exportman
Clovis, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 06/29/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I drive a 6 year old 32-foot Fleetwood Southwind on a Workhorse frame with 17,000 miles. I did encounter some fairly rough secondary roads with frost heaves and some pot holes but while uncomfortable not enough to break anything (I think.)
Without any warning the MH is bouncing when I hit a bump and making a squeaking or creaking noise from the front end. The Billstein shocks do not seem to show any "leaking" but am wondering in general does this suggest a shock problem or a spring problem?
|
wolfe10
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/08/2000
View Profile
 Offline
|
Visually check shocks for leaking (not just dampness) AND for any play in the bushings.
And you can check the dampening properties by driving over a parking lot speed bump at normal (low) speed. If an axle bounces more than 1.5 times, the shocks are not doing their job.
As far as squeaks, first thing I would do is lube the front end. Then check it for play.
BTW, the front suspension on Workhorse P chassis is completely different than the W chassis-- which do you have?
Brett Wolfe
1997 Safari Sahara 3540
EX: 1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
|
exportman
Clovis, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 06/29/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Can't see any leaking. Not sure about the bushings but will check tmrw morning.
Think the dampening is only 1 to 1.5 times. Not 2X.
The creaking is the puzzling thing. I just had it lubed a few days ago and while I can't say whether the mechanic hit all the lube fittings, he did lube it from a pit suggesting he could see most of them. When I pull into a RV park and go over the slightest bumps the creaks/squeaks are noticeable from the front end.
Not sure about the "play" but I don't feeel anything any different at 55 mph unless I go over an ill-repaired pot hole.
|
exportman
Clovis, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 06/29/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Forgot to mention that it is a W chassis
|
fischer
livingston, tx
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I think you should check you heat shields in the front end. They are very close and you may have hit one and bent it. Have your wife drive the motorhome and you go along side so you can pin-point the noise. Also my 2005 broke a wood support for the passenger side dash on a rough road and that side would move and squeek
2005 Southwind 32vs F53 Retired
2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4
Blue ox Tow Bar
|
|
|
exportman
Clovis, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 06/29/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Not to hi-jack my own post but mine is a 2005 also, Fischer. Correction that mine is not 6 years old but maybe even 7-8 since it is on a 2004 chassis but built in 2005.
Hope to get more input so I can get underneath the MH in the morning and check things out.
I am in Indian Head, Saskatchewan heading West and can be in Regina in under an hour if professional work is required.
|
wilanddij
CA Desert
Senior Member
Joined: 08/10/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Check the welds where the vertical coach frame connects with the chassis frame in front of the front wheels. A couple of us have had broken welds there after going over some rough roads. Probably doesn't account for any "bouncing", but can be the source of the "squeaks".
Will & Di
2004 Southwind 32VS
Workhorse/8.1
Jeep Wrangler/Blue Ox
"We have met the enemy, and he is us" Pogo
|
J Walker
Oakton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
On my leaf springs there is a spacer between the eye of the spring and the frame. The original wore out and I was able to obtain new and better ones from Freightliner. It made a world of difference in the squeaking.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
|
rgatijnet1
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 06/22/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Make sure that when the front end is lubricated, the wheels are hanging free so that the weight is off of the suspension.
You also may want to look for broken welds where the front fiberglass front cap is attached to the frame. This allows the front cap and sometimes the dash to more and cause squeaks.
|
Lobstah
Northeast
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
wilanddij wrote:Check the welds where the vertical coach frame connects with the chassis frame in front of the front wheels. A couple of us have had broken welds there after going over some rough roads. Probably doesn't account for any "bouncing", but can be the source of the "squeaks".
X2. On my W22 chassis, on the passenger side under the hood, there is an angled bracket that goes from the dash assembly to the side of the motorhome. It WAS attached with a few hex head screws that were sheared off when I got the unit. Several others have had the same experience. It causes the dash to squeak, and you can see the dash shifting a bit in relation to the right front corner pillar.
Fix is to jack it up and add more screws.
Jim
2005 Pace Arrow 36D
Very Understanding Wife
2 Boxers
4 Cats
|
|
|
