HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AXLE HOUSING YOU HAVE?

Axle housings break all the time for one reason or another.  Either they are overloaded on a regular basis, the suspension seats wear into the housing walls or a lack of lubricant can destroy the wheel ends.  When that happens, if the break is small enough then it can be welded but as soon as the crack starts to go vertical then it’s time to replace it.

Determining which axle housing you need can be easy or difficult depending on a few things.

• If your old housing has a metal tag riveted to either the front or back of the housings then it will have a part number on it.  That’s the easy part!  Let us know the part number and we can take it from there.
• If the tag has fallen off then its more difficult but not impossible and more information will be needed
  • Determine which make differential you have. (Meritor, Eaton, Dana, etc.)
  • Determine which model differential you have.  If you are unsure, you can either call the manufacturer with the VIN and ask them or send us a picture of the differential and we will identity it for you.
  • Determine what suspension you have. (Freightliner Air, KW AG400, Pete Air Trac, etc.  Again, if you are unsure, you can call the manufacturer or send us a picture and we will identity it for you.
  • Once we know the make and model, we need to know the trac width and the brake spider bolt circle.  To get the trac width simply take a tape measure and measure from the inside of the driver side brake spider flange to the passenger side.  It will usually be around 54” wide but we need to be exact so this measurement is important
  • Count the number of holes that attach the brake spider to the axle housing flange.  Sometime the flange may have more holes than the brake spider and that is ok.  We just need to know how many
  • Look at the top of the axle housing and let us know if there are any “weld on” brackets that a torque arm would attach to.  There are many configurations here so its helpful if you can send us a picture of yours.

Once we have all of that we can determine which axle housing you have so that when it arrives it will bolt right in and the suspension brackets will be in the correct location.

At Garabedian Equipment, we offer axle housings two different ways:

• Used and complete with hubs, drums, brakes & axle shafts. (less the differential)
• Recondition and stripped bare.  All housings will be hot tanked so they can be thoroughly inspected for cracks.  Wheel ends will be checked to make sure they are not worn. Axle housings will be cleaned and painted before they ship.

That’s it!  Hope this helps and feel free to call for more information.

Larry Garabedian