Broken leaf spring

[Fishingtomatoseed]

These are the first ones that I have seen with the offset hole. Rob you are correct about the manufactures of trailers. When I took the boat trailer apart they where welded the other way. But I do like the way that the Red line weld on. KC is right about the self guesting.

[KCStudly]

KC, You're saying that travel trailer, cargo trailer, utility trailer, and flatbed trailer manufacturers are producing thousands and thousands of units each year with incorrectly installed spring hangers?

At first glance, it does look like a stronger method of attachment, but I'm not an engineer.
Why do you think they don't do it the way you believe is correct?

Rob

Why? Ignorance.

Plus Dexter, the predominant axle manufacturer in the US does not spell this out in any of their obvious literature or online tech support (at least I couldn't find it).

I was in this boat, too, until I worked at Giant-Vac (now defunct) and saw it done the correct way. As an engineer, once I saw it done the right way, it just clicked and made sense.

Not every OEM bothers to study the equipment supplier's spec.'s, and even if they do this info rarely makes it to the production level where the "weld bead meets the road", so to speak. Even if they started out doing it correctly, when the next guy comes along and doesn't get fully trained before they put a MIG gun in his hand things can go sideways and stay that way because, "that's the way it has always been done".

Just because something has been built by a "professional" doesn't mean that it was done correctly. It just means that they got paid to do it! Call me a cynic, but it's true.

Here is the link to the etrailer info http://www.etrailer.com/question-15711.html

Edit: I see now that you both beat me to the punch.

[Fishingtomatoseed]

Kc, Rob here is the Dexter instruction sheet. It is a PDF on the web. Page 13. Like you said it doesent show it clearly but looking at it, I would have laid them down like the Redline brand.

[KCStudly]

Yup. Thanks. I knew I had seen it somewhere, but suspect that most OEM fabricators never have.

[Fishingtomatoseed]

Well today I was able to finish up the leaf spring swap. At first the rear bracket was place so that the shackles where straight down to the leaf spring. When said and done I moved them toward the front by an inch. So I set up the suspension three different times and put weight on the springs. Ended up with about a 30 degree angle on the shackles. After that burned everything in and primed it all.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366593487.668472.jpg (59.15 KiB) Viewed 435 times

Painted it with Rust-o-leum industrial black. I like that stuff seems real tuff. So today I assembled everything. Took axle grease and applied generous amounts to the springs and bolted them together. Took and pressed the new shackle bolts into the new shackles. And installed the bronze bushings. Pre greased all the bolts and put it together. Ended up having to place the axle on top of the springs because if the shallower spring set. Used four 1/2" bolts the anchor the angle to the frame. Here it is all set up ready for tires.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366593892.842715.jpg (46.27 KiB) Viewed 435 times

Took it out in the road and let me tell you. It is worth replacing and up grading to the greased wet bolts and taking your time with the springs replacing the bushings and painting them. It is money well spent. I feel more at ease taking it on the road now. It did end up setting about 2" higher but I like the way it looks. Plus with lowering the the front coupler it helps the ride height.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366594245.115324.jpg (76.95 KiB) Viewed 435 times

KC, Rob, and Slow thanks for following and giving your thoughts and ideas. Helped me along.

Rob thank you for the post on rebuilding the spring set.

[KCStudly]

No problem at all. Glad it has worked out well for you.

Leaf springs are old technology and these tricks have been around for many, many years. The real trick is getting the info into the right hands at the right time.

[48Rob]

Clint,

Glad it worked out for you.

Thank you for asking the questions, and especially for posting pictures and the results of your work.
A lot of people will learn from your efforts!

Rob