C/Van wheel rubbing on chasis

Submitted: Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:53

ThreadID: 86792 Views:4096 Replies:9 FollowUps:15

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Kylie A

Any ideas or suggestions PLEASE! Jayco Swan outback. We have put 17" wheels on the camper to match the Prado (so the wheels are all interchangeable), except being wider than the original wheels they rub on the chasis - Damn it!
We are off on our first outback trip up to Darwin in 9 days.
We have tried a 6mm hub spacer and now the wheels only just clear the chasis if at all. It also only leaves 18mm of stud.
We are debating about doubling up the spacers to give 12mm and getting new longer stud's OR just resort back to the 15" original wheels.
We have a tyre repair kit on board as well as all your usual stuff (oils, hoses, belts, fluids etc).
Any idea's or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks :)

PS - any suggestions on 'must have' for the trip would be great too.
We are taking the major roads Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Erldunda, Uluaru, Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin and back.

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Reply By: member - mazcan - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 11:15

Reply By: Simon C - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 11:44

Reply By: Notso - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:08

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:08

I presume its a beam axle with Leaf Springs. You could always have the axle cut in the middle and insert a piece to make the axle longer. A qualified Boiler Maker could do that fairly easy

AnswerID: 456571

Follow Up By: Kylie A - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:16

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:16

Hi Notso, yes you are correct about the leaf spring.
Would that make the axle weaker as such?

Thanks

FollowupID: 729604

Follow Up By: member - mazcan - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:23

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:23

hi kylie
dont go there
that is extreme imho
my brother -inlaw has had a jayco swan outback for many years and has travelled the lenght and bredth of aus and has never had any problems with the std jayco wheels he has worn out a set of tyres plus nearly the second set but has not even had a puncture but the choice is entirely yours
cheers
barry

FollowupID: 729605

Follow Up By: Hairy (WA) - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:56

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:56

Like Notso said.....lengthening you axle is a simple and inexpensive option and if done properly wont weaken it. The other option is just buying a longer axle which would only set you back a couple of hundred dollars roughly.

FollowupID: 729611

Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 17:00

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 17:00

Nothing extreme about this at all, the amount needed would be around 25mm and any qualified boilermaker/welder could do it for you.

FollowupID: 729662

Follow Up By: snapper49 - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 23:47

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 23:47

The cost of cutting the axle and setting up re welding and then straightening after welding would be far nore than getting another axle made to the correct length
From my supplier arounf $150

I am a qualified boilermaker welder and have worked on many axles

FollowupID: 729738

Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 08:03

Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 08:03

Yep, possibly, but you have to remove all the backing plates, refit bearings muck around with brakes etc.

I reckon it would be simpler to cut and shut the axle.

FollowupID: 729748

Follow Up By: Kylie A - Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 13:18

Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 13:18

Hmmm, thanks for the ideas and thoughts guys.

I think we will take just the one spare each for the car & van.
They wont be interchangeable but hopefully we will be ok.

Thanks again for your time everyone