Think I need a new axle

[MESSMAKER]

Had some problems with tire wear. I checked it out and it looks like my front axle is bent near one wheel so I plan to replace it(3500lb idler straight axle). Where do you suggest. I plan on getting one with hubs on it so I'll be ready to go. Looks like $250 locally and about $100 less on line. Where You guys had luck with.

 

[Skyco]

You didn't ask but- if it is an idler and needs replacing I'd buy one with brakes. I refuse to own a tandem without brakes on both axles..but that's me. I like stopping even more than going
I've bought axles from a local place that beats anything I've seen online...wouldn't be much help to you though.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My local TSC and Rural King has axles in stock. I have also made my own by buying the DOM pipe at my steel supply house, put the arch in via the shop press and then buy the axle stubs and spring perches at TSC. Thats not usually cost effective but has to be done when you need special width.

Chris

 

[firedog]

I've pretty good luck buying from these folks.
Trailer Parts Superstore - 3500 lb. Round Tube Trailer Axles

 

[jbooth]

Can you get a hydraulic pipe bender on it to straighten? I would be surprised if a good alignment shop couldn't tweek it to correct alignment. Probably wouldn't even have to remove the axle and save you the labor of installing new axle.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Can you get a hydraulic pipe bender on it to straighten? I would be surprised if a good alignment shop couldn't tweek it to correct alignment. Probably wouldn't even have to remove the axle and save you the labor of installing new axle.

I have done this by going to a HD truck and trailer shop. The kind that does semi and dump truck, ect. It cost $70 per axle to have them straitened and aligned. They do it on a frame rack and use hydraulics and chain to pull it strait.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

my tsc has dexter brake and idler (hubs) installed on axles in stock for SOME sizes.

soundguy

 

[MESSMAKER]

I called the best local frame guy and he said it can be done. His fee was $75 per hour. He said if I could get a new one for $200 or less, It was the way to go. It was $300-$350 at the local trailer shop. ABC Trailer in Alabama is sending me one with hubs and U-bolt kit for $140 to my door. I love to support the local guys(I would have went $200) but over double is a lot to ask.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I called the best local frame guy and he said it can be done. His fee was $75 per hour. He said if I could get a new one for $200 or less, It was the way to go. It was $300-$350 at the local trailer shop. ABC Trailer in Alabama is sending me one with hubs and U-bolt kit for $140 to my door. I love to support the local guys(I would have went $200) but over double is a lot to ask.

I agree. You made a smart move.

I try to buy local all the time but sometimes they make it hard. We just picked up a generator for a boat today. Locally $1200.00 plus 7% tax. On the net I got it sent 3 day UPS ground from North Carolina for $639 to my office with no tax.

Chris

 

[schmism]

on the support the local guy.... i try i really do.

i needed the water valve for my fridge ice maker. so i called up the local place and asked about the part... said they could get it next day from the warehouse over in St louis.

no problem.... the next day before i left i jumped on and googled the part number to find what i could buy it off the internet for....Amazon had it for about $23. so I printed it out and took it with me.

The local guy wanted (sit down) $76 for the same part. I was like dude we got to do better. I could go as far as $40 to take the one in my hand out the front door with me now. Wouldnt budge. I was like ok dude, your loss. Spun on my heal and walked out. got home after running some more errands and 3 clicks later it was on its way to my door for like $30. :confused2:

 

[CurlyDave]

got home after running some more errands and 3 clicks later it was on its way to my door for like $30.

DW got Amazon prime because she buys a lot of books for her work. I have been using it lately and if we didn't have it already I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Free 2-day shipping on almost everything, and extremely competitive pricing.

I have paid my dues on supporting the local guy. But these days anything even slightly out of the ordinary is special order for the local people, and then they mark it way up. I can special order on my own and save a bundle.

 

[Mike Costello]

It doesn't take much searching on the internet to find a wide price range in what you are looking to buy. Case in point: I needed a new EBP sensor for my truck. Checked locally, and except for the Ford dealer, no parts houses had one in stock. The Ford dealer wanted $146.00 for the sensor. I wound up buying it on the net for $24.95 and free shipping. Same exact Motorcraft part right down to the numbers stamped on the sensor.
Now, I like to give support to the local guys whenever possible, but $146.00 was way out of line. The local boys need to understand the power of the internet and act accordingly.

