License
Sharing the Fulltime Lifestyle - www.youtube.com/@tsrvadventures3219/videos, Nonprofit Channel
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07-22-2018, 08:52 PM #14
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Jim, you could have a camber issue. LCI had the shop measure the camber of my axles by placing a 4 ft straightedge on the bottom of the axle and measuring the gap in the center. Both axles were replaced. I talked GD into locally sourced 6k Dexters.
I had the same tire wear on the left rear. Spring hangers were an inch out from side to side and camber issue.Last edited by Chiefblueman; 07-22-2018 at 08:55 PM. Reason: Added some stuff
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07-22-2018, 10:03 PM #15
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Kim, I am glad you got the axles replaced. There are methods that give you a direct and accurate camber measurement, to me it is quite puzzling that manufacturers do not use the modern approach of specialized alignment equipment. You know who I am always talking about.
AKA Steve and Lynne
Storm the Black Lab
Reflection 337 RLS vin 573FR3628E3300393
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab Longbox
6.7 Cummins, 68 RFE transmission
B and W Companion, Air Lifts
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07-23-2018, 09:10 AM #16
Well, the discussion with LCI went about as expected. I explained the issue, and the LCI representative "Tom" explained that it is a "bent spindle", and the axle needs to be replaced. He said they'd cover it under the six year warranty. When I gave him the information off my axle tag, he stopped me and said that the six year warranty did not start until January 1st, 2017. Since the axle on my 2017 297RSTS was built on 9/21/16, it only had a one year warranty and that I was no longer in the warranty period. Grrrrrrr!
Jim
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07-23-2018, 09:21 AM #17
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07-23-2018, 09:21 AM #18
Jim - Just a thought on "bending the axle" to solve this . . .
Most of the truck and trailer alignment shops are used to working on heavy machines. I don't know what the wall thickness is on those axles, but I would bet that it is a lot more than the 1/8" tube wall thickness on an LCI or Dexter 5200 lb axle. I think replacement is your best plan. If you have a new axle and your problem axle out of the trailer and sitting side-by-side, it would be interesting to know if you can measure any alignment related differences.
RobLast edited by Cate&Rob; 07-23-2018 at 09:30 AM.
Cate & Rob
2015 Reflection 303RLS
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07-23-2018, 09:28 AM #19
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07-23-2018, 09:40 AM #20
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Jim,
I don't know about the 5200# axle wall thickness, but with the Dexter 6000# there is medium wall .25", heavy wall, .333" available.
I got the heavy wall b/c I wondered if the thicker wall could help with getting bent spindles.
Axle, Inc in Elkhart were pretty knowldgeable.
If I ordered another axle, I'd have the idler drums option to help protect the spindles in shipping and I'd only have them shipped via freight.
Gene- Gene
Kim & Gene
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