The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Alignment Front Axle

I removed my front axle to replace the kingpins.
Know I am not sure concerning the alignment of the axle. The axle has a littel curve.
Can anyone confirm the correct alignment?

[IMG]http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2266/axle.th.jpg[/IMG]

Hi, I am also doing a frame off and went outside and checked My axle and there is no curve I have a 52-3100 and a 3/4 ton frame outside and nether one is curved You might have to take Your axle to a shop where they can streaten Your axle, alinment shops ( old ones ) have a jig for doing it , Good luck , Pete

was the alinment ok when you took it apart? i have seen most with a cruve in them.

It shouldn't make any difference, the tie rod ends will adjust to keep the front wheels inline. The most it will do is shorten the track width just a bit. These axles are really tough, I bet it was made like that, you would pull a spring apart before bending the axle in the center. Joe

not sure what you mean by "correct alignmant" - the tie rod should be behind the axle, and any 'curve' is down whereas your drawing appears to show a curve to the front - not likely an axle will be bent up/down [more than usual], but might get bent back in an accident - if it has any bend front to back it can be straightened [cold] [bottom left here] ..... for front steering alignment, details are in the manual

Bill

Sorry for wording. Here is another 3D draft. The right one is my axle (with curve).

[IMG]http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5731/secaxle.th.jpg[/IMG]

a "barely noticeable" curve down is normal, and as Joe said, won't affect alignment - if it's more pronounced there's been damage, but it may still be useable, and a machine shop might be able to check and fix it - see the manual pages linked above

Bill

Actually, it will affact the alignment. It will change the camber angle, which is otherwise non-adjustable on these trucks. If it's just a minor bend, it may still be in spec. Onece it's reinstalled in the truck, take it to an alignment shop (one that does semi-trucks would be best) and get it checkeed out (toe needs set anyway). If it's beyond spec, they should be able to bedn it back to the correct position.

Sorry about that, I was going off the first picture with the bend front to back. The up and down bend will change the camber, but there is a lot to play with so it may not be any thing to worry about. Get it checked once you have all the weight back on it. Joe

Any bend in the front axle that is not suppose to be there is going to change Your trucks safty and handeling get it fixed it is not hard to go to a alignment shop and get it right . Pete

The curve goes toward the front. Or you can reinstall it with the curve facing to the rear, loop a chain over the axle, and then tow your truck around a bit being sure to jerk it hard a few times checking each time to see if you've straithened it back out.

My bet is that curve is the result of someone towing the truck with a chain over the axle and jerking it a few times. Not a good idea.

I don't know how hard these axles are to find in Europe, but if it were me I'd go shoping for another one.

Just take it to a shop it will not cost that much and it would be right they been rebending st . axles for ever and getting it right , Pete

If you have a chain and 10 ton porta power I'll bet you could take the "bow" out of the axle. Question is that the only bend? A good "truck alignment shop" can make sure the caster and camber is right, or you can set the tow and let it go.

Hello to all!
Here are some more pics I made today. As you can see, I have more bendings than only the one in the "I". I also found a shop who can fix it because it is impossible to find a new axle over here.
Please watch the pictures and let me know what you think!
Has the support for the leaf spring to be parallel?

http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a01j.jpg
http://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b01n.jpg
http://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=c01f.jpg
http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d01u.jpg

Your pictyres turned out to be really tiny. Can you make them larger?

Hi Truckernix!
They should be larger now. Here is another one. Does anybody know the angle?

http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e01.jpg

I have a 53 axle that has a bend just like yours. Who knows the history of these trucks! Questions still remains, were some of the axles made this way or the were the bends the result of trauma such as OldSub's theory of chain towing.