Hi Guys, just back from Florida in my old RV (with only 4 years of actual use )-see previous posts - with lots of new stuff on it and in it.
It was very uneventful except for the fuel filter change in PA on the way home, and....I think I may be not so impressed with Equal.
First, let me say I am EXTREMELY sensitive to Noise/Vibration/Harshness issues. I do nearly all my own work, so I know the parts and stuff in and out, and this problem was confirmed by my wife and mother-in-law without me bringing it up. So I am certain my mind is not playing tricks on me. They were the first to comment that the Cummins sounded better after removing the clogged fuel filter! It ran a heck of a lot quieter too. But that's another story.
First, before we left for FL I drove the coach for one day and only initially noticed the front tires go lump-lump-lump and within a mile of pulling out of my driveway (with 6 brand new tires just installed)all was fine. I was very happy.
On the way from New York to Florida we stopped in NC for the night. The next morning we get underway and I notice the screen and cupboard doors go tick-tick-tick at a rate consistent with road speed. Throughout the day it becomes more energetic to the point where it can now be felt in the wheel, and in the rear of the coach it is making one of those resonant-frequency type sounds where the air pressure in the cabin kind of shudders - All at road speeds.
Running around FL for two weeks - not much change. Mainly short trips.
On the trip home day 1, the steady vibration/shudder is apparent to my wife and MIL who both comment on it. It varies with intensity, I am assuming when the tires get "in phase" with each other. Seems to be in the front.
Overnight in NC again. And in the morning all is well, but by aftrenoon wife is driving and I see the wheel shaking in her hand - to the point where her hands get numb. We switched and I drove a bit and it was OK at best, but not as bad. Stopped in PA to visit a relative awhile, and then again to switch drivers in New York. Before the driver switch in New York, I am driving the rig is running great, It's nice and cool and dark and I'm clipping along at 60 to 65 on new pavement. Vibration nearly non-existant to sometimes noticeable.
Wife gets behind the wheel and I lay down on the couch. This is a section of highway we travel on a nearly weekly basis. So I know it's not that rough. I am quickly getting motion sickness and I start tuning in to why. I realize that what's happening is the vibration is there like normal maybe not even real strong, and then we hit a pavement joint and the "bump" goes through the suspension to the chassis like normal, but is immediately followed by a severe shudder that hits you 3 to 5 times and then settles into the "normal" vibration. So year hear the tires "thump" the joint and then the whole rig shudders and then it settles back into it's normal state. I laid on the floor and nearly vomited from the queasiness. MIL - who has ridden in the same place for the whole trip says something is wrong. We get wife to slow down and the whole mess just slows down - it was even worse. I could not lay anywhere in the coach and escape that feeling, front back, top or bottom bunks, floor, etc. Even sitting in the front seat wasn't an escape anymore. Luckily this part was only 1/2 hour.
Finally get off highway and get mom home. I drive again and before we get to the highway I notice EVERYTHING vibrates. Bumps are not bumps anymore, they are drawn out shuddering events. Seems to be coming from both front and rear. Lots of vibration in wheel - made my hands numb and sore by the end of that 40 minute leg.
Wife was "too tired to analyze" that's a direct quote. But I can tell you that if the wheel vibrated like that when we left my house, we would not have made it to Florida!
FYI - Everything is new. Brakes redone (with old rotors- which were fine), new Bilsteins, new Roadmaster RM160 tires, new dually valve stems, and new Equal packets.
I just crawled all over this thing and find nothing loose or broken, the tires do not appear to have shifted belts. I weighed the rig on all 4 corners and they are all fine for the tires. The rears were within 20 pounds of each other. The fronts were off by 180 pounds due to the genny, but some creative re-packing for the trip home evened that out.
Maybe daylight tomorrow will prove different, but the only "variable" thing I can find in this equation is the Equal.
Anything else would be broke the same way and stay broke.
Sorry to ramble on, this is apparently the "winding down" portion of our trip today.
P.S. - Oh Yeah, while in Florda it developed a "warped rotor" feeling just before coming to a stop. It was weird because it was very consistent, but not side specific. Both F rotors have uniform surface wear, so I am starting to look elsewhere for that problem as well. maybe related?
