Community Forums

rminor · 08-20-2007, 05:30 PM

36' Alfa 5er, 14K total, ~11.5K on 7K axles. Earlier this year driver's side equalizer broke in half. Now the other side just broke. These are Dexter heavy duty components so what would cause them to break? I'm well under the axle rating so I assume I'm under the spring rating too. They're breaking right at the pivot bolt. All bolts have Zerk fittings and had been greased regularly.

rminor · 08-20-2007, 05:30 PM

36' Alfa 5er, 14K total, ~11.5K on 7K axles. Earlier this year driver's side equalizer broke in half. Now the other side just broke. These are Dexter heavy duty components so what would cause them to break? I'm well under the axle rating so I assume I'm under the spring rating too. They're breaking right at the pivot bolt. All bolts have Zerk fittings and had been greased regularly.

charliez · 08-21-2007, 09:05 AM

Turning too sharp. Not towing level. Hopping large curbs, etc.

rminor · 08-21-2007, 09:24 AM

Well, come to think of it, all this happened after traveling on I-10 in east Texas and LA. About the same as hopping curbs.

TXiceman · 08-21-2007, 10:33 AM

Out of curiosity, what is this thing you are calling an equalizer? With a 5er, you don't use a weight distributing hitch.

Ken

rminor · 08-21-2007, 11:49 AM

The equalizer is the fixture that connects the two leaf springs through a center pivot point. Mine are heavy cast iron. The bolts that connect it to the spring hangers and the pivot bolt have zerk fittings on the heads so they can be greased. Lighter duty ones just have non-lube bushings. As I said, the 9 trips FL-CA mostly on I-10 probably took their toll. Most states let the interstates get in terrible condition before repair. When the equalizer breaks the axles just slam to the frame. On mine that causes the tires to hit the slide-out rails. On this last 270 mile trip I ended up just jacking it up, inserting a 2X8 between axle and frame, and continuing on. I wouldn't want to make a long trip like that but it worked.

powerboatr · 08-21-2007, 02:28 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rminor:
Well, come to think of it, all this happened after traveling on I-10 in east Texas and LA. About the same as hopping curbs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

sorry to hear about the break.
I-20 near jackson Miss is just as bad...whoooopto dos and lots of hitch slamming

got pics? i recently greased mine but have often wondered just how strong that little devil is. one bolt to save your soul so to speak

rminor · 08-21-2007, 02:45 PM

I'll try to take a picture but the break was right through the center pivot bolt hole on both. I noticed the new one that was installed and the new ones in the trailer supply places are made in China. But then, what's not.

Peaceful · 08-21-2007, 04:21 PM

Rminor, Mine did about the same thing. When I reg.] replaced the right side I also did the left side. It was really worn also.
I'm beginning to worry a little about the zerk fittings. Years ago the eye bolts on springs had grease fittings. We found out through the years that the grease collected dirt and of course did a good job of grinding out the eyebolts. .
Darrell
By the way I've got about 80,000 on my trailer

rminor · 08-21-2007, 05:31 PM

Mine's somewhere between 60K & 70K miles. The halves are still bolted to the hangers and they are pretty tight. Can't tell about the pivot since that's where it's broken. I'm going to try to replace it myself if I can get the bolts out. They're in tight. Camping and working 270 miles from home so my tools are limited.

WA4SLC · 08-22-2007, 04:36 AM

I lost a bolt out of my TT center pivot where the leaf spring connects to it about 2 years ago. I descovered it when I got home and was putting the tire covers on. Both springs were up against the chassis. I am sure that it was I-20 in Alabama that caused the nut to come off. It was so rough that I had to slow down to 50 mph to feel safe.

Bill

xc-mark · 08-22-2007, 11:51 AM

Richard you may want to tink about getting a new set of dexter E-Z flex equalizers. I found them to be much stronger looking then the OEM parts I removed and it helps with the ride !

http://dexteraxle.com/e_z_flex_suspension

Sunny · 08-22-2007, 05:33 PM

Now Bill it could not have been Alabama fault.

Tom

WA4SLC · 08-27-2007, 09:54 AM

Yes Tommy it was very rough on that part of I-20. I thought everything was going to fall apart. The last time I went through there was on the way back from MS last Dec. and they were working on fixing the road. Thank goodness.
Sorry to hear about your TT problems.

Bill