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Jacobsnc · 10-09-2016, 12:36 PM

Just returned from a 4000 mile trip with our 2015 Jayco Precept 35un on a 22,000 F53 chassis. Have developed a very loud clunk under the left front when hitting certain bumps. Not constant. Looked under rig and don't see anything obvious. Shocks seem tight, no other issues that standout. Did notice a small amount of grease on left front hub. Had both bearing replaced around 6,000 miles ago after the right front failed at 3,000 miles. Local Ford dealers won't look at a F-53. Figures. Any thoughts?

Petersr58 · 10-09-2016, 12:51 PM

Do not overlook the shock absorbers. I had a loose one that clunked until I retorqued the loose bolt, (265 foot lbs).

Mike and Cha · 10-13-2016, 11:58 PM

It could be your step moving and bouncing. I've found the noises you hear while driving don't always come from where you think they are as the sounds seem travel in the MH. Some noises I thought were coming from the engine compartment were actually from a loose headlight that just needed tightening.

Americanrascal · 10-14-2016, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacobsnc

Just returned from a 4000 mile trip with our 2015 Jayco Precept 35un on a 22,000 F53 chassis. Have developed a very loud clunk under the left front when hitting certain bumps. Not constant. Looked under rig and don't see anything obvious. Shocks seem tight, no other issues that standout. Did notice a small amount of grease on left front hub. Had both bearing replaced around 6,000 miles ago after the right front failed at 3,000 miles. Local Ford dealers won't look at a F-53. Figures. Any thoughts?

My thunk in the same conditions was simply a loose sway bar bolt. Must be torqued to 66 ft lbs with loctite on the threads (blue) problem solved. Check bushings on sway bar also.

TeJay · 10-14-2016, 08:11 AM

Jacobsnc,

Sometimes a noise results when something is unloaded or when a load is placed on it. That means that just looking for something loose may not help because it may only become loose when pressure is taken off or when it is placed on it. Take a pry bar with you when looking. See if you can move things around back & forth or up and down. Most times these noises can be very difficult to find.

I'm the only driver of our rig. Therefore I can't search like I'd like to search which is when the unit is moving down the road and making all the noises. If I could I'd take my stethoscope with me as I searched. Yes they actually make one for technicians. I have a cheap nurses stethoscope that my DW got and it works great.

Most of us old timers used a screwdriver and placed the tip where we thought the noise was then put the head of the SD in our ear. It works. That would help to locate the source better than not using one. You can hear the change in intensity as you get closer.

Jacobsnc · 10-15-2016, 03:57 PM

Well, took the rig to a independent truck shop to check front end. They didn't seem to happy to look at the Ford. They supposidly checked everything and greased the unit. Said everything was ok. Drove home and it's still clunking. That did it, back under rig with the hints you all have given. Found a top shock bolt loose. Tightened to 250 as high as my wrench would go plus a bit more. Test drove, no clunk. Bottom line, Ford dealers don't want anything to do with the F-53, and neither do independents. Thanks to all for the tips.

Tetonchief · 10-15-2016, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacobsnc

Bottom line, Ford dealers don't want anything to do with the F-53, and neither do independents. Thanks to all for the tips.

There are Ford truck dealers that do work on F53 and even like RV's--Gator Ford in Tampa is one that does.

Jacobsnc · 10-16-2016, 07:15 AM

Good to know about Gator Ford in Tampa. Not that far from us in the winter months.

TeJay · 10-16-2016, 09:19 AM

Jacobsnc,

Great news that someone finally found your clunk even if it was you. It never ceases to amaze me how incompetent these so called technicians are these days.

Back in the 70 we were all called, "Mechanics". In the early 80 as we all had to get trained on the new computer stuff they decided to call us, "Technicians." Which does sound a bit better if you are in to kind of stuff. Yes I was just a classroom teacher but we still had to get all the training as things changed and only stopped after i retired 30 years later.

When repair persons these days still resort to no diagnosis and just changing parts then they become mechanics in my book. I won't call them a Technician.

At least nobody told you, "Well that's a normal CLUNK for these motor homes. You'll just have to live with it."

TOM356C · 10-16-2016, 09:32 AM

Take a look at this someday:http://www.justanswer.com/ford/3n5nv...ays.html.....I did this upgrade when I had a F53 Tom

JIMBO34PA · 10-19-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacobsnc

Well, took the rig to a independent truck shop to check front end. They didn't seem to happy to look at the Ford. They supposidly checked everything and greased the unit. Said everything was ok. Drove home and it's still clunking. That did it, back under rig with the hints you all have given. Found a top shock bolt loose. Tightened to 250 as high as my wrench would go plus a bit more. Test drove, no clunk. Bottom line, Ford dealers don't want anything to do with the F-53, and neither do independents. Thanks to all for the tips.

front shock upper bolts loosen up rattles chuckle over bumps . cant grab shock and feel looseness because gas filled and takes up the play . The good thing is upper shock bolts can be accessed thru front wheel opening with long extension. so now we have sway bar links and brackets , shock bolts (never seen the bottoms loose always uppers) and also i have had my leveling jack cross bracket loose