On a tandem, look at the parts between the axles
Many equipment and dump trailers ride on two axles carried by leaf springs, with a set of hangers and a pivoting piece between the axles, usually called an equalizer, that shares the load from one axle to the other. It is a simple, durable arrangement. It also wears, and when it does, the axles stop staying where they were put.
The wear is in the pivots: the bolts and bushings at the hangers and the equalizer. As they loosen, an axle can shift slightly fore or aft under braking and load. A trailer measured square on the rack can drift out again within weeks, because the parts holding it square are no longer holding it firmly.
Signs that point here:
- Tires on one axle wearing faster or more unevenly than the other.
- Wear that comes back soon after an alignment.
- Clunking from under the trailer when starting or braking.
- Elongated bolt holes or visibly worn bushings at the hangers.
Fix the hardware, then measure
An alignment on a trailer with worn hanger and equalizer hardware is a measurement of where the axles happen to be that day. Replace the worn parts first, then align, and the result has something to hold it.
When booking, say what kind of suspension the trailer has, how it is loaded day to day, and whether the wear has come back after a previous alignment.
Nearby stores
Fenton and Washington also align trailers.
About this store
The De Soto store is open until 5:30 PM and is managed by Cathy Bequette.
See the national trailer alignment page for all 36 locations.