I plan on doing this with a couple dually axles for a gooseneck. You can always run OEM brakes and a electric over hydraulic system for a braking axle.
@@JohnVH-diy that or a full on electric over hydraulic. They're a lot more smooth then the surge, and run off a standard brake controller. How thick of steel tube did you use? I'm thinking of using a 1/4in inner and outer sleeve.
@@Gmcguy758 I believe I used 1/4” pipe about the same thickness as the axle tube. There isn’t much stress on the axle in the center. Most of the strength needed in an axle is between the spring perches and the bearings.
Oil bath is the best not grease. There is a reason all the big boy trailers use oil bath bearings. I tried grease on one of my 20 ton hydraulic boat trailer bearing sets because the oil seal surface had a rust pit that would leak oil out. It lasted all of half a summer. The oil bath setups are way better at dissipating heat.
Yes that’s all true. However Ford uses a two part seal. In a one part seal the rubber rides on the axle surface keeping in the oil or grease. In a two part seal the rubber part needs to be installed dry where it touches the axle. It’s supposed to hold tight onto the axle. Internally is where the sealing surfaces are moving inside the two part seal. In theory it’s a good design but in reality it doesn’t work well. If there’s a slight amount of grease or oil on the axle or the seal mating surface it will leak when oil is used. I was meticulously clean with both sides and one side leaked like crazy. I drained the oil, greased the bearings and have had no trouble or heat buildup.
@@randysylvester2203 Yes. You eliminate the axles and differential and differential housing. A lot of extra weight. On the Ford axles make sure you keep the axle tube facing the same direction. The threads on one side are left hand threads. It keeps the nut from backing off.
I could’ve kept the brakes had they been intact but my trailer isn’t that heavy where brakes are needed. Good idea though as long as you have a brake actuator in the coupler.
There are no clips in the differential. The big ratcheting nut holds on the hub with the bearings. The axles are free floating so just cut off the axle from the flange and bolt on the flange.
Yes that was my original plan but the Ford two piece seals are very prone to leaks that it was more troublesome to keep the oil bath system when it’s not really needed. Just grease it like a normal trailer axle and you’ll be fine.
@John VH 2019 I'm building independent suspension using the hubs and tubes on my GMC motor home using a e350 4x4 frame the rear 5 and 6 wheels but now looking at late 3500 front hubs 8 lug
This was not a how to do it video. This was to show what can be done to make a heavy duty trailer axle. If you need detailed steps on how to cut and weld steel then you shouldn’t do this yourself.
