EquaFlex Equalizer Removal and Installation
- Support the framework and axles safely during equalizer service.
- Control pressed bolts and install EquaFlex in the documented orientation.
- Verify shoulder-bottomed torque and final shackle position.
- Shop jack — Raise the trailer according to manufacturer recommendations and control even lowering.
- Support stands — Support the framework without damaging panels or lines; separately support the axles near the U-bolt plates.
- Box-end wrench — Hold pressed shackle bolts and the equalizer cross-bolt against rotation while removing nuts.
- Socket set and ratchet — Remove wheel and suspension nuts and run replacement nuts into position.
- Torque wrench — Apply the documented shoulder-bottomed suspension torque and applicable staged wheel torque.
- Hammer and suitable drift — Drive the aligned equalizer bolt until its head seats against the outside hanger surface without damaging the threads.
Raise the trailer and support its framework according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, ensuring stand contact does not damage underside panels or lines. Remove the wheels so the suspension carries only its own weight. Place additional stands under the axles near the U-bolt plates to prevent the axles from swinging down and damaging electric-brake wiring during shackle disassembly.
Remove the shackle nuts and plates connecting the rear of the front spring to the equalizer, then repeat for the rear spring connection. The bolts are pressed into the shackle plate and should not turn; hold them with an appropriate box-end wrench while removing nuts. Remove the equalizer cross-bolt nut while similarly preventing bolt rotation, then remove the old equalizer. Lippert recommends new shackle links with bolts and nuts; these kits are not included.
Install EquaFlex in the center hanger with its label facing outward. Pass the equalizer bolt through the outside hanger plate, uppermost bronze bushing and inside hanger plate. Drive the bolt until its head seats against the outside hanger surface. Both equalizer and shackle bolts install from outside toward the trailer center so their threads do not interfere with other assemblies.
Thread the equalizer nut against the hanger and torque it until it bottoms on the bolt shoulder at 30–50 ft-lb. Put the axles in their normal operating position, attach the new shackle links and torque their nuts to the same shoulder-bottomed 30–50 ft-lb setting. Repeat the installation on the other side of the trailer.
Lower the trailer evenly without dropping or jarring it. Verify that the shackle links stand upright at approximately the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions. For wheel fastening, the manual supplies configuration-specific staged torque values; for a 16-inch wheel with 1/2-inch studs, its stages are 20–25, 50–60 and 90–120 ft-lb.
How It Works
Separate framework support from axle control
Support the trailer framework according to manufacturer recommendations, protect underside panels and lines, and remove the wheels so the suspension carries only its own weight. Additional stands under the axles near the U-bolt plates prevent downward swinging when the shackles are disconnected. Without that support, axle movement can pull on electric-brake wiring and create pinch hazards.
Preserve bolt retention and installation clearance
Shackle bolts are pressed into their plates and should not rotate; hold them with a box-end wrench while removing the nuts, and similarly restrain the equalizer cross-bolt. Install EquaFlex with its label outward, passing the equalizer bolt outside-in through the outside hanger plate, uppermost bronze bushing and inside hanger plate before seating its head against the hanger. Install shackle bolts outside-in as well to keep their threads from interfering with other assemblies; Lippert recommends new shackle links with bolts and nuts, which are not included.
Shoulder seating and final geometry
Torque the equalizer nut until it bottoms against the bolt shoulder at 30–50 ft-lb, then place the axles in their normal operating position and install the new shackle links with the same shoulder-bottomed setting. Repeat on the opposite side and lower evenly without dropping or jarring the trailer, then verify upright links at approximately 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. Shoulder seating establishes the intended fastener relationship, while the final link position confirms that the suspension has settled into the documented geometry.
Step-by-Step Procedure
0/8 doneEquaFlex Installation References
| Equalizer and shackle nuts | 30–50 ft-lb, bottomed against the bolt shoulder |
| Shackle-link position after lowering | Upright, approximately 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock |
| 16-inch wheel with 1/2-inch studs | 20–25 / 50–60 / 90–120 ft-lb, stages 1 / 2 / 3 |
Diagnostic Chart
| Symptom | Check | Spec / Expected | Likely cause & fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| An axle starts moving downward or brake wiring becomes taut during disassembly. | Stop disassembly and keep clear of the moving assembly; verify framework support and separate axle support near the U-bolt plates before continuing. | Support the framework and separately support the axles so they cannot swing down during shackle removal. | Missing or ineffective axle support allows axle weight to load the brake wiring when the shackle connection is released. Basis: ccd-0011275 |
| A pressed shackle bolt turns while its nut is being removed. | Hold the bolt with an appropriate box-end wrench rather than allowing it to rotate with the nut. | Bolts are pressed into the shackle plate and should not turn during nut removal. | Nut-removal force is rotating the bolt because it is not being adequately restrained. Basis: ccd-0011275 |
| The replacement equalizer or its fasteners appear incorrectly positioned. | Check the outward-facing label, outside-in bolt direction, passage through the uppermost bronze bushing, seated bolt head and shoulder-bottomed nuts. | Equalizer and shackle nuts: 30–50 ft-lb, bottomed against the bolt shoulder. | Incorrect orientation, incomplete head seating or failure to bottom the nuts against the bolt shoulders. Basis: ccd-0011275 |
| Shackle links are not upright after lowering. | Verify final link position; if incorrect, safely support the trailer again and review axle operating position, link installation and lowering procedure. | Upright, approximately 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. | The suspension has not settled into the documented geometry, potentially following incorrect positioning or uneven, jarring lowering. Basis: ccd-0011275 |
At the Bay: Diagnose the Case
CASE 1 / 4
An axle starts moving downward or brake wiring becomes taut during disassembly.
- Test
- Compare
- Correct
Select the next check
Basis: ccd-0011275. A likely cause is a hypothesis; confirm it with the applicable service procedure before repair.
Common Bay Mistakes
- ✕ Do not treat framework stands as a substitute for separate axle support.
- ✕ Do not let pressed bolts spin while removing their nuts.
- ✕ Do not accept torque alone without verifying bolt-head seating and shoulder bottoming.
- ✕ Do not apply the 16-inch wheel with 1/2-inch studs torque stages to an unverified wheel configuration.
Quick Check
Practice only — not scored.
Plan the Service Sequence
Planning practice only. Follow the applicable manufacturer's instructions, employer safety program and qualified supervision on real equipment.
Plan the first action. Compare the service steps with the bay mistakes.
Hands-on: Shop Test Equipment
Dial Indicator — Bearing End Play
Magnetic-base dial indicator (0.001 in) on the hub face, spindle nut adjustment
🛠 Equip your bay for this test →Symptom: Bearing service — set end play after repack.
Spec limits used
- 0.001–0.010 in — Allowable end play, double-nut wheel end (Dexter 9-15K service manual, p.64)
- 0.008 in — Nev-R-Lube 50 mm max axial end play (Dexter 059-831-00)
- illustrative only — Face runout limit (General shop practice)
Simulated readings for practice. Always follow the manufacturer's procedure and values on a real trailer.
Source: ccd-0011275 — 2-5