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Topic: Broken Shock Mounts (Read 700 times) previous topic - next topic

Broken Shock Mounts

Quote from: Barry Beam –
Then we noticed the other side rear shock mount was broken. Must have recently happened. They pushed the shock all the way up and discovered the coach was bottoming out. All the rear mounts needed to be extended. So next week they will be extending all the rear mounts lower. Hopefully this will fix the problem that has been going on since I owned it. i have had about 6 or seven broken shock mounts.

Barry,

Are you using the FDS shocks in that location? 
If so is the travel on those different from the original Koni?
Or did your coach brake mounts with the OEM shocks too?

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Barry,
Are you using the FDS shocks in that location? 
If so is the travel on those different from the original Koni?
Or did your coach brake mounts with the OEM shocks too?
Pamela & Mike
I did replace the original rear shocks with the FSD's before I left for the Maritimes hoping it would solve the problem. The travel is the same and it broke on the OEM & the FSD's. I knew it had to be the mounts but could not prove it until now. I do not know how it could have left the factory like this without checking the distance between the shock bolts. Hopefully it is not like this on all 2003's
(EDIT) I could hear the rear bottoming out when I hit an unexpected dip. It is not supposed to bottom out.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Barry Beam –
.Hopefully it is not like this on all 2003's

Barry,

That was my thought when I saw your post. Was wondering if it was the shocks or location of mounts. If it is location of the mounts as it seems to be several coaches may be affected.

Pamela & Mike

Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #3 –
Barry surely FT will give you some restitution after all these costs re the shocks/mounts. It was their mistake that caused it all!!
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Hatchet –
Barry, the next 3 pictures show the location of the slide bladder tear, the tear it self and the end result.
If that continues to hold it sounds like a great inexpensive remedy. Kudos to you.  b^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #5 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
Barry surely FT will give you some restitution after all these costs re the shocks/mounts. It was their mistake that caused it all!!
JohnH
That is sure going to be my argument. I did not ask if they plan on charging me for it as it was well after closing friday night when we discovered it. So I thought I would wait when they are fresh to discuss it. It is clearly a MFG defect so I don't think they will argue about them taking care of it.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #6 –
The solution that was agreed upon and they covered it was:
They could not make the mount longer as that would break the top of mount because there is no room for it.
And they could see the round welded steel bumper indentation showing it was hitting.
They said It is not supposed to bottom out.
So they welded the broken mount as usual.
They added an additional round steel bumper on the frame so the shocks would not bottom out.
It would hit the bumper first which it is supposed to do.
Then they changed my ride height to 8 1/2".

Just got home to So. Cal. after 1600 miles of driving.
I have never experienced this "Foretravel ride" that I have always heard about until now.
Raising the ride height to 8 1/2" made an incredible difference.
I could feel the strength of the air bags when going over potholes and irregular roads.
And when I came across one of those unexpected dips the coach just barely kissed the new raised bumper, which would normally have broken the shock mount.
It was the most comfortable ride I have taken in this coach and I was fighting wind a long way.
It was a real joy to drive. Like night and day.
I am a happy camper.  :dance:

I was glad that I could go back and forth to my coach checking on the progress and questioning anything that I was unsure of that they were doing so as to not have any miscommunications with the techs. It was a good experience and Dave's Remodel Dept was exceptional as always.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #7 –
Barry,
 
Congratulations on getting an official factory fix.
 
Two questions:
 
    What was the ride height prior to the change to 8 1/2"?
 
    How did they change the ride height?
 
Okay, a third question:
 
    Is this something the rest of us have to worry about?
 
Thanks,
 
Trent

Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #8 –
One thing I don't understand about the suspension design is that it does not use the internal bump stops of the airbags when bottoming out. Instead, metal parts hit. I cut open an air bag...there are softer components inside to bump together!
1998 U270 34'

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #9 –
Isn't ride height set in HWH system?
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #10 –
Quote from: TulsaTrent –
Barry,
Congratulations on getting an official factory fix.
Two questions:
    What was the ride height prior to the change to 8 1/2"?
    How did they change the ride height?

I believe between 8" & 8 1/4"
They make the adjustments on the 3 ride height valves.
Measuring only the 2 bags in front of the rear drive axle & the 2 bags in back of the front axle.

Quote
Okay, a third question:
    Is this something the rest of us have to worry about?
If you are not breaking shock mounts or are not bottoming out hard when you hit big potholes there should be no problem.
My coach was the 2003 pre production model and it might be something that happened on my coach specifically.


The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"
 

Re: Broken Shock Mounts

Reply #11 –
Pretty much applies to all shocks.  At ride height, the shock should be at or slightly more extended than mid travel.  Very easy to measure. 

Compress the shock and measure, extend the shock and measure.  Measure shock mount to shock mount. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
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Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020