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Old 09-22-2007, 10:30 AM   #1
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Suspension Noise

Our T-1950 seems to be doing a lot of groaning and squawking, especially on the curves. I lubricated the Hensley hitch, but that didn't quiet things down. Would lubricating the leaf springs with silicone help?

Thanks!
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Old 09-22-2007, 11:01 AM   #2
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Have you checked your wheel lugs to see if their tight? you could loosen all them then re-tighten in sequence to be sure wheels are in proper alignment with drums.
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Old 09-22-2007, 11:20 AM   #3
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First of all, you said you greased the Hensley, but did you grease the coupler and ball itself? That would really squeak if it's never been greased.

Second, if it is in the suspension, there's a good chance it could be the spring bolts. The ones I'm talking about are the bolts that hold the springs to the frame. There should be bushings inside of there, but many times they wear out, but usually after many miles. I guess it's possible that the factory could have forgotten to put them in. The bushings are nothing but a plastic sleeve.

Taking the bolts out can be a DIY job, but if you don't think you can do it, you should take it to a dealer and have them do it. It is important that those bolts and bushings are greased, so it's also possible they forgot grease, which would have led to premature bushing failure, resulting in the squeaking. If your trailer doesn't already have it, you may want the dealer to upgrade the bolts to ones with grease fittings so you can keep them greased easily and the bushings won't wear out as fast.

One easy way to tell if the bushings are bad is to go over a speed bump. If it makes noise, they need attention. BTW, there are ten bushings total. The equalizer on each side does contain three.

Jon
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Old 09-22-2007, 12:00 PM   #4
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Thanks for the suggestions! Co-pilot describes the sound as "creaking
like a rusty door hinge". She says that it was noticeable when going around curves, primarily when turning to the right. She reminds me that the creaking became louder after bottoming out at the dipped entrance to a "service station", and that it isn't related to turning so much after that contact.
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Old 09-23-2007, 04:37 PM   #5
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Checking over at RV.net Open Road Forum, the suggestions are:
1. replacement of the nylon spring bolt bushings with bronze and using a "wet bolt", as Jon mentioned.
2. Use of a dry lube spray on the spring leaves and bolt bushings.

Since LCI axles are Chinese, finding replacement bronze bushings and lubricated bolts might be a challenge. Dexter makes nice upgrade kits, but whether any Dexter parts fit the LCI axles is not known. I'll give LCI a call tomorrow.

I'll start out with the dry spray first.

Thanks for the reminder to retorque the lug nuts. Even though there is a sticker reminder on the trailer, I've neglected it.
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Old 09-23-2007, 09:07 PM   #6
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Coming back from Maine last week, ours started groaning also. Shucks......I just thought it was tired as I was (we drove straight through). Anyway, I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, so we pulled iinto a rest area and Sue got behind the wheel and I jumped on the tongue (bet that looked funny to some) and found the sound was coming from the weight distribution do-hicky. You know, the bars with the chains on them. Well, the knuckles were groaning in the hitch. It's the first time we've pulled in that much rain and we were coming from ocean side camping. I thought maybe salt, maybe needs grease, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Thought I would ask for help and Wobbly beat me to it. Anyone???!!! Thanks................Marshall
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Old 09-23-2007, 09:48 PM   #7
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Marshall

What type/brand of hitch do you have?

Or got pic?

Different brand hitches grown different.

John
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Old 09-23-2007, 10:02 PM   #8
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John,
I have the Reese 66541 (800# Adj. High-Performance Trunnion Style w/#54970 Hitch Bar). Right now I don't know whether it is an 800 or 1200, but they are basically the same. I admit, I don't know much about them..............that's why I shop at Stotzfus...........I trust them. Marshall
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Old 09-23-2007, 11:12 PM   #9
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Our hitch is a Hensley Arrow. I greased it during at stop at the Hell's Canyon Overlook on our last jaunt. Greasing the hitch tension arms had no effect on the noise.

While I was greasing the hitch, I looked across the road and saw our cat about to disappear in the woods. Luckily I grabbed her by her tail and brought her back to the trailer. I asked my wife if she knew that the cat had escaped, and she said that I must not have been careful when I left the trailer. I resumed the greasing and again saw the cat heading for the timber. It finally occured to us that she was escaping through the front
access hatch where I store the grease gun. She crawled under the sofa and out the hatch. After again capturing her, and locking the access hatch, she again disappeared. When I opened the rear hatch, there she was, ready to leap.
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Old 09-24-2007, 10:35 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunline Fan
you said you greased the Hensley, but did you grease the coupler and ball itself? That would really squeak if it's never been greased.
Jon,

FYI - on the Hensley, the ball and coupler are static, they don't move.
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Old 09-24-2007, 10:38 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PTHutch
FYI - on the Hensley, the ball and coupler are static, they don't move.
Thanks for the tip. See, if I had a Hensley, I'd know that !

Jon
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Old 09-28-2007, 11:36 AM   #12
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I called Lippert a few days ago and they called back this morning (6 AM out here on the left coast). I was told that the noise might well be a warranty issue, and that I should take the trailer back to the dealer.
When I explained that the dealer is in Michigan, and we are in Oregon, the rep said to take it to any RV shop.

This sounds too good to be true. We shall see. He did say that lubricated bolts, but not bronze bushings, are offered by Lippert.
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Old 09-28-2007, 12:13 PM   #13
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Keep us posted...........I'm taking mine back out next weekend to Bald Eagle National Forest. We will see if the groan is still there after a good grease job.

Marshall
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