Trailer Suspension Problem

[BruceWard]

The mono spring suspension (tandem axle) keeps doing this.

I have lifted the trailer and straightened out several times. The trailer was like this when I got it and even without a load it ends up with one axle higher than the other.

What do you suggest?

 

[Ryan03]

From what I can see in the picture, it looks like the shackles on the right spring in the picture are flipping over center on the hanger. I would check for excessive wear or slop in the bushings on both ends of the springs, the spring shackle bolts for excessive notching or wear, and also the center hanger for excessive slop. In a tight suspension in good working order, there would not be enough play in the axle positioning, normaly controlled by the front hanger on the front axle and rear on the rear axle, as these are immovable and fixed securely to the frame, to allow the axle to come forward or backward enough, depending on which axle is in question, to let the center shackle flip over center. Jack the entire trailer up, support it by the frame with jackstands, then take a floor jack and lift up one axle at a time, so that the springs are still hanging, but not supporting the weight of the axle. Now get a helper and one of you take a 2 or 3 ft pry bar and try to pry the offending axle back and forth, while the other checks for excessive play in the spring bushings or shackles. Good luck, Ryan.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Take some measurements for the center hanger to the each the outer (front and rear) hangers. Measure both sides of the trailer. I am guessing you will find the one in question was welded on out of place.

How old is the trailer? Its a simple fix that will take a guy with a welder less than 1 hour but should be corrected by the manufacture if the trailer is fairly new.

Chris

 

[Jimbrown]

Measure the eye to eye distance on the two springs. They need to be the same. Someone may have replaced one with a too short spring or one of them may be bent. The one on the left looks to have a kink in it to me. Unless these are type of springs tht do not have eyes at both ends but then one of them must still be too short or the spring holder is in the wrong place. Another possibility is that the whole trailer frame is tweked out of square.

 

[BruceWard]

This is a picture from the other side

On both sides the rear spring is in the up position and the front is down. The distance between the center of the hanger bolts is 28.5 " and even between all hangers.

The trailer was built in the early 80s. I talked to the original builder today and he was unsure why this is happening. It is possible that the hangers should be further apart or closer together.

The next step will be to extend the rear hanger further back, drill new holes and move the rear axle an inch further back.

What do you think?

 

[tommu56]

most spring hangers equalizers i have been seen have been over the top spring over the top of equalizer like the rear spring in tour 2ns photo

here is a link to a picture of what i'm use to seeing
http://abctrailerparts.com/hangerkits.html

tom

 

[Diamondpilot]

I did not catch this the first time I looked at it but it appears the equalizer is in funny and the springs should be on the topside like this picture shows that Tommu56 posted a link for. Either the guy who built it did it wrong or someone has had it apart to rework this trailer and put it back together wrong.

Where do you usually keep the springs? They should be hung on the topside of the equalizer.

Chris

 

[wushaw]

Hopefully just removing some hardware and re-assembling everything correctly will work.
Otherwise you may need to remove the ft. and rear hangar brackets to get the correct lengths with the springs assembled on the correct side of the equalizer.

 

[BruceWard]

Thanks Guys, I thought they were supposed to be under. I will put them both over and see if they stay.

 

[George2615]

This is a picture from the other side

On both sides the rear spring is in the up position and the front is down. The distance between the center of the hanger bolts is 28.5 " and even between all hangers.

The trailer was built in the early 80s. I talked to the original builder today and he was unsure why this is happening. It is possible that the hangers should be further apart or closer together.

The next step will be to extend the rear hanger further back, drill new holes and move the rear axle an inch further back.

What do you think?

This second pic shows that someone has made a shackle from a piece of flat steel. I don't know if its an optical illusion or not but the flat steel shackle looks shorter than the other. Being shorter can cause them to flip like yours are doing. Or it could be the shackles and spring bushings are getting worn out since it was built in the 80's.

 

[Skyco]

The center equalizer hanger looks too short to allow both shackles to be on top where they should be.

 

[Renze]

Where do you usually keep the springs? They should be hung on the topside of the equalizer.

Thats what i'm thinking too: To take care of all problems, the best option is to cut off this equaliser bracket and lengthen it something like 8 inches (double the length of the hanger) so the springs are allways lke Diamondpilots picture suggested, without the rear curl in the leaf, or the axle itself, touching the frame.

 

[Reg]

I think they should both be "OVER".
Someone might have been seeking extra height, perhaps when overloading it, and decided that "UNDER" would give the trailer more capacity.
Both "OVER" would seem to be the stable position that they are seeking.

Somewhere in the dusty recesses of my memory is a measurement of 26 1/2 inches as a standard, but that is not a very reliable area of memory.

 

[BruceWard]

This is how it ended up

Hope it stays this way.

 

[Mahana79]

This is how it ended up

Hope it stays this way.

that is the correct postions for the shackles but I think the bracket for your equalizer should be a bit longer so the springs dont hit the frame when the suspension cycles.

 

[wushaw]

I agree the spring perches need to be removed and move fwd/aft to lengthen the springs so the springs don't ride on the center pivot/rocker.

 

[Egon]

Yes, there is a problem! It may be advisable to consult a reputable trailer builder to get some proper advice.

 

[slowzuki]

There is something not quite right there but the eye of the spring doesn't look like it will hit the frame. Looks like it might it the rocker though.

I think the term is called shackle inversion and sometimes you need to weld little catch blocks to keep it from inverting. Happens more often with short shackles, soft springs, and arched springs. Normally when the wheel droops into a hole and the shackle over-centres.

 

[zzvyb6]

Looks like when the trailer was made, end brackets were used instead of the longer equalizer barcket for the center position. Oops. Burn, weld. Parts at TSC. Done. As I now take my Alzheimers meds, I recall options for walking beams with taller sections. That might be an easier and more cost effective solution. I think I weld pretty good but don't trust my work enough to modify a trailer going down the road with a heavy load...

 

[zzvyb6]

As a follow up, I checked my own trailers for this issue and see that my frame brackets are identical in height to those shown, but my walking beams are equilateral triangles and much larger than those shown. You do Not want a taller bracket because the side forces from the axle and springs will fatigue and eventually break taller brackets. TCS has several sizes of walking beams on their racks here in Michigan. That's your solution.