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Old 03-08-2012, 12:37 PM   #1
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Broken Leaf Spring

Tom discovered a broken leaf spring on the Sunline. Looks like it dropped in a pothole on one side. Easy and quick to order from Dexter Axle (set arrived in three days!) and he can do the work. Two questions- is this a common occurence and any helpful hints on replacement ? Tom's a mechanic, so assume he'll be fine, but any advice is welcome.

Deb
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Old 03-08-2012, 06:35 PM   #2
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Hi Deb,

Broken leaf springs have happened but is not a heavy reported issue. I only know of one Sunline friend who had the springs on his T264SR break several times. There may have been some issues on his as Sunline welded in some frame supports by the equalizer and I think the spring hangers after he reported it t them. I do not know what year his is, I would have to dig. It may have been the 1st year that model camper out.

Your camper may also have been overloaded somewhere in its life on that one side. Not impossible as your is a 7,000# GVWR camper with a super slide. Unless you weigh them you never know and in this case doing a left and right side wheel set of weight for off balance. One side will be heavier then the other. The 2001 T260SR then jumped up to the 10,000# GVWR. Was it the slide side that broke?

Another question is which leaf broke? The main leaf or a small one? And where did it break?

If the U bolts where loose anywhere in it's life that is a sure fire way to break a leaf spring. I'm sure Tom knows this and Dexter should have the torque on the U bolts. If not we can look it up. I tighten them in an X kriss cross pattern and bring the 4 nuts up slow and even then torque out the last 15 ft lbs on all 4.

Did he get new U bolts as well? Some times they get so rusted it is easier to cut them off and put new on. I used a thread chaser with tons of penetrating oil to chase the threads up the the nut. Then a 1/2 breaker bar and they came off. I did however put new U bolts on.








Hope this helps

John
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Old 03-17-2012, 09:19 AM   #3
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John, thanks so much. Would love your opinion on what could have caused this. Tom's replacing springs and packing wheel bearings and generally checking out the underside. So, here is what he thinks. The springs broke on the "ditch" side, not the slide side. It apprears there was an "incident" as the front spring broke the small leaf, but the rear bent the entire loopy part. Hope the picture shows this. Also, Tom says there are tire marks up inside the wheelwell. So... it must have been backed into something or drove into a hole or hit a curb? Not sure what could have happened, but let's hope it never does again. FYI new tires were added all around, so there is not a damaged tire, all rims appear OK and the axles are straight and uncompromised, thank goodness!

He is in agreement on torquing, and U Bolts were totally OK. Deb






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Old 03-17-2012, 08:04 PM   #4
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Old 03-18-2012, 07:43 AM   #5
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Ouchie!!
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Old 03-18-2012, 02:53 PM   #6
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Looks like that would hurt!
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Old 03-18-2012, 06:11 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mellow Yellow View Post
John, thanks so much. Would love your opinion on what could have caused this. Tom's replacing springs and packing wheel bearings and generally checking out the underside. So, here is what he thinks. The springs broke on the "ditch" side, not the slide side. It apprears there was an "incident" as the front spring broke the small leaf, but the rear bent the entire loopy part. Hope the picture shows this. Also, Tom says there are tire marks up inside the wheelwell. So... it must have been backed into something or drove into a hole or hit a curb? Not sure what could have happened, but let's hope it never does again. FYI new tires were added all around, so there is not a damaged tire, all rims appear OK and the axles are straight and uncompromised, thank goodness!

He is in agreement on torquing, and U Bolts were totally OK. Deb
It happens, not a lot but it does. Broke a leaf on a boat trailer of mine, never hit anything hard but it broke. Years of fatigue most likely, maybe combined with a hit that finally pushes it over the edge. Yes, yours does look like it had an "incident". I wouldn't worry about it, replace the springs and call it a day.
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