P.P.S. - I did not mount and Equal the tires, a friend did but I have no reason to doubt him. I just trailered the tires home and used them to replace the wood blocks previously holding the rig up. Torqued roughly to spec - and no the wheels are not loose now.
* This post was
edited 07/28/08 07:52am by 50pascals *
I used equal for well over 100K miles on two different rigs and had no issues with it. I would look somewhere else for it. NOw FOretravel spin balances their fronts on the coach and that might be something to try to see if it is the tires.
I wonder if the drive line could be causing the vibration and the bumps sound like shock are going bad.
John
2001 42' Foretravel U320
2007 Bornfree 24 Painted
2001 Jeep Wrangler
2007 Burgman 650 Executive
Susie and Dolly (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels)
Dolly now in our hearts and thoughts 8-27-05
Doodle a Black and Tan Cavalier
Lolly a Ruby Cavalier
Yes, it is a granular tire balancer. I personally have not used it. My most recent "ride disturbance" issue was caused by a deformed tire that became obvious when someone tried to spin balance them a second time. If I had not been watching them, I suspect they would have just put it back on the rig, as apparently happened the first time I tried to have them balanced.
All the Equal in the world won't balance an out-of-round tire...
Working out of my roaming home office... (currently here)
I've used Equal for years in the steer tires of our fleet tractors with no problems. The only complaints from drivers was after hitting a chuck hole or very abrupt pavement change, the Equal would fall out of balance and they would notice it for a few minutes. Centrifugal force would then rebalance things and it would be OK again. As others say routinely, make sure you have the IMI valve stems with the protective screens to prevent a bit of the powder getting stuck in the valve core and leaking air after checking pressures or adjusting pressure.
2007 Winnebago Journey 34H
Toad, '08 Ford Taurus X
Blue OX, Aventa
US Gear UBS
I have read of several issues with Equal powder.. Yours is the first vibration complaint however. I have considered using it but decided against it.
Though I do, finally (After years of asking) now understand how it is supposed to work.. (I figured out what was wrong with my thinking) I'm still not sold on it based on the possible issues and a few other things I've read.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
My rig being a gasser is not near as heavy as your DP. However, I use it and it seems to work OK - for three years now. Although, I'd prefer to have the tires spin balanced if possible.
Hey 50pascals, did you by any chance travel on I-390 or I-86/Rt.17 on your way home? If so, your tires are probably fine. It was the road!
mtrumpet
2000 Southwind Storm 30H
Ford Triton V10 6.8L
F53 Chassis
Davis Tru-Trac
Henderson Rear Trac Bar
Carquest/Moog Steering Damper
Monroe RV Gas Magnums
Goodyear G670 RV's
Your problem does not sound like it is related to the Equal. Unless you were losing the Equal, it does not explain your problem getting worse with time.
I would check the tire first. If they were mounted out of round, then they will cup or wear funny with miles, and the problem gets worse. Put a dial indicator on them and spin them. Anything over .050 inch is cause for remounting them. This is commom with big tires, BTW.
Second, you may have already have the answer. YOu said you started to feel the pulse of a warped rotor in Florida. Wasn't that about the same time the problem started getting worse? If the rotor warps enough that it hits the brake pad on every revolution, it wil make the steering wheel shake like the front tires are out of balance.
Please make sure all wheels, including the inside duallies are torqued properly. Check the driveline, especially U joints for play.
Let us know what you find.
Richard, Rhonda, Ty, and Alex
1995 Newell with 470HP Detroit Diesel
Pulling 2002 Honda CRV with Alexis Towbar
Hey mtrumpet. we ran 86/17/390 from 81 all the way home. Theres a nice stretch of new asphalt thats when I was driving.
Now 78 Eastbound into Bethlehem PA was HORRIBLE.
BTW - No pusher. This is a 1992 FRED chassis. 16,000# GVW.
Local truck shop this AM said NEVER had a problem with Equal. He says the bump-shimmy scenario means loose, worn, or broken suspension parts. Usually front axle. Check tie rod ends or kingpins.
He suspects the warped rotor feeling is a tire, but since not side specific - maybe not. I've never had a rotor warp so bad it affected the coach under normal drive.
I'll work on this later this week and keep you posted.
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