Suspension upgrades (springs, shackles, bolts equalizers)

[Rocketsled]

Discovered this summer that the rear axle tires were wearing as if the alignment was off. Resulted in an emergency 4 tire purchase in the middle of the trip.

Finally got a slot with the recommended repair shop this last week and while the axle is indeed bent and the front axle has a leaking seal that contaminated the brake, they're strongly recommending swapping out for heavier springs, Morryde equalizers, shackles and wet bolts.

Approx 16 months ago, we were driving home in the dark, in a construction zone, and came down off a bad road patch....felt like it dropped 3 inches or so. It was enough to have the bolts on the spring bars on the WDH scrape on the ground. This could easily be the incident that threw everything off.

I'm also seeing some movement of the windows in the garage that could be related (see https://www.imgur.com/a/nJJOkCe )

It's a 2017 Keystone Impact 312 (manuf 6/2016)

The bolts, shackles and equalizer install nearly doubles the cost of the repair and while I don't fault them for being and staying in business, I'm looking for a little corroborating evidence that it's necessary. I'm rather handy, but Trailer Suspension is one of those things I could easily farm out to the people with the right tools.

[Maineiacs]

It's been my experience that RV makers use the smallest, lightest components that meet the legal requirements. There are numerous tales on this forum and others of broken springs and bent axles. It sounds like you have found a competent shop that is giving you a real world perspective on what's required to make your coach safer to travel. If it were me, I'd pay attention. As always, your mileage may vary!

[Rocketsled]

My concern is in the upgraded springs, I know enough (Not enough) about suspensions to know that something like that would make it better, or very much worse. I get and support the idea of the equalizers and wet bolts letting the suspension act like a suspension, I guess it's the stiffer springs that I'm concerned about...that and chewing on it long enough to realize it's something I have to pony up for.

ETA: Since it's a toy hauler, it's got to reasonably survive fully loaded plus a big toy in the garage. While we've hauled with a full fresh tank, we haven't yet thrown a big bike in back, so it's reasonable to conclude it's not at it's limits. That said, dropping it off a bad road patch is probably enough to blow all the back of the envelope math.

[flybouy]

I don't see how springs with a higher payload rating could make it "very much worse" unless you're talking an EXTREME increase. Personally I'd rather be at the end of the scale where there's some excess capacity rather than the end of the scale where you're right at the maximum limits.

I have yet to see anything mechanical that if continually operated at it's published "limits" doesn't fail before the identical unit continually operated at 80% of it's limits.

[LewisB]

If you are upgrading to heavier springs, don't forget to have them look at the spring hangers. All that new equipment won't do a bit of good if it breaks the hangers off the frame. Also, if you are going to the effort of changing the axles, have you considered upgrading the breaks to disc as well.

(Pretty easy for me to spend your money, right!) Just thinking out loud here - but Performance Brakes offers axle upgrades as a part of their installed package. I've never done this (yet), but those who have seem to rave about the quality of materials and workmanship.

At any rate, make sure to have your shop consider everything including spring hangers, the need for gussets, etc.

Good luck with the project!

[travelin texans]

Compare the the price of doing the upgrades you've mentioned to the full meal deal of MorRyde independent suspension system (IS). MorRyde weighs your rv then determines the proper weight system, it's installed in 2 days at their shop either in Elkhart Indiana or Portland Oregon while you can stay in the coach in their shop with water & electric hookups, it's warrantied forever, they have great customer service & each wheel is independent of the others with shock absorbers, no axle tubes or springs. If you want the perfect setup go for the disc brakes also.

[Rocketsled]

The total repair/upgrade is:
1. New rear axle
2. replace seal on front axle and reuse brake from rear axle (broken seal has contaminated front brake
3. Wet bolt kit, shackles, MorRyde equalizer
4. upgrade springs from 3500 lbs to 4000 lbs

I can't say as the brakes have been inadequate to what we're asking them to do.

I CAN say that since I started the thread, I've talked to Dexter axle and the bump to 4000 lbs won't be too big a jump to otherwise mess things up.

[roadglide]

I have close to 50K miles and grossly overloaded at times on my 311 springs with no trouble other then loosing a bolt on tail spring crossing the Mackinac bridge . I didn’t know that until I stop at the casino in Mackinac city. It was about a 30 minute repair. Springs are not hard to replace you jack up the frame starting the middle using a ratchet strap for the tail spring pull it in place align the bolts making sure the correct track plates are all the same position on the axle. I’m using ez flex Equalizers I’m convinced it saved my axle from falling out of the rear saddle and having a catastrophic failure on Mackinac bridge. I think I’m going to wait until a spring breaks because I might get something worse.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Rocketsled

The total repair/upgrade is:
1. New rear axle
2. replace seal on front axle and reuse brake from rear axle (broken seal has contaminated front brake
3. Wet bolt kit, shackles, MorRyde equalizer
4. upgrade springs from 3500 lbs to 4000 lbs

I can't say as the brakes have been inadequate to what we're asking them to do.

