Axle Mounts

[DaveSchwartz]

I just looked at mine (nice and snug up against the frame btw, but its only 4 months old and has gone only about 600km on pretty good roads) but it stands to reason that a gap could open up on the front end of the axle bracket. See if my reasoning makes any sense...

The axle bracket has two bolts, equally spaced fore and aft of the main axle tube. However, on the Torflex axle, the trailing torque arm that holds the wheel hub places the actual wheel axle just about directly under the rear bolt. That would mean that all the static load - nearly 2000lbs - is on the back end of the bracket and there's virtually none on the front. If the wheel axle was behind that back bolt, the front would actually be under tension when sitting still - the torque of the trailing arm would be trying to slam the front into the ground. I thought I saw a picture recently where the front bolt was gone and it looked like this had happened - maybe somebody could find that again.

Perhaps there is some dynamic force, such as the wheel hitting the upslope of a pothole, resulting in the torque of the wheel acting on the main axle actually to trying to pull that gap open if the bolt is able to slip in the slot.

Is there any common thread among those that have the issue, such as high mileage on rough roads? Heavy braking would also greatly increase the torque.

Anyway, now that I've heard of the potential problem and know what mine look like in 'factory' position, I can make a visual check part of my post trip routine.

[Mtelkman]

Just ran out and checked mine. The front part of the bracket (on both sides for both front and rear) has a 1/4" gap while the rear is set against the frame. Sounds like according to what "Leo" at Forest River said this is in the range of acceptable..., but now it is going to bother me and make me wonder what purpose those slot plays if not to allow the axle to move. If it wasn't supposed to move they would have just put a bolt through a hole as cutting a slot seems more time consuming and costly when it isn't needed.

Is the slot designed so FR can align everything at the factory? If so, it seems as if after the alignment is set, OC's suggestion of another hole and bolt would be needed to keep everything in place.
BUT,
Would loosening the slotted bolt and putting the bracket flush against the frame then re bolting everything together change this factory alignment? I don't want to screw anything up if mine "needed" that 1/4" gap at the front to have everything aligned correctly.

[OldCoot]

Slots in this case are for the manufacturing tolerances, it has nothing to do with axle alignment. It doesn't take anymore time to punch a slot than it does a hole. The slots in this case are used for misalignment in the brackets themselves in assembly and not wheel alignment. The slots in this case only allow vertical adjustment which does not do anything for trailer-axle-wheel alignment.

[OldCoot]

You should be able to see if the axles have rotated from the factory by looking for any movement of the bolts in the slots. On both of mine, there was evidence of both the front and rear axles had moved from when they were painted and left tattle tale signs of rust.

[Big Paul]

Installed bolts today. Also found one bolt not very tight but did not look like their had been any actual slippage yet. I guess the gap was left there at the factory. Gone now!!

[PhoneDude 8289]

There is definitely evidence that the bracket slipped from the top of the slots to the bottom. Another reason why I question the torque of those bolts. I think I'll continue drilling and bolting. Do you think I voided my warranty? O.C, I sure would like to know how the conversation goes with you and Leo.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by presley01

There is definitely evidence that the bracket slipped from the top of the slots to the bottom. Another reason why I question the torque of those bolts. I think I'll continue drilling and bolting. Do you think I voided my warranty? O.C, I sure would like to know how the conversation goes with you and Leo.

Got no pm from FT Turbs with Leo's number, so it will not happen. I doubt Leo will call me unless FT Turbs gave him my number. I sure won't loose any sleep over it one way or the other. I fixed mine and know for sure my axles will stay in place, which is something the folks without the vertical bolts can't say.

[PhoneDude 8289]

Finely finished drilling the holes for the vertical bolts through the 2"X 6" channel and bolted the mounts to the channel. Ended up using grade 8-7/16" X 1 1/4" bolts torqued to 70 ft #. Re-torqued all the horizontal 5/8" bolts to 170 ft #. I don't think those mounts will be moving any time soon. If and when we trade RV's with a setup like these axels I will pay someone to drill and bolt those brackets.

[Big Paul]

Originally Posted by presley01

Finely finished drilling the holes for the vertical bolts through the 2"X 6" channel and bolted the mounts to the channel. Ended up using grade 8-7/16" X 1 1/4" bolts torqued to 70 ft #. Re-torqued all the horizontal 5/8" bolts to 170 ft #. I don't think those mounts will be moving any time soon. If and when we trade RV's with a setup like these axels I will pay someone to drill and bolt those brackets.

X2 on getting it done before purchasing another one with Axles like these. will have dealer do as part of agreement to buy. Drilling not bad but torquing under the trailer for an old man not easy when back is worn out.

