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Full-Timers · 10-12-2008, 06:32 PM

I have picked up a noise in the right front side of my 2002 W-22 chassis, behind the front wheel area. It's kind of a hollow sound like someone in my basement is thumping on a conga drum. I have noticed it will only happen when I am in a right turn or bend on a rough road, which puts more weight on the left and unloads the weight on the right. I am thinking maybe a shock or leaf spring. I have climbed under and gave it a quick look over but do not see anything out of the ordinary. Any suggestions?

Full-Timers · 10-12-2008, 06:32 PM

I have picked up a noise in the right front side of my 2002 W-22 chassis, behind the front wheel area. It's kind of a hollow sound like someone in my basement is thumping on a conga drum. I have noticed it will only happen when I am in a right turn or bend on a rough road, which puts more weight on the left and unloads the weight on the right. I am thinking maybe a shock or leaf spring. I have climbed under and gave it a quick look over but do not see anything out of the ordinary. Any suggestions?

TAMU62 · 10-13-2008, 02:01 AM

I had the same type of noise coming from my left side. It turned out to be an empty bucket rolling around inside a storage compartment. Fortunately I descovered what it was BEFORE I went to the shop.

troth · 10-13-2008, 02:23 AM

There have been a few reports about loosened fasteners on the front stabilizer tube, as well as cracked tubes. It would be worthwhile to make a good inspection with a bright light, just for peace of mind...
stabilizer tube

Carvin Marvin · 10-13-2008, 04:48 AM

My 02 southwind had a frame strut in front of the left wheel that was broken in half. Take a bright light a have a good look around.

DriVer · 10-13-2008, 05:03 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Full-Timers:
Any suggestions? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Full-Timers, Have someone raise the vehicle using the jacks while you observe the front end components. As you unload the suspension something out of the ordinary may show up. It's worth a shot and it doesn't cost anything. Make sure the rear wheels are locked and chocked.

Full-Timers · 10-19-2008, 07:48 PM

So I climbed under my motorhome and took a look at the leaf springs. I noticed there is a Teflon spacer in the front only of the driver's side spring and the real only of the passenger's side spring. This seems odd to me. I must have lost a couple of spacers somewhere. The thing that gets me is the noise I am hearing seems to be coming from the rear passenger's spring, which has a spacer.
Any thoughts?

DriVer · 10-20-2008, 04:00 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Full-Timers:
I must have lost a couple of spacers somewhere. The thing that gets me is the noise I am hearing seems to be coming from the rear passenger's spring, which has a spacer.
Any thoughts? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Full Timers, I would agree with your assessment. I too am missing my right front Teflon spacers and occasionally I do get a little thumping from up there however the Conga sorta threw me. My left front spring still has the spacers in place so I know for sure that the ones on the right are missing and have been blown out for some time for a lack of better description.

I just began noticing the noise as of a few months ago however it doesn't present when going down the road very much if at all. There are so many ancillary sounds that it all just becomes white noise to me.

Now about that noise thing - I drove a 2008 UFO Itasca Latitude 39W and it was just about as quiet as a church on Tuesday.

Full-Timers · 10-21-2008, 07:58 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Full-Timers:
I must have lost a couple of spacers somewhere. The thing that gets me is the noise I am hearing seems to be coming from the rear passenger's spring, which has a spacer.
Any thoughts? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Full Timers, I would agree with your assessment. I too am missing my right front Teflon spacers and occasionally I do get a little thumping from up there however the Conga sorta threw me. My left front spring still has the spacers in place so I know for sure that the ones on the right are missing and have been blown out for some time for a lack of better description.

I just began noticing the noise as of a few months ago however it doesn't present when going down the road very much if at all. There are so many ancillary sounds that it all just becomes white noise to me.

Now about that noise thing - I drove a 2008 UFO Itasca Latitude 39W and it was just about as quiet as a church on Tuesday.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>I call it a conga because it has a kind of hollow sound more so than a thud. I don't hear it while going down the road. It only occurs when I am in a right hand curve on a rough road. I guess the lean of the motorhome unloads the weight off the right spring and the two leafs clang together making the conga sound. At least I assume that's where the sound is coming from. What gets me is the sound appears to be coming from the rear of the right spring but the rear spacer is there, it's the front one that is missing.

**Petro** · 10-22-2008, 04:16 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:
Now about that noise thing - I drove a 2008 UFO Itasca Latitude 39W and it was just about as quiet as a church on Tuesday.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mike is that about the same decibel level as a church mouse on Sunday?

Don

DriVer · 10-22-2008, 04:37 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Full-Timers:
What gets me is the sound appears to be coming from the rear of the right spring but the rear spacer is there, it's the front one that is missing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Full-Timers, Sound coming through the floor and firewall can spatially manifest itself in an unlikely area that would throw off your perception.

03HRVacationer · 10-22-2008, 11:04 AM

I have the same thing going on, my fix was to wedge a hard platic constuction shim in there and greese it in.

Thats right, fill those spring pockets with axle greese, sounds gone.

Al

grglunger · 10-22-2008, 12:44 PM

I have a loud snapping noise on the same side that I have been looking for 2 yrs. It happens when you load & then unload left side. There is nothing obvious broken or loose.

Full-Timers · 10-22-2008, 05:44 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Full-Timers:
What gets me is the sound appears to be coming from the rear of the right spring but the rear spacer is there, it's the front one that is missing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Full-Timers, Sound coming through the floor and firewall can spatially manifest itself in an unlikely area that would throw off your perception.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>I may try stuffing something in there to see if the sound goes away. If so I will contact Workhorse to see if I can get the right parts.