Rear End Vibration and warranty help!!

[Billy kxdad31]

I have an 2008 Access 31J. We have always noticed a slight vibration since we picked up the motorhome new in Feb of 2008. We now have 13,000 miles on it 20 months later and the vibration is getting worse. We had it at a Winnebago dealer and they told us to go to our local Lee Smith repair center. They are an autorized RV repair and Ford warranty center. They have removed the driveshaft thinking that is the issue. They balanced it and put it back in, now it seems to be worse. You can only feel it in the drivers seat at 35-40mph and 3,000 rpm's. There is however a constant vibration in the back. It is just worse at the fore mentioned speed.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Is there any chance at all that Winnebago would cover it? If so what is the best way to contact them?

They are taking the driveshaft back out to make sure they didn't miss something. Hopefully I will know more next week.

Thanks in advance.

[tderonne]

I've fought some noise and minor vibration issues in my F53 based motorhome. On mine Winnebago shortened my chassis by 18". In doing so they rearranged the driveshafts. They screwed up the driveline angles. I had U joints working at close to zero degrees, no-no in the U joint world.

Zero angles won't make noise or vibrate directly, but it did tell me that the shortening wasn't done properly. I'd have your shop check the angles. There's formulas for how the angles need to add up to properly cancel out the vibrations. A good driveline shop should know all about it.

[John Hilley]

It should still be under the chassis warranty. I would call

This 24 hour, seven-days-a-week hotline was designed to serve both motorhome owners and RV dealers. By dialing 1-800-444-3311, the caller has access to the nearest appropriate service location, assistance in scheduling a service appointment and service assistance for motorhome customers and RV dealers in resolving Ford chassis-related concerns.

and see what they can do.

[Billy kxdad31]

Thanks John the place I took it is the local Ford authorized service center according to the phone number.

TD - They called back today and it is finished. Apparently it was the drive shaft balance issue, the drive line people just got it wrong the first time. But it has been out of balance the whole time and the piece that was added on at Winnebago ( the reason Ford won't cover it) was not welded on straight.

I have called the Winnebago support number and they said I had to mail in the invoice from the repair center. Then they would review it.

We'll see and Thanks.