UFO Chassis Leaf Spring Bushing

coachmanrvr · 09-19-2009, 07:40 AM

I took my RV to Lee Smith in Chattanooga, TN for a problem with noise coming from the leaf spring bushing. It pops and creaks constantly. They tried to lubricate the the bushings, but there is no zerk fitting to lube the bushing. They sprayed and sprayed, but still the noise. I am not talking about a faint creak, this you can hear in and outside the coach like something is wrong. They insist they have contacted workhorse with no response from them in days. How can this be?

Any thoughts?

DriVer · 09-19-2009, 07:53 AM

Check your PM.

CraigA · 09-19-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachmanrvr

I took my RV to Lee Smith in Chattanooga, TN for a problem with noise coming from the leaf spring bushing. It pops and creaks constantly. They tried to lubricate the the bushings, but there is no zerk fitting to lube the bushing. They sprayed and sprayed, but still the noise. I am not talking about a faint creak, this you can hear in and outside the coach like something is wrong. They insist they have contacted workhorse with no response from them in days. How can this be?

Any thoughts?

Are you talking about the right front corner?? Mine has done this as well, can't seem to resolve it.

DriVer · 09-19-2009, 09:53 AM

Just curious as to what that noise might be with 2 owners reporting the issue. I hope that coachmanrver's service center achieves a resolution that we can share.

coachmanrvr · 09-19-2009, 09:59 AM

The noise is coming from the front leaf spring pressed in bushing. The service center said they normally should have a zerk fitting to lube the bushing. Guess this design is different.

Mine started on one side (right front) and now the left creaks / pops constantly. If I was home now with my camera, I would post up a video of the culprit....

CraigA · 09-19-2009, 10:10 AM

I was told by a Workhorse RSM, that it was a leaf spring hanger bolt that needed to be tightened. That was done, it was fine for a couple of weeks then started up again, noise seems to get louder in the hot weather. It is a loud creeking, thunking, and it happens when I turn, stop at a light, mostly at slow speeds, at least that's when I can hear it.

DriVer · 09-19-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachmanrvr

The service center said they normally should have a zerk fitting to lube the bushing. Guess this design is different. ....

coachmanrvr, Gee Whiz, I sure can't figure out what that tech put in his coffee this morning because it isn't normal at all for your Hendrickson or my Stabil-Ride suspension to have Zerks on the spring busings!

P Series on the other hand have more fittings than Carter has Little Liver pills.

I've driven a number of demonstrator UFOs and have yet to experience the noise coming from the front. Those components are so robust it has got to be something like CraigA suggested.

coachmanrvr · 09-19-2009, 10:18 AM

I don't know about the design with / without a zerk fitting. Just quoting what I understood him to say. Sounds like CraigA is experiencing the same issue as mine. Quite annoying to say the least.

DriVer · 09-19-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachmanrvr

Just quoting what I understood him to say..

coachmanrvr, I'm certainly not disputing that with you. I'm just a little apprehensive as to why they/he would have suggested something like that. Any Workhorse service center knows that there aren't any Zerks on the springs and for him to make a comment like that just raises my eye brow a bit.

It is normal on HD trucks to see Zerks on spring bushings. Just wondering if he's comparing an OTR tractor to a UFO?

My nose gets out of joint when people make comments like that when I know that's not the case. Makes ya wonder if they're reaching for a solution that's not there?

CraigA · 09-19-2009, 10:31 AM

Just pulled out my service records from Crest Chevrolet. This is what was done for the front end noise per the RO. " Front leaf spring eyelet bushings noisey" res: "lube front leaf spring bushings, per workhorse"

They told me over the phone that is was a hanger bolt, guess I should look at the RO's a little more carefully. This was done when it was in for the FCA ordeal, guess the front end noise was low on my attention list at that time.

DriVer · 09-19-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigA

They told me over the phone that is was a hanger bolt, guess I should look at the RO's a little more carefully. This was done when it was in for the FCA ordeal, guess the front end noise was low on my attention list at that time.

CraigA, Compared to an FCA issue the spring issue would certainly have been taking a back seat for sure if it were happening to me.

CraigA · 09-19-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer

CraigA, Compared to an FCA issue the spring issue would certainly have been taking a back seat for sure if it were happening to me.

DriVer, it did for sure. Now that noise starting to annoy me, I have finally been able to take me eye off the temp gauge, (not for too long) while we travel. A little gun shy sine the FCA problem, but since that issue has been resolved, (I hope) I have driven my coach (as Alan said) like I stole it. No problems at all, FCA coming on and off, mpg's slightly better, couldn't be happier.

Now on to that front end noise.....

coachmanrvr · 09-19-2009, 11:05 AM

If you look up Lee Smith on the web, they work on pretty much everything heavy duty. Guess my guy is just used to seeing some type of lube point on front ends. I don't have a torque wrench that would go anywhere near the value required on those bolts or I would re-torque them myself. I'll wait to hear from you Driver. Again, thanks.