Dexter Axle question

[MH49]

I have a 7K Dexter (8-bolt) axle with brakes that I need to replace the wheel studs on. Does anybody know if these are pressed-in or threaded-in? I would like to know what I am getting into before I tear everything apart. This is on a 1995 Corn Pro 20 & 5 flatbed. Thanks!

 

[Diamondpilot]

All I have seen are pressed into the brake hubs. I have delt with 100's of trailers with Dexter axles and other top brands but in all honesty I have only had to change 1 single stud. It was just a matter of removing the drum, hitting it with a 8# sledge, then sliding in the new stud from behind and using a stack of washers and a impact to draw in the new stud. Just make sure you torque all studs to 120 ft lbs and recheck after 50 miles then again in about 500 miles.

Curious why you need to change them?

Chris

 

[Renze]

I never changed studs on a Dexter, because they are very rare in Europe, but ALL axles iｴve ever been around, had pressed in wheel studs.

If you want to keep those studs, keep the nuts on them, flush with the ends, before you start pounding, so the thread wont damage...

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you have access to a shop press which I do now that is the way to do it properly but the way I described in the prior post will also work just fine.

Chris

 

[MH49]

Thanks for the info. I have access to a press so I will do it that way. The wheel came loose (yea, I know) and beat the crap out of the wheel studs. Now I need the trailer and have a lesson learned the hard way.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For some reason trailer tires seem to loosen lugs. I recommend all my customers torque them once a year or every 1,000 miles. I actually go as far to put stickers on the fenders that say to check them at 120 ft lb and the proper pressure for the tire, like 55 psi. I now have all tires balanced and it does seem to make a difference.


Either way, check them at least yearly. And on the new ones check them at something like 50 miles and then again at 500 miles. They will take some time to seat and can stretch.



Chris

 

[wkpoor]

For some reason trailer tires seem to loosen lugs. I recommend all my customers torque them once a year or every 1,000 miles. I actually go as far to put stickers on the fenders that say to check them at 120 ft lb and the proper pressure for the tire, like 55 psi. I now have all tires balanced and it does seem to make a difference.

DP, this thread dovetails with mine about the lug nuts. The reason they come loose is because they are stud piloted wheels and all the load is on the studs. I think Dexter is top line trailer axle but to me thats just plain the wrong way to do things. I seen a 7K axle on a trailer over at the fab shop last week and it had hub piloted wheels but don't know the mfg. And here we have someone with loose wheels and I just got done changing out all my lug nuts because some goof over torqued them and ruined each and every nut. Luckily the studs are harder than the nut so no damage was done to the studs. BTW I did torque mine to 120 but that is top of the range. I can't imagine 100 ft lbs coming loose in all reality except if the load on the studs shifts the wheel slightly enough to loose the torque.

 

[Bird]

For some reason trailer tires seem to loosen lugs. I recommend all my customers torque them once a year or every 1,000 miles. I actually go as far to put stickers on the fenders that say to check them at 120 ft lb and the proper pressure for the tire, like 55 psi. I now have all tires balanced and it does seem to make a difference.


Either way, check them at least yearly. And on the new ones check them at something like 50 miles and then again at 500 miles. They will take some time to seat and can stretch.



Chris

I know you're right, and I think nearly all, if not all, trailer manufacturers recommend the same thing, but I've owned boat trailers, travel trailers, and utility trailers, not to mention the U-Haul and other people's trailers that I've pulled, and I guess I've just been lucky; can't recall ever finding a loose lug nut or lug bolt on a trailer.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I had to learn the lesson many yrs ago, on a new trailer. Then relearn it when I over tightened the lug nuts with an impact and they all broke off and I lost the wheel. Buy a good torque wrench and check them often.

 

[Renze]

I worked at a heavy trailer manufacturer for about a month, before i could get a job as a designer. Their standard procedure was to wash the brake drum surface (where the rim is bolted against) with an agressive paint solvent, and mount the duals to bare metal. They said it was a precaution against running loose. Off course their weight capacity (30 to 120 ton special trailers) puts extra demand on the running gear, but the principle stands.

Since then, when i work on old trailers, i allways wire brush any rusty or dirty mating surfaces before mounting a wheel.