I CAN say that since I started the thread, I've talked to Dexter axle and the bump to 4000 lbs won't be too big a jump to otherwise mess things up.

Those were all things that I would have done to my last trailer if I had decided to keep it.. Well that and bump both axles up to 7K instead of the 5200 lb stock axles along with upgraded wheels and tires to match. And one last thing would have been a shock kit..

Instead I bought a trailer with all that already on it.. except for the shock kit and I plan on doing that this coming summer when it's too hot to camp..

[Rocketsled]

Originally Posted by roadglide

I have close to 50K miles and grossly overloaded at times on my 311 springs with no trouble other then loosing a bolt on tail spring crossing the Mackinac bridge . I didn’t know that until I stop at the casino in Mackinac city. It was about a 30 minute repair. Springs are not hard to replace you jack up the frame starting the middle using a ratchet strap for the tail spring pull it in place align the bolts making sure the correct track plates are all the same position on the axle. I’m using ez flex Equalizers I’m convinced it saved my axle from falling out of the rear saddle and having a catastrophic failure on Mackinac bridge. I think I’m going to wait until a spring breaks because I might get something worse.

I can put my thumb on one specific event that I’m pretty sure caused the problem.

How do you load the trailer? (Heavy Bike, fresh water, Dutch oven?)

[Cbrez]

We had a complete suspension failure while on the road this summer including a hanger that was sheared off and broken leaf springs. Found out that there was recurve in the springs where the axels attach and the MORryde shear springs were sheared (sorry contrast is not good enough the see shear spring failure). Definitely recommend upgrading the springs. We also added Sumo shocks.

[roadglide]

The last 2 years I have been loading the Buggie 1200 lbs with spar tire mounted Harley 900 lbs in 10 ft garage along with tools and rocks coming from quartzite.

[Rocketsled]

Originally Posted by roadglide

The last 2 years I have been loading the Buggie 1200 lbs with spar tire mounted Harley 900 lbs in 10 ft garage along with tools and rocks coming from quartzite.

That’s significant. How heavy is the tow rig? Our 3/4 ton is about 8500 and the whole tamale just touches 20,000 lbs

[roadglide]

Originally Posted by Rocketsled

That’s significant. How heavy is the tow rig? Our 3/4 ton is about 8500 and the whole tamale just touches 20,000 lbs

96 gal of diesel I’m over gvw still good with the pay load and tires .

[Philip]

We upgraded our 2013 Raptor 310TS 2 years ago with the Comfort Ride slipper springs/shocks. I had a local trailer person do it and avoided shop delays. This cost more than just changing your springs and equalizers, but far less that Mor-ride IS system.
Made a huge difference.

Previous 5er had Mor-Ryde RE (rubber equalizer system), which worked great.

[ewbldavis]

Doesn't say - but if you're doing all that, how much would it be to just switch to disc brakes?

Also saw a youtuber who switched their toy hauler to the Mor-Ryde independent suspension. Awesome looking setup, but probably a pretty penny.

[gearhead]

If I were spending good money on axles i would consider the independent suspension. I have it on a tandem boat trailer and a single utility trailer.
I believe Performance Trailer Braking has the costs on their website.

[Hblick48]

Has all 4 brand new tires wear out on the inside plus spring broke next to eye. That was after installation of Dexter EZ Flez equalizers and wet bolts.

After research, found that rig had 6,000 pound axles and 2,500 pound springs. Replaced all 4 springs to 3,000 pound and new set of tires. Took cross country trip checking tread wear. After almost 9,000 miles, tires had worn equally across. Higher rated springs solved the tire wear issue.

[Rocketsled]

So I was more than $4k into this ‘mod’, on top of the payment, insurance, and storage costs I pay every month. Disk Brakes are so far off the table it’s not even funny.

[Rocketsled]

Originally Posted by Hblick48

Has all 4 brand new tires wear out on the inside plus spring broke next to eye. That was after installation of Dexter EZ Flez equalizers and wet bolts.

After research, found that rig had 6,000 pound axles and 2,500 pound springs. Replaced all 4 springs to 3,000 pound and new set of tires. Took cross country trip checking tread wear. After almost 9,000 miles, tires had worn equally across. Higher rated springs solved the tire wear issue.

Not sure how, but we bent one of the 7000 lb axles. Replaced it, went from 3500 to 4000 lb springs (after consulting with Dexter) wet bolts, shackles, MORryde 3000 equalizer and 4 new tires (paying high-country prices for them)...if this doesn’t fix the problem, I don’t know what will!