Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-14-2016, 09:32 PM   #1
Weekend Camper
 
twaynedaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 61
Replacing Spring and Equilizer Bushings

Hi All - I need to replace the spring bushings (7 bushings per side) on my St25RB. I read a blog on an RV site (maybe this one) where a guy wrote that he did this by jacking up one side of his trailer at a time with no problem. I'm no engineer but it seems to me that this would put a strong upward pressure on the suspension of the jacked up side, and trying to disassemble the springs would just invite a trip to the ER. Has anyone done this?
__________________
2011 Sunset Trail ST25RB
2014 F250 6.7 liter diesel
twaynedaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 10:41 PM   #2
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
Done it on mine, no problems! Be sure to support the frame with blocks or jack stands & jacks under each axle. How do you raise it to pack the wheel bearings? There would be the same pressure on one side on a highway that is heavily crowned to one side of the road, like some state or county roads.
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 10:46 PM   #3
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
BTW, if you're going to the trouble anyway, order the heavy duty shackles with wet bolts from MorRyde. The kit comes with new greaseable wet bolts, bushings for everything & 1/2 thick shackles, it's a great upgrade for about $100.
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 10:59 PM   #4
Family Vacation Member
 
1olcatonr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 102
X2 on the wet pins. removing the tire takes pressure off the spring.
__________________
1olcatonr
1olcatonr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2016, 07:09 AM   #5
Full Time Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,508
Another option is the Never Fail bushings and shackles, about the same price as I recall. No need to grease the bolts, so one less maintenance item.
__________________
Larry Day

Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders member since '01
13 Silverado 3500HD D/A, 2wd CCSB srw, custom RKI bed
11 Cruiser CF32MK
https://www.picturetrail.com/dayle1
Dayle1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2016, 07:32 AM   #6
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: la
Posts: 88
I didn't know I had to check that!

Twayne, This may help.


http://www.morryde.com/uploads/downl...0for%20LRE.pdf
__________________
New Orleans, La.
04 CT30RL CRUISER
11 Tundra 4.6 w/tow package & Timbren suspension kit
matherne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2016, 08:04 AM   #7
Full Time Camper
 
harley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
Agreed on wet bolts. did mine and quietened the squeeks as we drive slowly thru campgrounds.
__________________


It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
harley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2016, 08:21 AM   #8
Weekend Camper
 
twaynedaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 61
So you were able to remove the springs and equalizer with just the one side jacked up? How difficult is it to remove the old bushings? Did you remove the ubolts from the axles? Thanks for your help.
__________________
2011 Sunset Trail ST25RB
2014 F250 6.7 liter diesel
twaynedaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2016, 11:24 AM   #9
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
Yes!! Jack up one side enough to take the wheels off & support the frame with blocks or Jack stands, place jacks under that side of each axle, then you can remove the bolts & drive them out. I used a large C clamp to press the old bushings out with well lubricated new bushings. DO NOT remove the springs from the axles unless you are replacing the springs.
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2016, 08:34 AM   #10
Seasonal Camper
 
campingcpl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 258
I know this is an older thread but thought I would add to it. A while back I bought the Never Fail Bushings from Lippert. When I purchased them I asked them if they would work with the Trail Air equalizers and was told they would. Well this weekend I finally got around to changing them. Our unit is only 2 years old and had probably close to 5000 miles on it. In the picture below you can see how badly degraded the stock bushings where. The bronze bushing that where in the Trail Air equalizers were just as bad or worse. Replacing the leaf spring bushings was a piece of cake, the equalizers not so much. To get the bushings out of the equalizers I had to take them apart and heat them with a torch to drive them out. What made it even more difficult was that they were split bushings and not one single bushing. After I got the bushings out of the equalizers I quickly realized that the new bushings were not going to work in the equalizers. Since I already had them apart and had the old bushings out I had to use a die grinder to slightly open up the holes so the new bushings would fit. So if you are going to try and replace bushings and you have the Trail Air equalizers you might just want to buy new equalizers. If I would have to do it again I would probably buy the Dexter E-Z Flex equalizer and replace the Trail Air equalizers. The Dexter equalizers bushing holes are the same size as the leaf spring eyes and on our last trailer I no issues replacing the bushings in them.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg FOTAB92.jpg (257.5 KB, 15 views)
__________________

Phil & Janine
2010 Dodge Ram Crew Cab Short Bed 2500HD Cummins
2014 Cruiser 333RL
campingcpl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2016, 08:39 AM   #11
Full Time Camper
 
harley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
I just replaced my wide stance equilizer bushings also . the top one looked like the previous pic but the other two were not to bad yet,as i have wet bolts already. I replaced the plastic with brass this time. wet bolts helped as the springs were perfect.
__________________


It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
harley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2016, 09:16 AM   #12
Weekend Camper
 
twaynedaniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 61
Thanks Phil. My old nylon bushings looked similar to the ones you pictured, worn out completely. I used the Never Fail bushings and they were easy to install in the leaf springs but very hard to install in the equalizer. In fact, I ruined a number of them and had to buy more. I have a different equalizer than you and it had nylon bushings just like the springs had.
__________________
2011 Sunset Trail ST25RB
2014 F250 6.7 liter diesel
twaynedaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2016, 11:07 AM   #13
Full Time Camper
 
harley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
You can put the bushings in the freezer then press them in the equalizer with a vice...they press in tight.
__________________


It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
harley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2016, 08:22 PM   #14
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 172
I did my never fail bushings in equa flex with a hydraulic press
malojeer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Crossroads RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×