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08-22-2017, 07:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 6
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Cracked leaf spring
i just bought a 2003 pace arrow has the workhorse chassis -i picked rv up in ohio out side columbus. we drove it back to chicago 350 miles the couple i bought it from drove it up to ohio from florida 1100 miles - my trouble starts with my son following me and calling saying the rv is leaning to the right so we stopped at gas station parked it on level ground we noticed the skirt just touching the ground on the right side but the left side was up about an inch.
so i got it home went under it and noticed the right side leaf spring is cracked in half ( with rust on it where it cracked in half). i called the man who sold it to me he said he new nothing about it leaning -i believe him, the rv drove very smooth home he also told me he put 9k miles on it last year plus he drove the 1100 miles to ohio-so my question begs is this safe to drive ? and if i need to get fixed how much will i have to put out? also will the otherside need to be replaced and will they say i will need shocks also? help !!!!
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08-22-2017, 08:06 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,565
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Myself, I would replace both springs and shocks just to be worry free and safe. You should be able to find a shop that makes springs and talk to them about what you need. Hope this helps.
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08-22-2017, 10:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twibs66
i just bought a 2003 pace arrow has the workhorse chassis -i picked rv up in ohio out side columbus. we drove it back to chicago 350 miles the couple i bought it from drove it up to ohio from florida 1100 miles - my trouble starts with my son following me and calling saying the rv is leaning to the right so we stopped at gas station parked it on level ground we noticed the skirt just touching the ground on the right side but the left side was up about an inch.
so i got it home went under it and noticed the right side leaf spring is cracked in half ( with rust on it where it cracked in half). i called the man who sold it to me he said he new nothing about it leaning -i believe him, the rv drove very smooth home he also told me he put 9k miles on it last year plus he drove the 1100 miles to ohio-so my question begs is this safe to drive ? and if i need to get fixed how much will i have to put out? also will the otherside need to be replaced and will they say i will need shocks also? help !!!!
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Welcome to the forums. Lots of folks here to help you. Go to a truck spring shop, not an RV repair shop. They can put in a new spring leaf to replace the broken one. No, you do not need to replace the springs on the other side. A motorhome that is 15 years old should be checked for worn shock absorbers. A good truck spring shop can give you an accurate price, I would be guessing. All the best.
__________________
George R. - Fulltiming since January '03
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 3991
2012 Chevy Malibu LT1
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08-23-2017, 05:31 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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Yes, I'd get it fixed. Its possible the spring had an imperfection and cracked years ago.
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08-23-2017, 05:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,882
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I would lean toward replacing both sides just incase the newer spring is a different strength. The rear axle alignment can effect the front end alignment.
There are many Truck Replacement Spring places on the internet. But like has been said, I would get a truck repair place to fix it, and not a dealer.
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Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
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08-23-2017, 10:17 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Titusville, FL
Posts: 5,158
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I would definitely change both sides on that axle. And shocks based on their condition/age.
__________________
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
2023 Grand Design 2600RB, 2022 F-350 King Ranch tow vehicle, Titusville, FL when not on the road
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08-23-2017, 10:54 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 183
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Springs
I visited a shop in Gilbert AZ last winter for another reason. While there they pointed out issues with my rear leaf springs. Instead of being l guess u shaped, high on the ends and lower in the middle, not quite a u but think of smile of the mouth in an emoge mine were the kinda inverted low on the ends and bent upwards in the middle. Sorry for the lack of descriptive words but anyway. They expressed I should probably have them replaced and possibly add an extra or they even offered to just add an extra to reshape them. Note my rv seems to set a & ride level. My concern new springs would raise the rear like my old 66 chevy with M-50's. Being from IN. I opted to wait till I got home in case of issues that I might need fixed. The cost for them to make and replace the springs was around 2000 Probably should have had it done The shop was very knowledgable, customer oriented no pressure good people. It was a RV Truck Suspension Service. Not sure if I can post there name here or not but you can tell I would go back if they were closer. Oh and they did fix the problem I went there for Safe T Plus adjustment. Anyway in answer to your there price was $2000 still have not got a opinion since we have been home. Aint broke dont fix it.... sorry so long
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2005 Fleetwood Bounder 35E, Ford F53, 2012 Jeep Wrangler Toad. 50 AMP,Surge Guard 34750, Blue OX Tow Bar. SAFE T PLUS. Atwood hot water heater, Brake Buddy.
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08-23-2017, 11:11 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Worcester Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,063
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Springs are a matched set, replacing just one is a guess to get to match. On a trailer you could get away with just fixing one. But in an RV, it could severely affect handling &a a bunch of things. At that age they are both shot anyways. The new set of springs should also raise the rig back to stock height & improve braking too. That is what happened when I replaced mine.
__________________
2006 Fleetwood Bounder 35E Trek pure Trike, electric, 50 mile range, 7000 ,miles the get everything runner. To be toad list Done, Ford E450 toad. Stay & Play active brakes.
Full-time since 2018. LG 4.5 cu ft washer/dryer.
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08-23-2017, 11:37 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,565
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More then likely the shocks are shot from bottoming out many times. Suspension is not something to ignore when something is wrong!
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08-23-2017, 12:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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Replacing both is the best way but at least replace the bad spring before you use the MH again.
It's an unsafe vehicle at this point and since you know about it, you might be held liable in the case of an accident if the RV becomes uncontrollable and you run into another vehicle. If the spring separates (it's only held by U bolts now)and at 60mph and the differential rotates, you will have virtually no steering ability.
The springs themselves are relatively inexpensive but the labor costs can mount along with other potentially necessary parts like new U bolts, shackles and any bushings.
A for instance and something for you to consider to scale up in size - I replaced all four 6000 pound capacity 6 leaf springs, new U-bolts and new shackles and bushings on our 5er this spring. As a DIYer and at a fair price on the material the cost was about $275 plus about 3-4 hours of my labor.
__________________
Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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08-23-2017, 03:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 128
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It would be my luck to replace the only broken spring then have it lean to the other side.
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08-23-2017, 06:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Titusville, FL
Posts: 5,158
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sikoriko
It would be my luck to replace the only broken spring then have it lean to the other side.
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And the other spring would break a week later.
__________________
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
2023 Grand Design 2600RB, 2022 F-350 King Ranch tow vehicle, Titusville, FL when not on the road
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08-24-2017, 11:47 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 6
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thanks all for your replies i found the leaf spring -wasn't easy and found a shop to do it -i'm only doing one side if it leans the other way i will do the other side - leaf was $500 labor will be $200-300 -hope this doesn't become a money pit
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