98 Diplomat Ride Height Adj and Specs Needed

[fabric8r]

I cannot find the specs or adjustment procedures for my ride height in the photocopied manual Monaco sent me. If anyone could post this information or direct me to an older post, I would really appreciate it. Also, is this something I can do myself, and are there any helpful hints to completing this job successfully?

Thank you in advance!

[Diplomat Don]

Dane......If you email Monaco, they'll respond fairly quick with the ride height numbers.

Adjusting is pretty easy. Make a tool out of a piece of heavy wire bent like a banana. Bend the wire so that the measurement between the two ends is your ride height number. Make one for the front and rear. You can then easily check the ride height by holding the wire against the bag.

I'm not sure what your year model adjuster looks like. I know mine is different from the newer coaches. It's basically an arm that has to be lengthened or shortened. It takes very little movement to move the coach an inch. Adjust rears first and then the front. Air down, air up, drive a few feet forward and check again.

[walt2137]

Dane here is the procedure I used on our 99 Dip,it will be the same for the 98

Ride Height 99 dip

Note in 2006 Monaco changed to measuring the distance from the bottom of the top plate of the air bags to the top of the bottom plate ( I do know that the air bag measurement wont work on the 2000 Dyn ).This is for the 98 thru 2000 dip,The old procedure is easier for me because of the double donut type air bags.You will need to find a level concrete or asphalt pad before you start

using 1/2" wood dial cut at 8" and 10" and coach level with safety stands and chassis aired up. adjust front with the 8" wood dial from top of H frame (this measurement is to be taken at the back of the H frame that goes from one side to the other) to bottom of the frame of the coach by adjusting the ride height valve in the middle and over the front axle with a long rod attached to front axle.On the back use the 10" rods to adj the two ride height valves as with the front.

If the measurement is off, loosen the adjusting lock nut at the eccentric slot on the valve. Take a 7/16 wrench and 7/64 twist drill bit and crawl under the front of your coach. Locate the front jack. Just forward of the front jack, you should be able to sit up. You will see a narrow, vertical shaft. That shaft connects to a metal plate fastened to a short tubular piece of plastic. There is an elongated slot in the metal plate with a nut sticking out. Loosen the nut Move the plastic arm (tube) up to raise suspension height, this will inflate all the front air bags. Move the plastic arm (tube) down to lower suspension height, this will deflate the air bags. Make adjustments in small increments. When satisfied insert the drill bit in the plastic arm and valve body, the bit is there to hold the arm while tighten the 7/16 nut to 60 to 80 inch lb. After you finish blow down and start the engine and re air and check the height again adjust if necessary.

[fabric8r]

Thanks for all the great information. I will give it a try this weekend and see what the results are when I hit the road.

[fabric8r]

I measured my air bags last night and found that all 4 of the bags in front had different measurements (ranging from 4.350" to 7.550"), even the pairs of bags for each wheel were different. The same with the rears (range of 6.380" to 7.780"). I was on a fairly level surface inside a building. How level does it need to be? Would an unlevel surface cause the different readings? Is there a way to independently adjust each bag? I received the ride heights from Monaco yesterday. 8" for the front and 10" for the rear. Are their measurements from the bottom of the top plate to the top of the bottom plate of the bags? When I took my measurements I had the engine running and the parking brake off. Is this the correct way? I understand that this is alot of questions, but this is my first time doing this myself. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[walt2137]

Dane NO that is not right, check the instructions above again, what you need to do is measure (with the engine off and coach at ride height and level) between the H frame and the coach frame on each side of the rear and the center in front and adjust as stated DOD NOT SHORTEN THE ROD use the adjustment noted. I will atach a picture of the valve and where to do the adjustment, note it also shows a picture on how to measure the air bags but as I have stated on my 2000 Dyn if I had set my ride height by using the air bags adjustment my coach would jacked up and look like a praying matis , Monaco changed the procedure to the air bag procedure around 06.
Use the H frame procedure then come back and check the measurement on the bags and let us know how close it is.

[fabric8r]

Thank you for the reply. I checked the heights using the frames that you requested. I found that the front is 5.5" and the rear is 7.8" on the drivers side and 8.3" on the passenger side. I found the adjustment mechanisms, but all 3 are at the bottom of the eccentric slot, which means I do not have any more height? I didn't take the nuts loose yet, so there may be a little movement left in the slot area. Any ideas on how to proceed?

[walt2137]

I would first make sure the valve is working, put the pin in and loosen the 7/16 nut move it up and down if its working that means that someone has fooled with the arm length I would think you might be able to get a little more length out of it if not you will need a new one, go here.
Haldex Anchorlok Repair Kit Leveling Rod 48100225

[walt2137]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabric8r Thank you for the reply. I checked the heights using the frames that you requested. I found that the front is 5.5" and the rear is 7.8" on the drivers side and 8.3" on the passenger side. I found the adjustment mechanisms, but all 3 are at the bottom of the eccentric slot, which means I do not have any more height? I didn't take the nuts loose yet, so there may be a little movement left in the slot area. Any ideas on how to proceed?

If you are on a level surface and you set both rear ride height valves at the correct height the coach should be level, there is no reason for it to be out of level, you would then set the front, if the coach is not level then you have a pinch line , a leaking bag, a leaking fitting, but you will have something out of whac that causes the out level condition .

[allegro5]

My question is: How did that man get under his RV with the Ride Height so low! Granted, at 6'1'' and 225, I am no small man. But yesterday I had a hell of a time just getting under! I found nothing out of measurement, and the coach rides level. But the rear stone guard will drag at the drop of a hat! Maybe I need shocks, as the flap is off the road about 3 inches, as it sits? Where is the best place to order shocks that wont cost so much the little woman shoots me? allegro5 greatallegro5@aol.com

[ImagineIF]

Allegro, I'm not sure whether you are the first owner. Many owners purposely lower their rear mud flap to protect the TOAD. I know that was the case on mine, so I raised it so it stops dragging. It didn't drag all of the time, but tended to in turns.

Problem fixed, while at least until I decide what to tow.

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabric8r I cannot find the specs or adjustment procedures for my ride height in the photocopied manual Monaco sent me. If anyone could post this information or direct me to an older post, I would really appreciate it. Also, is this something I can do myself, and are there any helpful hints to completing this job successfully? Thank you in advance!

This is what I got from Monaco for my 2007 Diplomat. It has the procedure hopefully this looks like yours.

[Land Barge]

ok dumb question.. I assume your suppose to remove the drill bit? I'm fiddling with the ride height after my drive shaft failure and found that both rear valves had pins in what I think is where your suppose to pin them. One of the rear valves had a pin intact between the body and stationary side, the other had one that was broken leaving the valve free.

Are these shipping pins? Seems to me if the pin was in place the valve would not freely operate.

I'm trying to assure that I can do all possible not to have this failure again.

[Phil R]

Yes, do pull the pins when your done. Maybe someone just pulled the pins back far enough so that they weren't locking the valve but handy for the next adjustment.
Maybe this attachment will help to make adjustments. (If I did it right)

1997 windor ride H.pdf