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Post by Teachndad on Jun 12, 2021 5:30:41 GMT -8
Hi Friends, So, I was reading PT's recent post on replacing the original axle on his Holiday House with a newer option. The new modern brake drums look to be smaller (in comparison) in diameter than the original huge brake hubs I have on my Westerner. If that's the case, then would that in effect make insertion of a tire easier inside the wheel wells of vintage travel trailers? I am wondering with a newer modern brake assembly the tire is less likely to hit the brake drum as you tilt it up and inside the wheel well when you mount the wheel. Am I right? Here is PT's new axle and parts for a 3500 lbs rated axle.  IMG-3775 by A W, on Flickr Now look at the drums on my Westerner axle. 
 The back plate for the this brake drum measures 13.5" in outside diameter. So, I am going to guess that these are 10" brake drums if I could measure inside diameter of the hub. Thoughts? Thanks, Rod |
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PT
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1964 Aloha & 1962 Holiday House
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Post by PT on Jun 14, 2021 21:26:39 GMT -8
Hey Rod -
Based on a sample size of one - for a 4" drop axle that is above the springs - I can confirm that it was NOT easier to get the wheel in after replacing the axle and drums, etc. First off - I removed the valve stems and fully deflated my tires before trying to get them in... Things to think about:
1. Modern axles are thicker than vintage. The HH originally had a 1 3/4" square axle and the replacement is 2 3/8". My axle is above the springs so this means the axle is now higher up in the wheel well which makes it more difficult to get the wheel in.
2. Tubular axles require spring seats which are 1/2 inch high so now the axle is another 1/2 inch higher and the tire more difficult still to get into the space... Between the thicker axle and spring seats my axle is almost an inch higher in the wheel well than when it was new.
3. The lug studs on my new hubs were longer than the originals. This was the major issue for me - the rubber of the tire catches on the studs when you're trying to get it up into the wheel well. Studs can be cut shorter but it's a PITA so I thought I'd try to get the wheels in before doing it. The wheels fit but it's a stupid tight fight to get them in.
4. If your axle is above your springs you can overcome some of these issues by getting springs with a larger arch/height. Mine are already 4" so I'm close to if not already maxed out... You can also look into longer spring hangers.
5. If you replace the wood on your wheel well make sure you don't cut the opening so it's lower down on the side of the trailer. If anything raise it up by 1/4 inch.
The more I learn about axles the less I want to think about them!
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Post by Teachndad on Jun 15, 2021 6:01:02 GMT -8
Hi Allan,
Thanks for the detailed response. Goog stuff.
Geeze what an adventure! Nothing is ever easy with these beasts, is it? LOL.
Wow, a lot more to think about.
Are you running radials or bias ply?
Cheers,
Rod
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Post by vikx on Jun 15, 2021 8:27:22 GMT -8
I have been running bias ply for several years and they do fit the wheel wells better. The tire shop recently told me that bias wear out quicker than radials. I've seen that happen with the Loliner but not all of the trailers running bias plys.
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 10, 2021 6:15:54 GMT -8
Hi PT, Some further questions. I am considering the same thing. With the new axle, did you ever consider having the axle moved to under the springs or adding another leaf(s) to the spring pack to make up for the height that you lost? I am thinking that might make it easier to get the tire up inside. I am looking at two pix in your Holiday House restoration thread and the center of the axle appears to me, any way, to be in the right place. It looks like a natural height for the body above the center of the wheel.   But then, I looked for an original picture of a Holiday House to see what the original height was and I found this image below. It’s a screen shot because I couldn’t find a link for the picture. In this picture, the body of the trailer looks ungainly high. But, I think we get so used to seeing body heights lower than original due to spring sag over decades of weight sitting on them.  In your other thread: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/12141/axle-advice-needed?page=1&scrollTo=115394, you posted that the axle you ended up purchasing was an inch wider than original. Do you think that ½” per side played a factor in your difficulty in inserting the tire up in the wheel well? I am wondering how that height could be gained with a modern axle. Anyone have any ideas besides the ones PT listed in line 4 of his response in response #1 of this thread? "Line 4. If your axle is above your springs you can overcome some of these issues by getting springs with a larger arch/height. Mine are already 4" so I'm close to if not already maxed out... You can also look into longer spring hangers."Lastly, PT, do you have any pieces of advice regarding this chapter of the HH rebuild that you can share with others? Thanks, Rod For anyone reading about the thinking process that went into swapping in a new axle here are the threads all together. Maybe others can learn from PT’s experience. April 19, 2021 May 16, 2021 May 27, 2021 post #143 and scroll to post #151 Then this thread.  |
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PT
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1964 Aloha & 1962 Holiday House
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Post by PT on Jul 12, 2021 9:29:44 GMT -8
In your other thread: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/12141/axle-advice-needed?page=1&scrollTo=115394, you posted that the axle you ended up purchasing was an inch wider than original. Do you think that ½” per side played a factor in your difficulty in inserting the tire up in the wheel well? At the very end of the thread I mentioned that I got lucky and the shop had a spot on 77" replacement axle they were able to provide so no problem with side to side clearance. Every instance is likely unique - some will be able to accommodate a wider/narrower axle and others will not depending on how much space is in their wheel well.I am wondering how that height could be gained with a modern axle. Anyone have any ideas besides the ones PT listed in line 4 of his response in response #1 of this thread? "Line 4. If your axle is above your springs you can overcome some of these issues by getting springs with a larger arch/height. Mine are already 4" so I'm close to if not already maxed out... You can also look into longer spring hangers."Lastly, PT, do you have any pieces of advice regarding this chapter of the HH rebuild that you can share with others? Keep on truckin!Thanks, Rod For anyone reading about the thinking process that went into swapping in a new axle here are the threads all together. Maybe others can learn from PT’s experience. April 19, 2021 May 16, 2021 May 27, 2021 post #143 and scroll to post #151 Then this thread. [/quote] |
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