Torsion Axle questions

Jason1Pa

Member
I've been searching online for a while and surprisingly I haven't got a clear answer to a few of my questions.
One Google search says the rubber only lasts about 15 to 20 years reguardless of miles and usage. I never read anything else that gave them a time frame like that. Is this true?
How does one go about testing to see if the axle is bad?
Also if you'd need to replace the axles it seems like everything would need custom made with several different measurements and info that would be given to the manufacturer. Not like you can pic one up and go put it on. The real kicker is my axles are welded on to the frame. I can imagine welding new ones on and getting the axles perfectly straight.
My trailer is a 2003 Moritz gooseneck with 7k Dexter axles. It has been pampered and honestly not used much and sits in side. I never heard about the 15 to 20 year life expectancy before until I stumbled upon it the other day so now I'm concerned. By rights they would need replaced. What do you all think? Any experience?
 
Jason, I've also heard the 15-20 year lifespan, my gooseneck is a 1997 with twin Dexter 7,000 axles.
Torsion axles are always welded on, if you look on the axles out around the last 24 or so of tube, you should find a tag from Dexter that will have a serial number on it. I called them when I bought my trailer and gave them the numbers, they looked and gave the all the build info it showed-
1997
#12 torsion
7,000 lb
45 degree down
81 hub face to face
65 bracket face to face

I don't really think there is a way to test the rubber rods, mine was a tractor dealer salesman's trailer before I bought it and lord knows the miles they and I have put on it since built. I do store it withe the tires off the ground and the axlesrelaxed hoping this would make the rubber last longer.

if you've ever wondered what's on the inside -

cvphoto132795.jpg
 
Thank you so much for the reply. You actually brought me some relief because I do remember seeing a tag on the one axle in the center. I'll have to crawl under there and see what it says. That would make life a lot easier. I'm just confused as to why I never heard about the lifespan range before. I know some people don't like them cause of bending the spindles,but you'd think the topic of how short of a life they have would be a big complaint. And why do they still use them today if that is a issue? Seems kind of silly. 15 years goes fast and that is a good chunk of change to drop down on a old trailer.
I did read about one test. The way I understood it is if you jack up the trailer and a wheel drops down more then a inch and a half then the axle is starting to get bad. Makes sense.
Jason
 
Sir I respectfully disagree with your statement that all torsion axles are welded on. I own a welding and repair shop and I have replaced several torsion axles over the years, in fact I have a 24ft box trailer at the shop right now to replace one that hit a culvert. I have never seen one that was welded one. They were all bolted on with 2 bolts per side.
 
Always welded on??
Well, if you mean the axle tube is always welded to the bracket that gets bolted to the frame, then your right.

Which is what you have pictured to prove it.
 
I have to laugh with the letting it set with no weight on the wheels. The rubber deteriorates whether it sets inside out side or with no weight on it. Though it will be a good while I would run it and forget about alll the nonesense. when they go bad I imagine the wheels will show a tilt to the top or back as it is loaded or towed.
 
When they go bad and the suspension is gone you can bend a spindle pretty easy because there is no cushion. Then when that happens your tire will not be straight. You could smoke a tires tread off in no time. A blow out could very likely happen. I would sooner try to avoid this from happening. I like to keep things in working order.
 
I try not to worry about things I have no control over. If the axles on my 2003 horse trailer fail... I will decide what to do. Nothing I do now will change the outcome. Just pointless fretting.
 
(quoted from post at 16:30:45 08/12/22) When they go bad and the suspension is gone you can bend a spindle pretty easy because there is no cushion. Then when that happens your tire will not be straight. You could smoke a tires tread off in no time. A blow out could very likely happen. I would sooner try to avoid this from happening. I like to keep things in working order.


Sure, just buy a new trailer every few years.
 


I put a new axle under my 19192 snowmobile trailer ten years ago. Not because of torsion rubber failure but rusting away of the risers.
 

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