Frustrating Issue

[gjw]

Originally Posted by cewgcw

Have a great trip Chuck. Hopefully with no issues.

Clayton,
Hope you and Gail are doing well and you are enjoying Maine - see you later this year at CT...

[Brian W]

Update:

Been at Entegra service center for a week and looks like they finally found the culprit.

There are 3 wood sections that the dash is attached to. 1 straight piece and 2 curved sections. It appears the factory was in a rush when my dash was installed and they didn't bother attaching the left curved section with more than 1 screw.

After Entegra/Spartan/Reyco Granning had went through things the first couple of days the popping noises were still there during 2 test drives. Once they found the dash issue, and secured it properly, 2 test drives have resulted in no popping.

I know there were some concerns with the Spartan guys here, but they were absolutely great in dealing with my coach. They found several issues I didn't even know about and corrected them, and I can definitely tell the difference when driving the coach.

The following people deserve at least a public thanks from me. Mike Lucas, Herb, Cliff, Lucas, Matt, RJ, and Steve.

[DebbieMH]

Hopefully you can start to enjoy your coach now!!! Glad they were able to finally figure it out.

[swberry]

Congrats on getting this one figured out. [emoji106]

[RMatusick]

" They found several issues I didn't even know about and corrected them, and I can definitely tell the difference when driving the coach."

Can you share in case we have these issues and don't know either???

[Brian W]

Originally Posted by RMatusick

" They found several issues I didn't even know about and corrected them, and I can definitely tell the difference when driving the coach."

Can you share in case we have these issues and don't know either???

Absolutely! My steer tires were replaced due to being Goodyear junk and the alignment shop didn't tighten the hub covers properly. They were found to be extremely loose.

Front right ride height was way below where it was supposed to be set. They adjusted to proper height.

Air governor was set at 105, supposed to be 120.

Found steering kingpin to be bone dry. Greased as required.

[Brian W]

Ignore my update. Sitting at a truck stop 2 hours South of Middlebury waiting on a call back from Entegra as the noise has returned.

[jeffnjen]

Originally Posted by Brian W

Ignore my update. Sitting at a truck stop 2 hours South of Middlebury waiting on a call back from Entegra as the noise has returned.

Oh bummer...I guess your heading back?
They need a 1 mile section of California highway in Middlebury, strictly for test purposes

[Brian W]

Originally Posted by jeffnjen

Oh bummer...I guess your heading back?
They need a 1 mile section of California highway in Middlebury, strictly for test purposes

Unfortunately had to come back to Entegra. Going to try to make a positive out of it though. With the coach spending so much time in shops we haven't had the chance to truly organize everything. Going to take the weekend and get everything cleaned up and organized.

[Brian W]

Originally Posted by RMatusick

" They found several issues I didn't even know about and corrected them, and I can definitely tell the difference when driving the coach."

Can you share in case we have these issues and don't know either???

Forgot one important thing. My steering wheel has always been about 15 degrees to the left and everyone I have talked to said it just needed to be moved a spline or two.

Well the Spartan techs found the tie rod adjustment sleeve clamp installed incorrectly. They installed it correctly and my steering wheel is now straight as an arrow.

[jestal]

Brian. Call Chris McCord at Spartan 517.543.6400 extension 3235. Ask him about the "shim kit" or composite washer for the front wheel bearings.

I have often complained about an occasional pop from the front end when turning sharply and going over a bump/ramp at the same time. I just took it as the nature of the beast but talking with Chris he has indicated on several occasions there is a bearing shim kit or composite washer to prevent "that" popping sound.

I do not know anything about it because it was never a guaranteed fix, it costs $800 with the complete spindle kit required to install it and I didn't think the noise was worth fixing personally for that much money when I was usually spending more than that at Spartan getting other things taken care of and no one was real forthcoming with what the kit included or did exactly so it sounded like a little black magic or just extra shop work.

Chris could enlighten you as to what he was describing, what it affects and if it would apply to your situation. Mention the anti-popping kit Al Cline has asked about before and see if it might affect your situation.

I, too, was hoping the ball joint recall might eliminate the popping noise in the front end but it seems to have had no effect. I was just glad to get it back with a "no recall problem found" and find it drives and steers the same way I have worked it to get it to over the past three years. In other words I was just happy nothing got screwed up and no problem surfaced doing the recall. I did not want to spend the extra $800 for the anti-popping kit Chris has mentioned in the past which could have been installed at the same time.

[Brian W]

Originally Posted by jestal

Brian. Call Chris McCord at Spartan 517.543.6400 extension 3235. Ask him about the "shim kit" or composite washer for the front wheel bearings.

Jestal,

Yeah, I read about the shim kit a couple of months ago and the current noise appears to be somewhere in the dash. They are talking about sending the coach back to production and pulling the dash. The hard popping noises appear to have been fixed.

The one in the steering wheel area of the dash isn't a loud popping and you can go hours without hearing it. When it does start, it won't stop even on the smoothest of roads. I almost get the feeling that someone left some construction debris in the dash.

Brian

[Brian W]

Latest update:

Am back home after a week and a half in beautiful Middlebury. The popping is unfortunately still happening. I left knowing there was still a occasional slight pop, but on the long drive back to Memphis it sort of reared it's ugly head again. The noise is most noticeable in low speed turns when there is a transition from one level road to another, and when the front end lifts. The lift I am talking about is the kind of feeling you get when you know it's going to porpoise a time or two. There is also the occasional pop for no reason regardless of road condition.

The popping is not as loud, so that is a positive. The people at Entegra tried their best, and when I left we really thought we had gotten it to a mild occasional annoyance. Everyone at Entegra was great, and unlike another manufacturer I had previously, I genuinely feel they will do what it takes to resolve the problem.

Have 2 good trips coming up, so maybe it will magically fix itself somehow. I am also going to put the PEX tubing on the generator slide rails and see if that might help. If neither of those work, will have to see what Entegra wants to do going forward.


Brian

[brobox]

Brian, out of curiosity, have the shocks been changed?.