Luvnevryminutofit
Springfield, IL
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For those who have installed the Dexter EZ-Flex kit - where eight of the wet bolts already pressed into four of the shackles right out of the box? If so, were the grease holes aligned horizontally? It appears somebody just threw mine together regardless of what the instructions said. I'm thinking I'll press all the bolts out and reinstall them prior to installing this kit this weekend.
Also, one of the grease zerks on one of the equalizers was snapped off in shipping. I was able to remove the broken part with an EZ-out. But now the new zerk is pointed in the wrong direction. I'm afraid of snapping it off if I try to rotate it any more.
Let's hope for some decent weather finally so I can get my 5er leveled up and ready to hit the road!
Mark
Mark & Kim
Kaylee, Jake & Justin - da squids
2000 Jayco Eagle 325 BHS
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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IIRC, the only instruction regarding grease hole orientation were the bolts on the spring hangers...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
Sold Trailer - not RV'ing at this point in time
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
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Learjet
Louisiana
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Luvnevryminutofit wrote:For those who have installed the Dexter EZ-Flex kit - where eight of the wet bolts already pressed into four of the shackles right out of the box? If so, were the grease holes aligned horizontally? It appears somebody just threw mine together regardless of what the instructions said. I'm thinking I'll press all the bolts out and reinstall them prior to installing this kit this weekend.
Also, one of the grease zerks on one of the equalizers was snapped off in shipping. I was able to remove the broken part with an EZ-out. But now the new zerk is pointed in the wrong direction. I'm afraid of snapping it off if I try to rotate it any more.
Let's hope for some decent weather finally so I can get my 5er leveled up and ready to hit the road!
Mark
My factory pressed shackle bolts had the holes pretty much all the same and horizontal.
2017 Ram Big Horn, DRW Long Box, 4x4, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73
2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Onan 5500, Disc Brakes, 17.5" tires
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Luvnevryminutofit
Springfield, IL
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I finished the EZ Flex install over the weekend. It ended up taking two days but I got my new Maxxis tires mounted along the way. The ball joint press made all the difference in the world. I'm not real sure how you could do the job without it or something similar. If anyone in the Spfld, IL area is looking to borrow one, I can hook you up. I ended up pressing several of the shackle bolts out and reorienting the grease holes horizontally. I also had one bolt that had two holes drilled in it at 90 deg angle...guess a manufacturing mistake. I hope it doeasn't come back to haunt me later. I took the 5er for a spin around town and would have to say it rides pretty well now. I also added a 5th Airborne pin box so that may be big part of the difference as well.
Next issue I have to contend with is an axle flip. I tried mounting the leaf springs in the lowest mounts available but it didn't gain me near enough height at the rear. I ordered the flip kit from Dexter today along with a set of 4 upper shock mounts. Apparently I will have to weld on the new shock mounts and reuse my existing base plate (lower shock mount) on top of the springs. Dexter provided a drawing but it doesn't give much explanation.
Mark
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TankerDude
West of Middle Earth
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On edit - of course AFTER I wrote and posted this, I actually saw the sticky for the very same procedure. I included "a little long" in the subject, so NOW if anyone doesn't want to read all the words, you won't have to. I know reading is a pain, sometimes.
A few days ago, I finally had the time to install a set of shocks and the Equa-Flex from Trailair Service Center (trailair.com) to try and get a better towing experience from the TT in my sig.
I was skeptical at first, for a couple of reasons.
First, I didn't want to attempt this project by myself, mostly because two sets of eyes are usually better than one.
Second, I wasn't so sure upgrading the suspension was going to fix the way the TT would act while on the road.
A little background: We've put several thousand miles on this TT, and from the beginning it seemed to have a real problem with sway. Forget passing trucks, forget wind, and all the other usual causes. I was convinced the engineer that designed this frame/suspension must've been asleep the day they talked about weight & balance in Engineering 101.
It seemed the TT would have excessive reaction to any and all steering inputs. Even the slight left/right inputs we all do to keep our vehicle centered in the lane.
Wag, wag, wag.... sway, sway, sway..... what a gigantic pain.
Anyway, I thought I was going to use a "retrofit kit" that came with a new spring retention plate that had a lower shock mount built in. It also had instructions that indicated that you must drill a 1/2" hole in the frame (this one is an I-beam type), insert a long bolt, and using some supplied spacers, this would be the top shock mount.
You know how if something is meant to be, it'll kinda just happen in spite of your best efforts?
Well, that's how this "shock kit" was going, only in reverse.
Turns out neither I nor the manager of the parts dept. at my RV dealer were smart enough to actually check the retrofit kits I bought to ensure they would fit the 3" axles on my TT. His excuse was that he was under the weather. My excuse? Off in Gumbyland, I guess.
So I ask Jeff, the manager, if there was something he would recommend to cure the towing problems. I trust what this guy says, he's proven his worth several times in the past. He suggests these kits, and a quad-pak of Monroe gas shocks that they "got a good deal on".
Ok, I'll bite. How much? says I.
"Well", he says, "the retrofit kits are 50% off, and since we got a great deal on these shocks, I'll say.... $65 bucks" says he.
