bar425
Oxford, MI
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Joined: 05/08/2003
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My wife and I recently returned from a trip west thru Yellowstone and Glacier. When I got the rig parked at home I noticed one rear tire was completely worn out. Took the unit to the dealer and was told I needed both axles replaced. When I picked up my 5er after the repairs I asked if they had aligned the new axles and was told that was not necessary.
Does this sound right? I would think you would need to perform the alignment just to make sure that the new parts were fitting correctly. I would like to hear your thoughts on alignment of axles.
2004 Dodge Ram 2500HD 4x4
Cummins H.O. (the beast)
2005 Cardinal 30TS
Prodigy Brake Controller
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dbbls
Missouri
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Joined: 09/29/2005
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I would have thought they could have aligned the old axles. You can roughly check the toe in with a tape measure and a helper.
1999 F250 Superduty, V10 with Banks Power Pack
2004 Colorado 29RL 5th wheel with 3600 watt Onan
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Jim&Peg
Central Ohio
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Joined: 07/14/2004
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Two other factors need to be measured. The distance from the center of the hitch ball socket to the outside ends of the first axle must be the same. Also the distance from one axle to the other must be the same on both sides. My memory says the tolerance is + or - 1/16 inch. If that is incorrect, hopefully someone will chime in.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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They should have aligned the axles. Jim&Peg has the right idea, but 1/16 is more then I would want.
Bud
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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dhamblet
Olympia, WA
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Joined: 01/13/2005
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So how do they align axles on a fifth wheel when the brackets are welded to the frame and the springs are bolted to the brackets? There is no adjustment unless you cut off a bracket and re-weld it.
2005 Dutchmen 35SRV, Pergo, 5th Airborne, JT Strong Arm, Kodiak Disk Brakes, Backup camera
2006 Dodge CTD RAM QC 3500 LWB 4WD, Reese 16k, Airbags, Pacbrake, Britebox, 60g aux fuel tank
04 Harley Ultra, 05 CanAM 400MAX Quad
Spending my kids inheritance
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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Joined: 11/24/2004
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For several years, the tires on 1 axel on our 5th wheel wore unevenly and prematurely. Took it to a shop specializing in trailers and they actually bend the axel to align it and I should have done that right away. It only cost around $150 per axel but they can check the alignment 1st for aroud $50 and only the 1 needed it.
Jayco-noslide
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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Jayco-noslide is correct. Good alignment shop bends the axles to achieve not only tow but camber(?). They also use wedges.
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PegLeg2000
Michigan
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Joined: 10/12/2007
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If your 2005 Forest River Cardinal has the same axles as my previous 2005 All American Sport had, you could have two problems.
The first problem we had was that the axles were part of the Al-KO torsion axle issue where the spindles were bending. I'm sure if you a search on the 04's you'll find lots of info.
After they replaced our axles, the second problem we had was that they didn't tighten the hubs enough and it caused a lot of play in the wheels, causing the tires to wear unevenly again.
General RV in Wixom, MI is the one who did the work on ours...
Good luck!
2008 KZ New Vision Sportster 40P
2008 F-450 King Ranch 4X4
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BIG RIG GUY
Milton Ontario
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The first thing they should have done was perform an alignment check to see just exactly where the problem is. Then after having all the work done, another alignment check to make sure the repairs corrected the problem.
Then after a 100 miles or so, have the wheels retorqued and a general check over, ie loose bolts, cracking welds, wheel bearing end play.
There is a method to the madness, disturb the method and the madness begins.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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dhamblet wrote:So how do they align axles on a fifth wheel when the brackets are welded to the frame and the springs are bolted to the brackets? There is no adjustment unless you cut off a bracket and re-weld it.
They bend the axles to achieve allignment.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
Honda eu2000i
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