Very noisy suspension

[Matty4]

Well, I finally got my Expanda away for the weekend (although my sister and her family are staying in it this weekend).
I towed it half an hour from my place for them after picking it up earlier that morning from the detailers.

Towing it through the caravan park I could hear every slight movement of the suspension, creaking, groaning etc.....very noisy.
(Not to mention all the looks, sounds like it's falling apart...)

Anyway, what do you all recommend to lubricate the suspension? Springs, shackles etc.

Unfortunately I will be selling the van early next month so I need to sort this out. We will be heading away with it over the Melb Cup weekend first though.

Cheers,
Matty

 

[cruza driver]

Yep give it a good grease take it for a spin over some speed humps etc and make the suspension work, then regrease as the grease should have had a chance to work its way into where it needs to be.

 

[Burnsy]

Oh no Matt, why you selling?

 

[Matty4]

Oh no Matt, why you selling?

It basically boils down to not having time to use it.
It hasn't left the shed since Cup weekend last year.

We are very lucky in that we also have a waterfront cabin in a caravan park in Yarrawonga/Mulwala, so we tend to head up there for long weekends, school holidays and over Christmas/New Year.
We have a boat too so we take that up there over summer.

None of us want to sell it, but it is hard to justify $40K sitting in a shed for 5 days use a year.
(we still may have a change of heart after we take it away in a couple of weeks.............................we'll see)

Matty

 

[macca]

It basically boils down to not having time to use it.
It hasn't left the shed since Cup weekend last year.

We are very lucky in that we also have a waterfront cabin in a caravan park in Yarrawonga/Mulwala, so we tend to head up there for long weekends, school holidays and over Christmas/New Year.
We have a boat too so we take that up there over summer.

None of us want to sell it, but it is hard to justify $40K sitting in a shed for 5 days use a year.
(we still may have a change of heart after we take it away in a couple of weeks.............................we'll see)

Matty

Good enough reason for me. I don't blame you! You can always rent an expanda if you need one.

I like cod fishing at Yarrawonga

 

[Nath69]

Hi all

Hate to bring up an old thread. But my Roller rocker suspension is also really noisy.

Last weekend we were out at Mudgee and on the way home we drove through a very quiet Merriwa around 8:00pm. Well, I knew it was a bit noisy but, when I opened my window all I could hear was loud creaking and groaning. Made sure no children were sleeping anywhere near the main road.

I greased the nipples before I left but it seems to have got worse. Does anyone have any suggestions or cures? I hope nothing is bent!

Also notice the passenger side rear wheel must be dragging its brakes a little as it is hot to the touch after driving for a while.

May be a trip to the Jayco service centre. DOH!

Cheers

Nathan

 

[Moto Mech]

Im guessing it only has 3 grease nipples each side? That leaves about 4 more pivots dry. I recently drilled all my pivot bolts out and fitted grease nipples to them all. Should ride better, bush's should last longer and should be nice and quiet

 

[ShaneT]

It may even be movement between the leaves themselves, give them a spray with some CRC

 

[Nath69]

Hi Motomech. Only 1 grease nipple each side on the main pivot for the rocker. were you concerned about the strength of the bolts when you drilled them out?

Hi ShaneT, I gave each spring pack a good spray of lubricating fluid but sounds to be worse.

I may wedge a large screwdriver between each leaf and pump in some grease and pull apart the pivots and give them a good grease too. Well let you know of the results.

Cheers

Nathan

 

[Moto Mech]

No, the hole bored is only 2mm dia and only goes half way through so doubt it will reduce strength at all. It will reduce friction too and going on how well 4WD's handle after having greasable shackles fitted, it will ride so much nicer and smoother.

 

[Soaring]

No, the hole bored is only 2mm dia and only goes half way through so doubt it will reduce strength at all. It will reduce friction too and going on how well 4WD's handle after having greasable shackles fitted, it will ride so much nicer and smoother.

Hi @Moto Mech do you have any pics of what you did? Interested in doing the same.

 

[Moto Mech]

Only this pic. I drilled halfway through centre of pivot bolts, then drilled through shank of bolt(one side only) to allow grease to escape out. Threaded bolt head to accept a grease nipple. I fitted new bushes while at it and drilled a hole through bush as well so grease can lubricate outside of bush as well as inside.
I repeated this on all 14 pivot points

 

[Nath69]

Hi Moto Mech

All of my spring and shackle bolts have a small bead of weld holding them on. Did you have to grind off the weld to remove the bolts before the job?

neat looking job. Would consider doing it myself but, can you buy off the shelf bolts to do the trick?

Cheers

Nathan

 

[Moto Mech]

Most of the weld tacs on mine were already broken so I just ground weld off.
You would need a lathe to drill holes in bolts but someone did say in another post you can buy them already drilled and threaded ready to go.

 

[chartrock]

I thought the welds were on them because the shackle came as a unit with the bolts welded to one plate and the other side plate fitted after assembly and then the nuts fitted. You can purchase shackles with grease nipples already fitted, I had them fitted to my Navara.

 

[Drover]

Just take a pin into a trailer parts shop like Couplemate etc and they will have greasable shackle pins to suit. Don't put grease inside the spring leafs, may stop some sound but will also contain the sand and grit and wear the hell out of your springs in short time where when dry it will be able to get away.
The noise may be from the bushes and pins being worn especially if not greasable, they can make a racket then.
Check the shackle bolts tension they should NOT be done up tight, their should be a couple of mm gap between side of spring and shackle plate, that will allow free movement for spring to extend, if tight spring is slow to move and will grind away into the plate.
Check shackle plate on inside for wear, I have turned them around when a groove has been worn into it.
Use new Nyloc nuts.
Use a big tyre lever and check if bushes are flogged.