As long as one has a motorcycle trailer, then there is bound to be problems with the rubber torsion trailer axle shaft. Indeed there is bound to be broken or even a bent rubber torsion trailer axle that you have to deal with. It could be very frustrating as you take it back where it was on three wheels. Also it is very common when you are using salvaged axles. There is the need therefore to check it out before hand. When there is a slight wobble in one of the axle shafts, it is barely recognisable to the naked eye but once the tyres are mounted there will be half inch deflection in either direction.

Normally what happens is that the brake drum never comes into contact with the backing plate instead the pads will be out of alignment. Then the self adjusters will stop working correctly leading to a dragging of the pads. The problem of the rubber torsion trailer axle shaft will cause the outer seal to start leaking. This will cause everything that is contained in the drum to be covered in brake dust and gear oil.

After all this has occurred, the trailer axle shaft will work fine in the dirt but when you get onto the road it will shake slightly below a speed of 20 mph. When the speed is above 20 mph it will turn into a vibration. There is therefore the need to take out any old axle shaft which is quite easy to do. When you are done with the axle and it is in the air and the brake drum has been taken out, there will only be about four bolts left. In order to reach the bolts, you have to position the hole in the axle with the bolt. You can then pull out the rubber torsion trailer axle after all the four bolts have been removed. Indeed this has to be taken out before a new axle shaft can be put in.

For the new trailer axle shaft there is no need for some special tools. This is because the fresh bearing race falls into place together with the axle shaft. According to the foot pound recommendation of the manufacturer, the bolts to the retainer are also reinstalled and also the torque. The fresh axle shaft should work better than the old one.