Successfully fixed rough ride on 2000 DSDP (long)

[RVin On Up]

I wanted to post my recent experience fixing both a rough ride (teeth jarring over bumps) and wandering steering (felt like an 80's F150 with too much play) on our DSDP. I see similar topics discussed here and on other forums and so here's what resolved our issues. Our coach is a 2000 DSDP, 330 Cummins, Spartan MM chassis, with 73k miles.

I had our coach at Cummins Ocala a few weeks ago for service, and they discovered all the ball joint boots were split and the joints were likely worn out. They referred me to Lazy Days as they are the only Spartan shop who can replace ball joints in Florida.

Lazy Days has a Spartan rep on-site, and he and the chassis tech and I reviewed the issues last Thursday morning. They replaced upper and lower ball joints, reset ride heights, and replaced original Bilstein front shocks (I stuck with Bilstein). They did not have to re-align the coach. Lazy Days was great to deal with, this being our first experience with their service shop.

I brought it home yesterday, 60 miles up I-75 in a stiff crosswind. I could not wipe the smile off my face! Great ride is restored, and a cross wind and/or semi bow wave now requires a simple correction with no oversteer or wander. I imagine this is how this coach drove when new.

If you have symptoms anything like mine on a Spartan chassis, one or all of these may resolve your issues as well. Now we can't wait to leave next Saturday on our 14 day Fall GA/NC trip!

[RVin On Up]

I wanted to post my recent experience fixing both a rough ride (teeth jarring over bumps) and wandering steering (felt like an 80's F150 with too much play) on our DSDP. I see similar topics discussed here and on other forums and so here's what resolved our issues. Our coach is a 2000 DSDP, 330 Cummins, Spartan MM chassis, with 73k miles.

I had our coach at Cummins Ocala a few weeks ago for service, and they discovered all the ball joint boots were split and the joints were likely worn out. They referred me to Lazy Days as they are the only Spartan shop who can replace ball joints in Florida.

Lazy Days has a Spartan rep on-site, and he and the chassis tech and I reviewed the issues last Thursday morning. They replaced upper and lower ball joints, reset ride heights, and replaced original Bilstein front shocks (I stuck with Bilstein). They did not have to re-align the coach. Lazy Days was great to deal with, this being our first experience with their service shop.

I brought it home yesterday, 60 miles up I-75 in a stiff crosswind. I could not wipe the smile off my face! Great ride is restored, and a cross wind and/or semi bow wave now requires a simple correction with no oversteer or wander. I imagine this is how this coach drove when new.

If you have symptoms anything like mine on a Spartan chassis, one or all of these may resolve your issues as well. Now we can't wait to leave next Saturday on our 14 day Fall GA/NC trip!

[GaryKD]

Congrats on having a coach that now performs the way it should. I'm glad that your fix was quickly diagnosed and repaired.

Did you have an choices with regard to the brand of shock replacement? I have been told Bilsteins are the only shock that will fit in a Spartan IFS from end.

[Railroader]

Was there a fee for the ball joints?

[Railroader]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RVin On Up:
I wanted to post my recent experience fixing both a rough ride (teeth jarring over bumps) and wandering steering (felt like an 80's F150 with too much play) on our DSDP. I see similar topics discussed here and on other forums and so here's what resolved our issues. Our coach is a 2000 DSDP, 330 Cummins, Spartan MM chassis, with 73k miles.

I had our coach at Cummins Ocala a few weeks ago for service, and they discovered all the ball joint boots were split and the joints were likely worn out. They referred me to Lazy Days as they are the only Spartan shop who can replace ball joints in Florida.

Lazy Days has a Spartan rep on-site, and he and the chassis tech and I reviewed the issues last Thursday morning. They replaced upper and lower ball joints, reset ride heights, and replaced original Bilstein front shocks (I stuck with Bilstein). They did not have to re-align the coach. Lazy Days was great to deal with, this being our first experience with their service shop.

I brought it home yesterday, 60 miles up I-75 in a stiff crosswind. I could not wipe the smile off my face! Great ride is restored, and a cross wind and/or semi bow wave now requires a simple correction with no oversteer or wander. I imagine this is how this coach drove when new.

If you have symptoms anything like mine on a Spartan chassis, one or all of these may resolve your issues as well. Now we can't wait to leave next Saturday on our 14 day Fall GA/NC trip! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I have been told Bilsteins are the only shock that will fit in a Spartan IFS from end. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You were told incorrectly.

Spartan replaced my harsh riding Bilsteins with Konis, and it's an amazing improvement.

[Latitude]

Hi Gary

I think Redland Truck and RV commented on this!!!

There are Konis Just depends on Steering Axle weight rating 14000 and over was a different shock than under 14000 lbs Rating.

He gave Part#!! He will likely see post!!??


Rick

[GaryKD]

Dirk,
My post should have read, for an IFS under 14K GAWR. For 14K and above the Koni adjustable are supose to fit. For my 12.5K IFS the adjustable will not fit. There is a Koni non-adjustable for the 12.5K IFS. I do not know if this will improved my ride/handling.

The adjustable sounds like the better deal. If I did not like the initial setting, it could be changed.

[Latitude]

Gary I thought it was the under 14000 that was adjustable the Koni FSD over 1400 was at a preset!!

I hope Redlands(Kieth I think) sees this.

I will e-mail him tomorrow

Rick

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

I replaced the Bilsteins with Koni's in August. The fronts are not the self adjusting, but have 3 settings to choose. I chose the stiffest setting and I am very pleased with the ride improvement and ride going over transitions on the road such asbridges and overpasses..

If anyone needs the part numbers I can get them from my service records.

Ronnie

[RVin On Up]

I didn't ask Spartan about anything other than the Bilsteins. Our IFS is a Granning 12k, and Spartan and Granning spec'd a Bilstein replacement. They seem fine to me. I imagine our biggest improvement in ride was replacing the worn out ball joints and setting the ride height properly, but didn't want to cheap out and leave on 8 year old shocks with 73k miles on them.

And yes, I paid for the ball joints, not surprising on an 8 year old coach.

[Route 66]

The adjustable Koni for IFS GAWR over 14K is 90-2890, which is what I have.

The non-adjustable for lower IFS GAWR is 8805-1008, I believe.

Solid front axle rigs can use the Koni FSD, which is self adjusting, and unfortunately is not available for IFS.

[Latitude]

Thanks Dirk

Thats the info I was looking for!!!

Rick

[Fillitup]

This is not shock related but is ride related. We recently changed our tires and went from the 275/70R/22.5 to the Michelin XZA3 -- 275/80R/22.5 load range H...I absolutely cannot believe the difference in ride and handling. It rides like a completely different unit.

I have a question on the ball joints - could you actually see the problem with rubber cracking or what???...I keep checking mine every once in a while and don't see a problem visually.