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Topic: IH45 Broken Shock Mount (Read 625 times) previous topic - next topic

IH45 Broken Shock Mount

For the last 15,000 miles or so when I was on a bumpy road I could hear a rattle.  I was thinking it was my Joey bed was the cause of the noise.  2014 Coach with 52,000 miles on it.

I have the coach jacked up with all of my safety boards and pipes in place and was under the coach looking for air leaks.  As I was looking around underneath the front I noticed the passenger side shock was hanging loose.  As I started looking closer the top shock mount was ripped loose from the gearbox side plate.  I then looked at the drivers side and I can see a crack in the plate that the shock is mounted to. 

I have the  Reyco Granning  IFS2000S3-SBP2 Front end.  The top of the shocks are mounted to a plate that is bolted around the gear box. I have sent Reyco Granning an email hoping I can get new plates where all I will have to do is remove the plates, install new one and then install new shocks. Tomorrow going to call FOT to see if they know anything about this problem and maybe they may have the plates. 
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #1 –
Just some random thoughts.
Can you tell from the cracks if this was done during the shock going into compression or extension? Some time back didn't you have an HWH problem with the system going to full extension while traveling. This could have contributed to the problem if the crack has started from the top. Likewise seems like if the HWH system dumped air and the weight of the coach was setting on the shock in compression rather than on the air bags it could start the failure from the bottom of the bracket.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #2 –
Mike,

Yes, had problem where air bags would be fully extended going down the road. Problem was either back right height control and had a leaking raise solenoid.

The noise I have been hearing has been going on long before I had the HWH problem.

I will go and give a closer look at the part attached to the shock to see If I can figure out which way it broke. 

In reading the shocks are to have air in them and should be extended when not connected.  The shock now is all the way compressed
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #3 –
I would take it out and weld it back together and make it stronger than new. It could be a
design fault.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #4 –
I would guess there is more tension in compression than rebound. Way more weight. With several failures I would look at everything else over real close for other issues. Sorry to see failures at such low mileage.
Scott

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #5 –
Called FOT, they have the  parts. Do you think this is not the first time they have seen this since they happen to have the parts I need in stock.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #6 –
Quote from: turbojack –
Called FOT, they have the  parts. Do you think this is not the first time they have seen this since they happen to have the parts I need in stock.
Same part or upgraded version? If its the same part at the very least relieve all the corners where the crack started and ended. Personally I would reinforce proactively stretching out the mount location and possibly webbing it. Downside to doing this is it may fail somewhere else

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #7 –
Quote from: dsd –
Same part or upgraded version? If its the same part at the very least relieve all the corners where the crack started and ended. Personally I would reinforce proactively stretching out the mount location and possibly webbing it. Downside to doing this is it may fail somewhere else

FOT parts has the parts listed as improved & updated.

I know Reyco Granning has sold the front suspension to more then just Foretravel.  I searched the internet and have not found anyone talking about the problem.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #8 –
Sometimes the shock lengths extended are not long enough or short enough, by a small amount and stress mounts.

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #9 –
Here are pictures of what the shock looks like. I was not able to pull it apart so don't know if it rod got bent and not coming back out or if I do not have enough in me to pull it apart.

Don''t know if you can tell anything from the pictures.  The semi rounded part that is bent back was under a bolt so guessing that was the only thing holding when if finally broke free.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #10 –
When I first notice the broken shock I had sent an email to Reyco Granning.  I had also called FOT parts the next day and they said they had the two parts I was needing along with 2 new shocks in stock so I had them put in will call since FOT service said they would not be able to install for me when I was getting my oil and filters changed.

A few days later I get a response from RG  "Foretravel should have brackets. I will have replacements sent to Foretravel when the(y) send me a claim."   When "claim" was said it gave me the impression that RG is going to warranty the  plates.  In my email to them I had given them the serial # of the front suspension and the date of the coach with the miles on it and my  story of hearing a noise for the last 15K miles.  I wrote them an email back asking for clarification of their "claim" statement.  The answer back was "I don't know what Foretravel will charge".  I then send another email back trying to get them to explain why they said "claim"  Finally after 6 days later I get this answer.  "Jack our warranty is to the chassis builder which is Foretravel.
Your warranty is from Foretravel. I do not know how Foretravel will handle this with you. "  Next Monday when I get to FOT I am going to ask about what was written in the emails.  I kind of feel that this is something that should not have broken in less then 50K (or less  since I really have no idea when it broke) on a 2014 quality coach.

What are your thoughts?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #11 –
I think the response from RG is fair and I'd personally try to keep them "on my side" throughout this. Otherwise they'll just turtle and you'll get cut off from any additional nuggets of useful information.

It shouldn't have happened, but shit happens when things go down a road at 70mph and it makes this a very expensive hobby. I think you'd have more ground to stand on if you had purchased the coach new from FT but the reality is they have zero obligation to you. Ruffling feathers now might cause you more pain down the road when you need something else.

1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: IH45 Broken Shock Mount

Reply #12 –
Here are pictures of the old steering gear side cover / upper shock mount and the new one. 
The new one has more metal.  Hope it holds up.

In driving home today there was a big difference in the way the front road.  Having new shocks and both shocks working made a big difference. I had removed the bad shock before I went to Naco and I did not hear the raddle noise I had been hearing that I thought it was the joey bed making the noise. If the noise was the front shock, it has been broken for a long, long time.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago