Torsion axle failure and replacement on my 2008 boatmate trailer

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08-01-2018, 02:31 PM
trayson

Torsion axle failure and replacement on my 2008 boatmate trailer

Well, it happened. One of my torsion axles failed. Not surprising as 2008 is right in the range of years where Dexter got a bad batch of rubber.

I noticed it because unloaded the wheel was an inch of the ground.
https://i.imgur.com/aQBNrDt.jpg

It had no real load bearing ability or rebound on that one side of the front axle. I tried taking off the fender and locking out the brakes. I eventually just limped the trailer with 3 wheels on it the 10 miles to and from the launch. At least I have a tandem and put higher load range D tires on it.

So I for the warranty form from Dexter UFP.
Have them info on the trailer and off the axle tags.
https://i.imgur.com/TixxDDF.jpg

Sent it in asking for 2 new replacement axles on Monday July 16th. They shipped it on July 25th from CA, and I had the axles on my doorstep on July 30th. (They paid shopping too, and the axles are 90 pounds each)

https://i.imgur.com/yC5qOVo.jpg

The next challenge will be getting the trailing arms off. I tried once and was able to removed the pinch bolt and drove a wedge in the gap. But they arm wouldn't budge from the splined end. I'll update my progress on that as it develops.

https://i.imgur.com/rXt8VuH.jpg

Last night I painted the axles with herculiner bedliner.
I also have new trailer bunks and carpet ready to go in.

Tonight I'll be dropping the boat in a friend's slip (in exchange for a bottle of vodka). Once the boat's of the trailer, we'll get to work with removal of the old axles.
08-01-2018, 04:02 PM
dusty2221

You did say you got the bolt completely out, right?

I'd soak those babies in some PB Blaster or Kroil Oil and prepare to use the biggest hammer you got!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
08-01-2018, 04:14 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusty2221

You did say you got the bolt completely out, right?

I'd soak those babies in some PB Blaster or Kroil Oil and prepare to use the biggest hammer you got!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Yeah, I was able to get that bolt off using a 30" prybar with a pipe on the end of it. And I drove a chisel as a wedge in that gap. But yeah, I've been giving it a couple doses of PB Blaster and will be ready with the air hammer, the deadblow, and a torch if necessary.

Dexter sent me new hardware for the pinch bolt on the trailing arm to spline connection, so that's nice.
08-01-2018, 10:42 PM
lakelife101

I changed one on 08 and it wasn’t that bad.

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08-02-2018, 01:05 AM
trayson

After work today, I went home and hitched up and launched the boat. Drove it across the river to the Marina where my buddy lives. He hooked me up with a slip to use while I did my trailer work. Pretty stoked about that. It's made all the difference having the boat off the trailer.
https://i.imgur.com/wTD4YeH.jpg

As far as trailing arm removal, knowing the "trick" makes ALL the difference. We pounded a thicker wedge (end of a prybar) into the gap of the trailing arm and then put the air chisel on the back of the arm and let it pound away. The arm was off in about a minute! It took a lot of trial and error to get to that point. But even with us running in circles at the beginning, we had one axle swapped out in under 90 minutes! We had to quit at 9pm because we didn't wanna be jerks to my neighbor with air tools.

Axles painted with Herculiner bedliner.
https://i.imgur.com/SIJ75Bs.jpg

textured bedliner finish. I'm cool with that.

My boat is black and blue, so black axles on a blue trailer are fine.
https://i.imgur.com/E3mxadR.jpg

feels damn good to have one new axle on!
https://i.imgur.com/Z1neTY0.jpg
08-02-2018, 11:07 AM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelife101

I changed one on 08 and it wasn’t that bad.

Once I knew what I was doing, I'd agree. Although a decade of corrosion didn't help.
08-02-2018, 12:38 PM
dusty2221

Gonna do the brake pads while its all apart?
08-02-2018, 12:44 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusty2221

Gonna do the brake pads while its all apart?

My goal is to get it back to normal status ASAP. Having boat downtime at the beginning of August was NOT in my summer plan. I can do brakes anytime, and with the boat on the trailer. I'm focusing on doing the things needed to get the boat/trailer back in service so I can get back to summertime playtime.

I've been able to keep the assembly of the trailing arm/hubs/rotors/calipers all in tact so all that will be necessary is a flush/bleed of the brakes. (i.e. when I took the trailing arms off, I was able to do it leaving the hubs/brakes on the arm. so when I slipped the arm back on, all that was necessary was to reconnect the brake line because it goes through the mounting plate of the axle)

I will however be replacing the trailer bunks. New boards, carpet, and SS hardware for that!