Spring seat placement?

[ssutton]

I purchased an axle kit that does not have the spring seats pre-welded in place. The welding is not an issue as I will be welding the entire frame, but the question is the angle of the spring seats. This is an image out of the 3D software that I am using and it shows the spring seats parallel to the brake brackets. From the information that I can find, this is correct. But when I mounted the axle in CAD the angle of the 4 inch drop looks excessive. Should the spring seats be welded in place so that they are parallel to the frame? Or, when the trailer is loaded will it all line up correctly?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Scott

AXLE ANGLE.JPG (197.07 KiB) Viewed 440 times

[dales133]

I'm confused what you mean by spring seat.
Do you mean the axle pad that gos between the spring and axle or the spring hangers?

[ssutton]

SPRING SEAT.png (122.91 KiB) Viewed 419 times

Yes, the axle pad, I was not sure what it is called exactly.

[dales133]

Cool.
On my build I've left them loose and don't intend to weld them until I'm pretty much complete.
As far as I'm aware and from what I've researched they should just natural find thier own place.
Mine have locating dowels and as long as everything measures up they sit where they sit.
My advice would be wait until you've built everything and take it for a short tow to see in. Easier to weld it once.
Also only weld the front and back of the axle pads not across the axle

[48Rob]

Scott,


It is called a spring perch.
I do mine so they are parallel with the frame when loaded.
On a straight axle with no camber built in, it isn't critical, unless you cover the holes for the electric brake wires.
For a drop axle, you want the beam parallel to the road when loaded or your spindle/wheel mount will be forward or backward and can change toe in.

Rob

[ssutton]

Thanks for the replies. My axle is straight without any camber. This is an image of the revised angle, does this look correct?

SPRING PERCH VERTICAL.png (117.91 KiB) Viewed 270 times

[48Rob]

Scott,

That looks much better.

As Dales suggested, waiting until you are finished, or placing the approximate amount of weight on it will change the angle from just hanging while jacked up.

Rob