I've 'hinted' in other threads that I'm doing a disc brake install as well as replacing the springs. The weather finally broke (kinda) and now have the 5er jacked up. The disassembly went easy and I now have everything off with the old springs now gone and the new ones ready to be installed. There have been a few 'revelations' found during the disassembly:
- the existing wet bolt bronze bushings are shot after about 16,000 miles and lots of grease. Everything was sloppy so I took a good look at the parts. Not happy about that. The bolts have now been cross drilled for 2 grease outlets (#43 drill) and new bushings have been installed in the new 6K springs.
- the bottom side of the spindles, again, lots of a Dexter recommended grease. The outer bearings (USA Timkens) showed the effects of some signs of chattering and embedded grease. This area was stropped cleaned up easily with some 400 grit wet and dry paper and oil. Dimensionally, no wear as mic'd.
- One spindle indicated that the Dexter 'machinist' had a dull tool and it broke at the end of the cut with a gouge though luckily in a non load bearing area. That gouge was blended in to remove any stress risers.
- the removed 5.2K springs had dearched an inch per Dexter's website plus were deformed (flat) in the middle at the axle pad and 2 had loose center bolts.
- The MORryde CRE3000 on the roadside was assembled incorrectly from MORryde and may have contributed to the wet bolt wear. There is a hex spacer that fits into similarly shaped hole on each side. There is a hard nylon wear piece on that spacer. That hex spacer was not properly inserted in one side alowing the equalizer to flop a total of about 1/4 imch laterally
- after about 18,000 miles, the brakes have only a third wear while the magnets still look good. I'll Craigslist the drum and backing plate assemblies -- or send them to the steel dumpster at the transfer station.
I'm also going to install MORryde X factor cross members on at least the front and middle spring hangers. Keystone didn't bother since the gas line interferes but MORryde supplies one, according to their website, with their CRE3000. The rear hangers are directly in line with the rear gray tank drain so that one may be a Dave W's design
Since the axles are in my garage on saw horses, they have gotten sanded and painted and the new disc assemblies bolted on with the plumbing to installed today.
This so far has been a good project - and a lot more fun (dirty!!!) then the strongly hinted at wifely 'honey-dos'. It is not a complaint though Lippert could have done a better job assembling the parts as well as Keystone spec'ing the chassis. We do use this 5er a lot so some wear and tear can be expected though this was a bit too much for 18K total miles
An opinion now - this Montana HC 343RL 5er of ours is 38 feet measured long and weighs in at about 12,000 as weighed pounds regardless of what the Keystone website says. Then add 60 gallons of water @8+ pounds/gallon in the potable tank and the waste tanks,some too, along with whatever else you carry and it gets really heavy. 5200 pound axles are dead wrong even with 15-20% of the weight on the truck. 6000 pound axles and what these will be after my mods is still, again, my opinion, marginal. IMO, something this big should have 7000 pound suspension just for reliability's sake.
A few photos to eventually follow (probably?
)