[PhoneDude 8289]

Back and shoulders pretty sore this morning but the soreness will be gone in a day or two. I have the satisfaction of knowing what and how the work was done on those axel mounts.

[OldCoot]

I know the feeling, that's why I insisted the dealer do it on the 12 Flagstaff when we traded.

I'm still waiting on FT Turbs to pm me Leo's phone no. so I can have a discussion about leaving these bolts out and depending on 0.105 steel formed angle and bolts thru slots to hold the axle torque.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I know the feeling, that's why I insisted the dealer do it on the 12 Flagstaff when we traded.

I'm still waiting on FT Turbs to pm me Leo's phone no. so I can have a discussion about leaving these bolts out and depending on 0.105 steel formed angle and bolts thru slots to hold the axle torque.

Pm sent

TURBS

"SABRE OWNERS UNITED"

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by presley01

First let me send a special thanks to OldCoot for making me aware of a design flaw in the mounts of our axels. I was digging through some old threads yesterday and found the flaw that OC has mentioned many times. The picture below should explain everything, that space should not be there, the mounts are moving. I will loosen the bolts holding the mounts, use my 6 ton bottle jack to move the mounts back into place and torque the bolts back to specs. Drill 1/2" holes through the 2"X 6" frame above the bracket and bolt it into place with gr 8 1/2" X 1 1/4" bolts, washers, lock nuts and torque them down as per O.C. 4 times on each axel. The front axels have the gaps towards the front of the RV, the rear axels have the gaps towards the back. I was wondering why I was having to close up my X chocks little by little, now I know. These are Dexter axels with about 4,000 miles on them.
Attachment 61498

I just crawled under my unit to see that gap, I do not have a gap at all. There is a 2x2 channel that go's across both axles. There is 1 bolt going through the plate, I see no signs of anything slipping down. Strange that I don't have that. I guess that's good. I also have about 3" between my tires but only about a little less then 3 fingers to the wheel well from the top of the tire. It's strange that I have a 2x2 channel there and yours didn't from the picture, kinda hard to tell with no space at all it just looks tack welded and lay's solid.

[Witch Doctor]

I'll try and load these pic's of my axle. It might be mine are AL-KO and I think the others are Dexters. You can see the 2x2 welded top and bottom. The funny thing is we have the same unit except mine is 2012.

[PhoneDude 8289]

Could be they went from the 2"X 2" channel to the 2"X 6" channel to accommodate the newer taller pickup beds. Just a stab in the dark so to speak.

[OldCoot]

From what I see on Glenn's, it is not channel, but 2 x 2 tubing and a 2 x 4 tube running across to the other side. The supports will not come down in the back where Glenn's pictures show, they will come down in the front. FWIW, they will NOT be welded to the tubing.

[Witch Doctor]

This is about the best picture I can take and I'm not crawling around anymore. I'm not a welding specialist so sorry of calling it Channel instead of tubing. But by all means it is all welded over the wheels and across to the other side, what I see is a 2x6 on top then a 2x2 under it above the axle welded in place, and going across I guess you call it a 2x4 tubing. Welded at each end all around, can't see the top so maybe 3 sides for sure. I didn't measure it but looks like 3/16 thickness. Seems right now I can't load the front view but it exactly as the rear pictures. I'll try to load it later.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

This is about the best picture I can take and I'm not crawling around anymore. I'm not a welding specialist so sorry of calling it Channel instead of tubing. But by all means it is all welded over the wheels and across to the other side, what I see is a 2x6 on top then a 2x2 under it above the axle welded in place, and going across I guess you call it a 2x4 tubing. Welded at each end all around, can't see the top so maybe 3 sides for sure. I didn't measure it but looks like 3/16 thickness. Seems right now I can't load the front view but it exactly as the rear pictures. I'll try to load it later.

Channel has 3 sides, tubing is 4 sided. The tubing the supports are sitting on is a 2 x 2 tube under a 2 x 4 tube. There isn't any 2 x 6 tubing on the Flagstaff/Rockwood suspension to my recollection.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Channel has 3 sides, tubing is 4 sided. The tubing the supports are sitting on is a 2 x 2 tube under a 2 x 4 tube. There isn't any 2 x 6 tubing on the Flagstaff/Rockwood suspension to my recollection.

Okay I guess your right, I really do not care I told you I'm not a welder, I do not have problems with the axle. Thanks for the correction is size. But you are wrong the front is not the same as the rear, per your opinion on my front. And if this site would load it you would see that your statement was wrong.

[Witch Doctor]

here is the front view, the exact same as the rear.