 

[Soundguy]

maybee they should be ordering from that supplier instead of their own

soundguy

 

[johnrex62]

It doesn't take much searching on the internet to find a wide price range in what you are looking to buy. Case in point: I needed a new EBP sensor for my truck. Checked locally, and except for the Ford dealer, no parts houses had one in stock. The Ford dealer wanted $146.00 for the sensor. I wound up buying it on the net for $24.95 and free shipping. Same exact Motorcraft part right down to the numbers stamped on the sensor.
Now, I like to give support to the local guys whenever possible, but $146.00 was way out of line. The local boys need to understand the power of the internet and act accordingly.

sounds like you may have found one of those newfangled counterfeit parts I was hearing about on tv last night. It seems that even the military is being plagued by their vendors buying imitation parts from overseas and supplying them as genuine parts. The specs are not always what they say on the box though. If you had said you found it for 20-30% cheaper I would clap you on the back and say great job. 83%?, well that is a horse of a different color and perhaps materials.

 

[Diamondpilot]

sounds like you may have found one of those newfangled counterfeit parts I was hearing about on tv last night. It seems that even the military is being plagued by their vendors buying imitation parts from overseas and supplying them as genuine parts. The specs are not always what they say on the box though. If you had said you found it for 20-30% cheaper I would clap you on the back and say great job. 83%?, well that is a horse of a different color and perhaps materials.

Either way he could have bought 5 of them and still been money ahead. Prices are crazy on things now days. I just got a new Cell Phone and of course needed a new car 12v charger. They wanted $40 at the store but were willing to do me a favor and let me have it for $30. I passed, went out to the parking lot, used my new fancy phone to order 5 of them for $2.98 each to my door off Ebay. Yes, 5 for $15. Got them in 3 days. Now I have one in each boat, and one in each of my trucks.

Chris

 

[johnrex62]

Either way he could have bought 5 of them and still been money ahead. Prices are crazy on things now days. I just got a new Cell Phone and of course needed a new car 12v charger. They wanted $40 at the store but were willing to do me a favor and let me have it for $30. I passed, went out to the parking lot, used my new fancy phone to order 5 of them for $2.98 each to my door off Ebay. Yes, 5 for $15. Got them in 3 days. Now I have one in each boat, and one in each of my trucks.

Chris

I have done the same thing, but don't always expect the cheap part to perform the same as the high dollar "gen-u-wine" article. There are times you don't care and other times your life may depend upon it. Be sure you know which is which before you make that ebay payment.

The news story I saw on tv talked about the counterfeit cigarette trade and how it is funding Hammas and other terrorist groups to the tune of multiple millions per day. I never considered who got the money from my cheapo purchases before. Not sure I would get overly concerned about a lot of them now, but am aware that some of them go to bad people, and I mean worse than Wall Street.

 

[Soundguy]

terrorist groups ... Wall Street.

hm.. almost a toss up..

soundguy

 

[jbooth]

I called the best local frame guy and he said it can be done. His fee was $75 per hour. He said if I could get a new one for $200 or less, It was the way to go. It was $300-$350 at the local trailer shop. ABC Trailer in Alabama is sending me one with hubs and U-bolt kit for $140 to my door. I love to support the local guys(I would have went $200) but over double is a lot to ask.

I like to take advantage of lower prices myself. It may be possible you will end up with a new "cheaper" axle that is no better than the one you are replacing. Have had some experience building light trailers with purchased axles, and some required tweeking to get them to run and pull true. Most of the tweeking we did on axles was done with a hydraulic bender and tape measure. Even with that crude equipment we were able to make big improvements in some of the "purchased" axles.

 

[Mike Costello]

Either way he could have bought 5 of them and still been money ahead. Prices are crazy on things now days. I just got a new Cell Phone and of course needed a new car 12v charger. They wanted $40 at the store but were willing to do me a favor and let me have it for $30. I passed, went out to the parking lot, used my new fancy phone to order 5 of them for $2.98 each to my door off Ebay. Yes, 5 for $15. Got them in 3 days. Now I have one in each boat, and one in each of my trucks.

Chris

I've purchased cell phone chargers off Ebay for $2.98 also--no problems. One is going on a year old now. I refuse to get hosed by the cell phone retailers who are too proud of their prices to get real. As for the EBP sensor, it wasn't an overseas Chinese knockoff. Price does not quarantee longevity or quality--the factory original did not last at all if you are applying Ford's price standards.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Update

I got the axle in today. 55hours after I ordered it.That sure is a good start. I can't say how it will work out, but it sure looks a lot better than the one I am replacing.