Trailer axel U bolts

[Rob]

I was just checking my trailer over before before going to the Marina to bring my boat home for the season. I thought I would pull the wheel hub and repack the bearings .That's when I noticed the u bolt that holds the axel and spring 1/2 rusted thur.I checked the other 3 and found 2 more rusted .After a trip to Fleet Farm for replacements I tryed to remove them all the nuts twisted right off .Iam glad I was able to do this repair in my garage and not on the side of the highway.My trailer is a 1979 and and in outward good condition. The short of my story is check your u bolts and let me know if anybody finds the same.   Rob

[skip1930]

Glad for the look~see...And you reassembled the new U-bolts with copious amounts of Permatex Never Seize right?
Some day those nuts might need to come off. With the 'sleaze' on the threads the amount of bolt tightening can be reduced a bit.

If anyone who has wrenches, ought to have 'sleaze'.

skip.

[Rob]

I did not use any lube or never seize on the hardware , The new u bolts did say marine use on the package and came with fiber lock nuts .I figured why worry the old bolts lasted since 1979 so Ill be able to get a few years out of the new ones . Rob

[Bob23]

Like Skip, I'm a Never-Seeze evangelist. I use it on every bolt on the trailer. I also use it on shackles that are part of my mooring tackle. I've had shackles immersed in salt water for 2 years come apart easily. It really is great stuff, but when it gets on your hands, tends to make a wonderful mess. Keep the hand cleaner nearby.
Bob23

[Pacman]

+2!  I am with Skip and Bob on Never Seize.  It works.

I also spray everthing that will be submerged in salt water with Eastwood Anti-Rust (Cosmoline in a spray can).

It's good that you caught it before bad things happened.

[Rob]

Using never seize is personal choice, Iam not going to use it on something that should go together Dry .The Important thing is go out to your trailers and check your U bolts .Hope you dont find what I did.  Rob

[skip1930]

Control key [Ctrl] held down and tap + [plus] so you can read it.

skip.

[Bob23]

Rob..choose wisely.
   Yes, never seeze, like many things is a personal choice. I  learned to lubricate just about anything that bolts or screws together when I was a foreign car mechanic back in the early 70's. I especially liked never seeze on the exhaust parts of my Volkwagens. I knew I'd be taking them apart some day the the NS made it easy.
   How about never seeze and lockwashers?
bob23

[Rob]

The wind is a blowen , I see the point of my first post is being missed ,So let me spell it out for you. There are 4 u bolts that hold the Axel to the springs 2 each side .Out of the 4 I found 3 with defects and no amount of anti seize would help the rusted bolts . Yes I installed mine dry as the manufacturer said to do and If I have to replace them Ill install new just because of the importance of the bolts .I belive any one bolt missing mite not be a problem but 2 on one side will cause the Axel to separate from the trailer .Yes never Seize is great stuff I like locktite C5A and use it all the time in my job as a aircraft mechanic .So getting back to the subject go out and check you u bolts it could save you from dragging you boat home. Rob

[Bob23]

Thanks for reeling us in. I'll check my bolts although I never submerge my trailer.
Bob23

[Pacman]

Control key [Ctrl] held down and tap + [plus] so you can read it.

skip.

Skip,

Thank you for posting the chart. 

Many people do not know that torque values change when lubricants are used. 

This is important information.

 

[MKBLK]

As some may remember, last year my Magic-tilt trailer axle failed on the 114th mile of a 115 mile trip! The cause of the failure was extreme rust to one side of the axle. It occurred to me, that since I usually park my boat in the street in front of my home, the high crown road caused rain water to accumulate on that side only. Who knew? The problem had probably been developing for years. Simple solution: Check the condition of the underside of the trailer every time you put air in the tires.

Marty K.

[skip1930]

It is fascinating to me that the factory 2 inch Reese trailer hitch has a off center [favoring the driver's side] 1-1/4" round rust hole right in the middle of the square steel tubing that runs port and starboard under my Ford Expedition. This trailer hitch assembly is the original factory Reese Hitch. The Ford Expedition is coming up on 2-1/2 hundred thousand miles. So I ground her back to good metal and wire welded it closed...Always disconnect the battery if welding on any vehicle. There. Good as new. Additionally the 2 inch receiver won't let go of the ball hitch...that's rusted in also. Even cabled to it, and removed the pin and tried to pop it out by trying to drive away from a very stout tree. I guess she ain't coming apart. Should have Never Seized.

lol No big deal. skip.