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Topic ClosedBroken suspension

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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Broken suspension
    Posted: 20 Sep 2015 at 7:06pm
Joy.  I noticed on my way home today (5 hour trip home from the shore) that the camper was leaning to the side but thought it was just where it was sitting.  Once I got it into the usual spot on our driveway where it should be level side-to-side, it was definitely leaning.  Crawled under and sure enough the leaf spring on the right-rear axle is broken.  The front half of the spring is there so it is holding the axle in place as it bumps down the road, although only one axle is supporting the weight.  Thank God it didn't all let loose on the road.  We have one more trip planned in about a month so I'll have to either get it to a dealer or get it done myself - add it to my long list.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2015 at 7:42pm
Bummer. You can do it!! I just watched the video!

Maybe I can come down and bring that Everclear Watermelon and we could spring the fix. Confused

It is pretty lucky nothing let loose or was rubbing badly on the road.

fred

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2015 at 7:50pm
Were you carrying to much beer? Those kegs can get pretty heavy!!
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2015 at 10:18pm
Hey, I'm always up for help!

Kegs are empty on the way home!  Or they are supposed to be...
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2015 at 11:15am
Was it the leaf spring, itself, or the "center pivot" assembly/bolts on the tandem?
I seem to recall someone selling a more robust bolts/bushings/assembly....if only I can remember who/where.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2015 at 8:32pm
The rear leaf spring snapped behind the axle.  Parts of the "leaves" aren't even there anymore - somewhere on the road wherever it let loose.  What is left is attached to that center pivot.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2015 at 2:31pm
Wow! That is a new one for me. Up until now, I had not heard of that happening. Maybe I should go check mine....just in case.

You haven't done anything to displease the camping gods again....have you???
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2015 at 8:42pm
Got it on jack stands this afternoon on the damaged side.  Both wheels rubbed through the plastic above them but no other damage.  Possibly some abnormal wear on the tires but I need to compare them to the ones on the other side to be sure, later.  The springs have four leaves and the 2nd smallest snapped off where the smallest ends, some time in the past since the sheared edge was rusted.  That left a bend point for the 2 largest leaves where they both failed this weekend (no rust on the sheared edges).

I took all the measurements and ordered a new spring and bolts/nuts.  Forgot to get new U-bolts and nuts so I may try to reuse them if they come off cleanly.

I must have ticked someone off!
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 2015 at 2:36pm
Originally posted by techntrek

I must have ticked someone off!


Well, the camping gods may be gnashing their teeth against you but, somebody up there must like you. As you mentioned in the first post, had the whole thing let go....the possibilities are too horrible to speak of. Glad to learn you are on the road to getting things sorted out.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 10:13pm
After multiple parts snafus everything arrived and I started on it today.  Of course after getting all the old bolts off I found that the U-bolt/tie plate kit I ordered fits with the spring but doesn't fit over the axle!  So I'll be reusing the old one.  So far I got the spring mounted but I ran out of daylight before I got the axle attached.

You can see what happened with this picture (this is how it is mounted on the camper).  The spring leaf on the bottom is the shortest leaf, and the end you see is how it came from the factory.  The one above it snapped at some point in the past, it was already rusty when I discovered the problem.  Once that happened the top 2 leaves took all of the abuse and kept bending at that same spot until the one 2nd from the top snapped and I'm sure the top one gave way soon after.  Those 2 had fresh breaks with no rust.


Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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