Standing on my own feet

Last week I thought I would replace the Chinese races in the new drums with the Timken ones I purchased, The inner one is the same but the outer one takes a larger O.D. bearing than was in the old Kesley Hayes drum.
I put in a call to Axis axle and told them of my predicament and they sent me out 4 new outer bearings and also sent 4 new seals for free.
I packed all the bearings and when I when to install the inner bearing I found that Rock Auto had sent one of the wrong size. I gave them a call and they had the new bearing on my door step at 10:00 am the next morning.
I had three of the drums installed last week and today I put the last one on and got the wheels mounted, I didn't measure the before height but I bet I gained 2 more inches of height with the rebuilt axles. I can see the top of the tire through the wheel well now.

Total cost so far $547.00 and I still need to get the wheels\drums balanced and alignment checked. The local Airstream dealer does neither, I'll have to find a truck stop and get the wheels balanced and I will probably end up at the Airstream factory for the alignment check.
If I had to do it over again I would buy new axles from Axis axle $600.00 for the pair and everything would have been included.

I only get about 3/4" of travel with the new torsion springs, I hope this is because there new and it's 15 degrees out, I have read on airforums there should be up to 2" of travel.

Jan 12 2009:
"Duh, maybe I don't get the travel because I have gutted the trailer sense taking the axles off."

I also noticed after getting the wheels on that the rear axle is about 2" longer than the front axle, on the street side the rear wheel sticks out farther than the front wheel 1-1/8" and on the curb side 3/4". The axle is not a replacement either as the serial numbers on the axles are only 3 numbers apart. It is also not because of tow in/out casper chamber, what ever it's called.

Here are some before and after pictures:

New back plates and drums

Here's the latest on my axles.

I ordered new Timken bearings and races from Rock Auto ($89.00) delivered. Inside: race No. 25510 bearing No. 25580 or Set52, Outside: race No. LM67010 bearing No. LM67048 or Set6.
I was trying to find new brake shoes and read on airforums that a loaded back plate would probably be cheaper and they are. I was also looking for a place to turn the drums and the cheapest place I could find that would do the brake and magnet surface wanted $30.00 each.
I called Axis axle and they said they had back plates for $28.50 and drums without bearings for $38.50, so I pick the back plates and drums up last week on my way through Indiana.
I installed the back plates today and was beginning to replace the Chinese races with the timken's I bought earlier I found that the inboard bearings are the same but the outboard ones on the new drums are larger so some of the new bearings I bought will not work.
So I guess I'll have to spend so more money on new bearings, the bearing for the outboard side of the new drum are race No. 15245 bearing No. 15123 or Set43 about $50.00 form Rock Auto.

I would have been better off buying new axles from Axis axle for $600.00

Here's what I have spent:
Rebuild axles...................$66.00
4, Back Plates.................$114.00
4, Drums.........................$154.00
Bearings..........................$89.00
S.S bolts for back plates...$17.00
Axle mounting bolts.........$12.00
4 sets new bearing...........$50.00
Gas to get to Indiana........$25.00
20 new lug nuts.................$??.??

Total................................$527.00

Picture of the new brake assembly:

New Bearings

Not much happening the last few day's, Friday I received the new bearings I order.
Bearings form Rock Auto www.rockauto.com $89.80 delivered.

Rebuilt axle and new parts

Yesterday was a good day, I was able to get my axles rebuilt for less than a $100.00 at Axis Products:
Axis Products Main
You can read about it here:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...ent-46697.html

Before and after pictures:

I also picked up from Palomino parts: 800 297 5830
Suburban NT22SP furnace and an Atwood G6A-8E-6 water heater for $508.80

Inland RV: 800-877-7311
All the windows, doors, and vent seals, two tubes 3M adhesive all new running lights, Olympic rivets, nosing for complete interior, J trim. $275.00

Axle rebuild and replacement

The first of many projects

I noticed my axles were in the horizontal position so I thought I'd take a look and see how bad they are.
When I jacked the trailer up the the tires didn't stay on the ground they moved right up with the trailer, after removing the wheels I found the spindle arms to be locked up solid with zero movement. I also found the shocks were shot they are regular automotive shocks and not the kind the can be mounted horizontally.
Off they came and in the next few weeks I will be traveling to Indiana to pick up new axles at the same time I will go to Palomino Parts in Colon Michigan, for a new water heater and furnace and to Goshen Stamping in Goshen Indiana and pick up some lift parts for my popup.

Here's a few pics of the axle: