Can anyone please tell me why?

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 04:22 PM

Only one of my trailer tires wears out very quickly on the inside pics attached!
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/.../IMG_0315.jpg?

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/.../IMG_0314.jpg?

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/.../IMG_0319.jpg?

**freonjoe** · 02-28-2012, 04:25 PM

I would guess either a bent axle or bad wheel bearings (I've had both!).

**Mick** · 02-28-2012, 04:27 PM

Just a couple of guesses:

1. Axle slightly bent from uneven load
2. Bad/loose wheel bearing

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 04:27 PM

Could be but i would think a bent axle would cause the same problem on the opposite side of the trailer.

**Mick** · 02-28-2012, 04:29 PM

Joe and I were typing at the same time (I'm slow and two-finger typist). Looks like a consensus.

**freonjoe** · 02-28-2012, 04:31 PM

If the axle bent at the spring, it would only wear that tire closest to it. That is were mine always bend for some reason.

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 04:36 PM

Ok well thats very possible because for some reason whenever i load a vehicle the weight is usually on that side. Now as far as the bearing being bad how can i tell because everything appears fine as far as the play in the wheel and all.

**freonjoe** · 02-28-2012, 04:39 PM

Have you jacked up that axle and wiggled the tire? Also take a level and compare it top to bottom with the rest of the wheels when the trailer is sitting empty.

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 04:42 PM

Yes i did jack it up and wiggle it and there was a slight wiggle but certainly not what seemed like a problem atleast i didn't think so.

**freonjoe** · 02-28-2012, 04:45 PM

Have you been hitting curbs?

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 05:22 PM

No I haven't been hitting curves but the owner before me he might have. I've only owned it a few months and I have noticed it the whole time.

**brandon** · 02-28-2012, 07:27 PM

measure from the bottom of the wheel on each side of the trailer / each axle should be the same measurement, if not then you have a bent axle.
if not a bent axle remove the cotter pin holding the axle bearing nut then tighten your axle bearing nut finger tight and the reinstall the cotter pin (your trailer may vary, check technical data to confirm)

**IdahoScrapper** · 02-28-2012, 07:56 PM

If it was that way when you got it then I would say the former owner did something. Maybe it was loaded and hit a curb at speed on a turn.

**Mechanic688** · 02-28-2012, 08:04 PM

If it is a bearing I would plan on repacking all 4 of them.

**PartTimeScrapper** · 02-28-2012, 08:13 PM

I would start with the bearing. I only takes a little wiggle at the center to throw the wheel of by more than an inch from top to bottum. I can tell just looking at the pic that the top of the tire is definitly leaning inwards towards the trailer. A quick check on the bearing is take it for a quick drive. Then feel the hub with your hands. If its a bearing going out that hub will be alot hotter than the wheel behind it. If they are about the same temp then I would guess axle. I say this from experience. I was double pulling my camper and boat last year and had one bearing blow on the camper on the way to the lake and one blow on the boat trailer on the way back from the lake. Was a very expensive weekend.

**Ptscrapper** · 02-28-2012, 10:37 PM

Well i just returned from a 2 hour trip to pickup an mpv and read your posts while driving especially yours parttimescrapper and when i pulled into the yard i touched the hub and it didn't feel hot at all if anything it felt cool so im guessing it might be the axle huh? I wonder how much would it cost to replace? Id probably rather just replace the darn thang anyway just to eliminate that problem.

**PartTimeScrapper** · 02-28-2012, 11:07 PM

I would say your axle is bent then. At the shop here in denver a new 3500 pound trailer axle is about $200 bucks. Thats with the breaks allready on it. Just swap it out. You could just have a bent spindle too though. I would find a trailer repair shop and ask some question on price.

**Motörhead** · 02-29-2012, 08:59 PM

The camber is out of spec you need an alignment. Ha kidding. Wouldn't a bent Axel cause the wheel to wobble an a differant type of wear? You can check the bearing by placing ur hand on the inside an spin the wheel you will feel a rough vibrating. But that type of wear something is not straight

**Mechanic688** · 03-01-2012, 03:59 AM

Comparing the two wheels in the bottom pic, It looks like the top is kicked in and the bottom is out a little. I'm guessing a bent axle outside of the spring perch, a frame shop should be able to tweak that back pretty quick and not cost too much.
H*ll, my daughter had 2 new control arms put on, rear frame straightened and a total alignment at a body shop for $450.00