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09-06-2020, 06:50 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: NY State
Posts: 3,089
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommar
OK... first off, I am deaf which means that I cannot hear these squeaks and popping noises that posters to the Spartan Chassis Forum speak of. So what to do? I have no clue if my rig is needing the joints. I also would like to know why Spartans are so prone to bad ball joints. Apparently, Spartan has been having issues with them for at least 20 years. Guess I'll take my rig to Rush Truck Ce.nter and have them lube it PDQ.
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In this particular case, hearing is not so important. Clicks and squeaks and pops don't tell you where they're coming from anyway. Sound travels and it can be really hard to even tell which side might have a problem, at best. The same is true of steering feel, steering play, shimmy, and vibration.
If you grasp the tie rods, and try to rotate them about their ball joints, they should be hard to move by hand, considerably stiffer than automotive tie rods. If you pry at them with a screwdriver, they should not move up and down. The cotter pins should be intact on all of them with no signs of loosening nuts. The boots should be in good condition, too, and bulging a bit with grease (not flat). If the boots are flat, then regrease them or have them greased if there are grease fittings. If you're not sure, by all means ask a pro to inspect them.
HTH...
__________________
John
1976 Southwind 28', '96 Winnie 34WK,
2006 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40QDP
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09-07-2020, 04:11 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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Why Are Spartan Chassis Ball Joints So Problematic?
Added grease fittings to my balljoints this morning. Joints still tight, boots gone.
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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09-08-2020, 07:27 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_M
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Nice! Coach looks clean underneath too.
__________________
1999 American Dream 40DVS
Spartan Chassis, Cummins ISC 330
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09-08-2020, 11:40 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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Why Are Spartan Chassis Ball Joints So Problematic?
Thanks. Very clean for a 2002 model. We’re in Texas so that helps.
Found a broken sway bar bracket while under there. It pays to get under these things and spend some time looking around.
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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09-08-2020, 02:35 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_M
Thanks. Very clean for a 2002 model. We’re in Texas so that helps.
Found a broken sway bar bracket while under there. It pays to get under these things and spend some time looking around. Attachment 300300
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I have had two of those brackets break. Always carry a spare or two.
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09-08-2020, 02:36 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_M
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Can you share the details of that install? I should probably do the same.
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09-08-2020, 03:29 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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Why Are Spartan Chassis Ball Joints So Problematic?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake21
Can you share the details of that install? I should probably do the same.
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Sure. I will later this evening.
Can you find the part number for that sway bar bracket for me? Thanks!
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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09-08-2020, 05:42 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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You’ll need a 1/8” tapered pipe tap, an 11/32” drill bit and a smaller starter bit. Nothing special as the joint caps are pretty soft metal. I used a small step bit to get started, and just eyeballed the center of the joint caps.
Be aware there’s not much room between the upper balljoint and the cap. I almost needed to cut the very end off my tap to get it deep enough for the fitting to start. If the tap bottoms out and you force it you’ll either strip your new threads or break the tap. Usually a tapered pipe tap needs to be about halfway in the hole to be big enough to get the tapered fitting to start. But tapered taps vary slightly.
Since the joints were bone dry, I used compressed air directed at the area the boot was missing from under the joint to make pressure inside the joint which forced the shavings out while drilling and tapping. Did this dry. And really it’s a 2 person job though I managed it by myself.
Others have coated their bits and taps with grease to collect shavings while doing it. Either way will work. “Normal” common grease zerk fittings are 1/8” tapered pipe thread. Any Auto or hardware store will have them.
Turned the wheels all the way to the right and had my front leveler all the way out and a heavy dut stand under the center of the front cross member.
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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09-08-2020, 07:41 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Campbellsville Ky
Posts: 509
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Tip ---- Buy 2 taps and grind one down about 1/4 " then you have a bottom tap that will give you more threads---- use the tapered one first then the modified one. For me no more popping or squeaks!
__________________
2008 American Tradition 42C 2018 JUL Jeep Wrangler
2004 Newmar Dutch Star 4010 Spartan (Sold)
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09-08-2020, 10:28 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,655
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 426smartin
Tip ---- Buy 2 taps and grind one down about 1/4 " then you have a bottom tap that will give you more threads---- use the tapered one first then the modified one. For me no more popping or squeaks!
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I used 1/4-28" threaded zerk fittings, much easier to drill the hole, easier to tap, I used a plug tap in a Tee handle.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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09-08-2020, 10:51 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray,IN
I used 1/4-28" threaded zerk fittings, much easier to drill the hole, easier to tap, I used a plug tap in a Tee handle.
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Both great ideas. I used what I had in my toolbox.
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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09-09-2020, 08:44 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_M
Sure. I will later this evening.
Can you find the part number for that sway bar bracket for me? Thanks!
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I will try to find that part number.
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09-09-2020, 08:48 AM
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#27
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Moderator Emeritus
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 19,417
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray,IN
I used 1/4-28" threaded zerk fittings, much easier to drill the hole, easier to tap, I used a plug tap in a Tee handle.
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That is my plan also. Smaller drill and tap.
__________________
Steve
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095
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09-09-2020, 11:58 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake21
I will try to find that part number.
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I'll jump in. >>> https://www.rvchassisparts.com:8443/...is/runApp?id=5
Part #: 702894-01
__________________
1999 American Dream 40DVS
Spartan Chassis, Cummins ISC 330
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