My storage yard called me this morning when I was going to p/u the boat to go out on Monday to let me know that the spindle snapped on my trailer.



So I spent this morning hunting down an axle. Got a 3500# to replace the 2250# unit that was on there and got new hubs with larger bearings. Eventually I'll replace the braking axle to match, but not right now. Had to buy it complete as the spindles are welded to the axle. This had been going on for some time as about 3/4 of the axle showed signs of long term fatique as you can see in the cell phone photo below. The "white" rectangle is all that is left of the round spindle. I could be really ticked but I am not as this happened in the yard and not 100 miles from nowhere so I'll do a little dance.



The yard is closed now and the dogs are out, so I'll have to replace the axle Monday morning before going to the lake. I'll post progress later.

Sorry for the bad news. Looks like you have a plan that will work out.

My trailer set up is similar. While exploring it when I had it apart for my brake lock up, I wondered how is the spindle reattached? Is the whole rectangular block welded to the axle or just the round/cylindrical part at the back of the spindle?

One piece, including the spindles.

Be carefull the first tow with the new axles. If your springs are too heavy-duty they can make it too bouncy for the weight of your boat. I have heard it can damage the hull if it is too stiff.

I am not replacing the springs, just the axle which has larger spindles on it.

Two cans of Krylon Rust Inhibiter Primer applied:

Looks like a cooler next to it....hopefully beer was included in your prep work.....

Trash can? No beer, but wine has been consumed...

Good thing I wasn't on my way to Mohave right now! Still going to get to Silverwood on Monday... Or maybe Big Bear Lake...

Now that I look more closely it does resemble a trash can......

Just wanna say---I have seen a LOT of weird crap in my day, but I've never, until NOW, seen a spindle just break off like that. Never. If there's a name on the busted spindle, I'd be for calling them, definitely a manufacturing defect...

What would cause a spindle to break off like that? Looks like a clean snap. Was it pressed in the 'white' rectangular area? Or is that rectangle area what's left of the spindle/shaft? That's weird!

How are you going to get the new axle aligned when you put it on?

I haven't done this, but I would gess you would want to make shure the axle is square with the centerline of the trailer, otherwise it will "crab" down the road slightly, and that will put pretty high additional stresses on the hitch, the tow vehicle and probably the trailer. I just don't know how I would make that measurement.

I guess you could tape from some midpoint on the hitch to the midpoint on the axles, after you have made sure the axle is perfectly centered on the trailer.

I would think (can be dangerous ) that what's most important is that the new axle is aligned with the old axle rather than the trailer frame? And since he's mounting the new axle to the old springs, they should pretty much line right up. Since leaf springs are mounted with rubber bushings that allow for some movement, unless the axles are mounted way off from each other, the rolling tires will straighten themselves out by default...

If the axle you did not replace has not been moved just use a tape measure on both sides and adjust until both measure the same distance.