I have a 2009 Brian James Minno Max which I bought used in 2011 and both tyres on the rear axle are heavily worn on the inside shoulder, tyres on the front axle are wearing evenly. All the tyres were good when I bought it and it’s probably done about 2500 miles on them since. May be it’s unrelated but I’ve also lost the wheel bearing cover from the left hand rear hub twice this year.
I’ve spoken to BJ and they suggested it could be:
Overloading – it has a tyre rack which I’ve never used, a fuel can box which usually has two full 20litre cans in it and I’ve only ever had an S3 on it which sits with the timing strut on the grill approx 10mm clear of the fuel can box.
Play in the wheel bearings – I’ve checked them and they’re OK.
If neither of the above then swap the axles front to back and see if the wear occurs on the same axle or the same position (IYSWIM?) - I’m not about to swap axles around just to see what happens.
Spoke to Indespension who also suggested overloading and that the axle may have failed. He described the axle construction as an outer box section with a rubber bush inside and then an inner box section pressed inside the rubber bush. Theory is that overloading the trailer causes the rubber insert to fail which cannot be replaced and a new axle is required.
Anyone had similar experiences and got any advice on what can be checked and/or adjusted and how to do it? If it does come to replacing an axle, where is the best place to get one from, Indespension said they would have to measure it up and get one made - quoted £300+VAT with a four week lead time, I daren’t ask BJ for a price !
Read on BC:
Camber should be zero – is this correct and how do I measure and adjust it?
Toe – assume it should be straight but if not how do I adjust it?
I’m going to need two new tyres as an absolute minimum – any suggestions for best place & price to source them from?
Thanks in anticipation,
Rob