Axle spindles hold the braking system and mount wheels and tires to the axle on a vehicle or trailer. They pivot about the axle to allow the front tires to rotate and can be mounted in three ways on a trailer. Welded axles offer the lowest trailer but lack suspension.
Axle spindles are components used on the steering axle of a vehicle, as well as a trailer, and are designed to hold the braking system and mount wheels and tires to the axle. On a steering axle, the axle spindles are attached to the axle assembly through the use of ball joints or pins, and the wheel hub is attached to the spindle with a castellated nut. Wheel bearings mount to axle spindles in both applications, and trailer spindles often mount to an axle as a welded or bolted component.
Unlike a drive axle, the axle spindles are not loaded with vehicle power. In an automotive application, the axle spindles are used to allow the front tires to rotate, thus requiring the spindles to pivot about the axle. In the common straight shaft configuration, the kingpins are used as a type of hinge, allowing the spindles to pivot at the ends of the shaft. Tie rods, drag links, and similar components attach to points on the axle shafts to push and pull the shafts, creating a turning motion as the vehicle operator turns the steering wheel and gearbox.
When used in a trailer axle configuration, the axle shafts can be mounted in one of three methods. The first is a typical shaft assembly configuration with the spindles bolted or welded to the ends of a tubular shaft. This application often has the axle sprung under the trailer frame. The second method of mounting the spindles uses a short, short shaft attached to a torsion beam. The torsion beam works like the spring and flexes slightly to smooth out a bumpy ride.
This style of axle does not span the full width of the trailer. The torsion bar axle is commonly attached to the trailer’s side frame rail, with the short axle spanning only a short distance from the frame rail to the outer edge of the trailer. This leaves the center of the trailer open for lower ground clearance.
The ultimate application of an axle on a trailer is for it to be solidly welded to the trailer frame rail, generally allowing for the lowest trailer of any type of axle configuration. The disadvantage of this type of axle spindles is the lack of suspension on the trailer. These trailers rely on the suspension system of the vehicle being towed to cushion the ride.
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