The axle is one of the important parts of the semi-trailer. To fully guarantee the attendance, safety and economic benefits of the semi-trailer during the long journey, it is very important to choose a high-quality axle.

Nowadays, lightweight has gradually become a trend in the semi-trailer industry. More and more car owners prefer to choose products with stable performance and lighter weight when purchasing semi-trailers or accessories. Taking a three axle semi-trailer as an example, its axle weight accounts for almost 20% of the total weight. Therefore, axle weight reduction is an important way to achieve trailer weight reduction.

So, what is the approximate weight of a semi-trailer axle?

In fact, this problem needs to be analyzed in detail. Taking the conventional 13T drum axle which is the most widely used in the market as an example, its weight is generally about 340kg, and there will be some differences between the axles produced by different manufacturers. In addition, different models, tonnage and configurations will also affect the weight of the axle. For example, the weight of some major lightweight axles is smaller than that of ordinary axles.

The semi-trailer axle is generally a support axle, which has no steering or driving function, and its structure looks relatively simple. However, the axle is related to the load-bearing, braking and driving of semi-trailer, and there are hundreds of components, which not only have high requirements for strength, toughness, but also have high requirements for accuracy. Therefore, daily maintenance is very important.

Generally speaking, the hub bearing of a trailer needs to be maintained every 50000 km. How should I do the maintenance?

1. Clean the old grease. Remove the hub, clean the bearing, journal and hub cavity, scrape off the old grease, then wipe it with detergent or diesel oil, then wash it with clean water, and wipe the inner cavity of the hub with clean cloth.

2. Check the bearing and race. After cleaning, check the hub bearing and bearing race. If cracks, fatigue spalling, loose rollers and other phenomena are found, replace the bearing in time.

3. Check the bearing fit clearance. Check the fit between the inner diameter of the bearing and the journal. The fit clearance should not be greater than 0.1mm. The measuring position should be the two positions where the shaft diameter is vertical to the ground. This is the maximum wear position. If the fit clearance is exceeded, replace the bearing.

4. Apply grease. Fill the gap between the bearing inner race and cage roller with new grease, and apply a thin layer of grease on the inner and outer surfaces of the bearing. A thin layer of grease in the wheel hub cavity and the shaft head cover can prevent rust, but not too much, otherwise it is easy to affect heat dissipation or braking. Finally, install the hub.

Some car owners may buy maintenance free axles. According to the manufacturer's propaganda, the maintenance cycle of such axles can reach 30W or 50W km. It is worth noting that maintenance free axle ≠ inspection free axle. Although its maintenance cycle has been extended, daily inspection and maintenance are still essential. Open the axle every other period of time to see the operation status of key parts, so as to ensure that bearings, hubs, etc. maintain good performance output.

1. Regularly check the fasteners of the hub for looseness or oil leakage.

2. Regularly observe whether the gear oil is above the normal level and whether it is contaminated. If the lubricating oil is not dark, such as white or milky white, it indicates that the lubricating oil is contaminated.

3. Every 12 months or 100000 km, the wheels shall be erected to check whether there is abnormal sound during rotation and whether the bearings shake.

4. Open the oil filling hole every 12 months or 100000 km, and use the magnet probe to stretch into the lubricating oil to check whether there are iron filings and impurities.

5. Add or replace lubricating oil regularly.

It is suggested that the vehicle owners should determine the maintenance cycle of the axle according to the comprehensive service conditions of their vehicles, especially for heavy-duty semi-trailers.

In addition, it is to choose the axle that is suitable for you, whether it is drum type, disc type, lightweight or heavy-duty resistant. No matter how well the manufacturer advertises, only the axle that fully meets your own use needs can get twice the result with half the effort. In addition, choosing a brand with reliable quality does not mean that you must pay a premium for the brand. There are also many cost-effective axle brands in the market. Car owners can make a good investigation from the strength, experience, technology, etc., compare the goods and choose products with better quality and lower price.