What? $65 bucks.... that's it???? says I.
"Yep, that's it." says he.
SOLD, says I.
Got all this stuff home only to discover the retrofit kit wouldn't fit. Great. I'm only slightly surprised at this.
After several phone calls to Jeff, and several more on his part to the manufacturer of the kit, and after several days of waiting to hear from them, turns out they don't have any for 3" axles, and don't know when any more will be available. Great again. Not surprised one bit at this.
A few more days of talking to Jeff, and a little more research on my part, I come up with a brilliant idea.
I discovered that the Designer Series of Jayco's come with shocks installed from the factory.
So, I call Jeff and ask "Why can't we get the parts from the factory and install THAT?"
The next day he checked around and turns out they have the parts in their shop area already.
So, I purchased the 4 spring retention plates that would accommodate the type of shocks that have a stud on each end, 4 upper shock mounts, and 4 Dexter shocks. The upper shock mounts would have to be welded on.
No problem there, that's exactly why I picked up a MIG welder a few years ago.
Jeff also ordered the Equa-Flex from Trailair. He also ordered the wet bolt kit, that also contained new bushings and grease fittings for the bolts. It arrived within 3 days.
Well, I got my brudder-in-law to assist.
We got both tires off one side first, and supported the trailer by the frame with 2x4 cribbing.
The first side wound up taking 4.5 hours from start to finish to install the new shocks, shock mounts, Equa-Flex, and all new bushings.
BTW, did you know that the factory uses PLASTIC bushings on those springs? Now that was a surprise.
We took the end of each spring that bolts directly to the frame off first.
Little did we know at the time that this was a mistake.
Pulled that plastic garbage out, lubed up a new bronze bushing and drove it into the spring eye. Dry fit the wet bolt into each new bushing, and being satisfied that all was good, we proceeded to attempt to reinstall the spring into the hanger.
We must've looked like a couple of monkeys wrestlin' a football trying to get those springs to cooperate.
With a little extra persuasion from pry bars and a cum-along, we were finally able to get both ends back into their hangers.
Now for the middle... the existing knuckle and shackles.
While the axles were being supported from below, we carefully removed the shackles, factory knuckle, dry as heck bolts, and those crummy plastic bushings.
We lubed and installed the new bushings, new shackles (1.5 inches longer than factory) and wet bolts.
Installed the Equa-Flex to the hanger on the frame, THEN tried to get both sets of shackles to mate up with the Equa-Flex.
More monkeys wrestlin' a football at this point.
Finally got all of it put back together and greased.
Enough for one day.
Next day, tackled the other side. This side only took 1.5 hours to complete. No kidding.
Changed the procedure quite a bit.
Took EVERYTHING loose from the frame, knuckle, shackles and supported it from below with 2x4 cribbing.
Removed the knuckle, all crappy plastic bushings, and shackles.
Lubed and installed all bushings.
Installed the Equa-Flex and shackles.
Reinstalled the outside ends of the springs first, then used a 2 ton floor jack to push the Equa-Flex up into it's hanger.
It's amazing how something so easy can be so complicated when being attemped by a couple of monkeys who are more interested in wrestlin' footballs.
Took the TT out today for a test tow.
It's amazing how the proper suspension can improve the handling of the TT.
I hope the description of this project is clear enough to help someone else that may want to take it on.
Didn't get any pictures of the process, but if anyone wants to see what it looks like, I'll snap a couple and post them.
BTW, because of the longer shackles, the TT sits about 1.5 inches lower than it used to, which is fine by me. I think that also helped improve the towing of this TT.
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BruceH
Phoenix, Az
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Joined: 03/03/2004
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Does anyone know what the service life is for the E-Z Flex equalizer?
I see the potential for a limited life for the rubber core. I live in AZ where the asphalt gets over 120 degrees. That kind of heat can be very hard on a product with rubber.
Second, I would think the core takes a heavy beating over time as it absorbs the shocks from traveling down rough roads. Does that cause the rubber core to deteriorate over time?
If the service life is limited, that could be an issue. The effort needed to replace the equalizer is much more than changing a shock absorber. Since it is beyond simple DIY maintance for many, that could get expensive.
It looks like a good product but I do not want to get back into the same maintenance situation that I had with the nylon spring bushings.
Thanks for any comments.
Nash 24A Travel Trailer by Northwood Manufacturing (6,800 LB)
2,000 Watt Prosine Inverter, 540 Watts Solar, 3024i Controller & IPN
Chevy Duramax (LLY) Extended Cab Pickup
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TURK2500
SE Michigan
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According to Dexter the rubber equalizer should last the normal life of the trailer.
Turk2500
2016 Silverado 2500HD, 6.0L
2018 Jayco 24RBS
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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I would go to the Dexter web site and send them an e-mail with your specific question... They respond in a day or so and usually very helpful...
Les
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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Hi All
I do have a few comments on my recently installed EZ Flex. Now I have also installed new axles, new tires, meticulously aligned the axles, and have optimized my WD, and with this I have noticed a good improvement in towing. I am in the 1,000 mile range since this was done and I have noticed the smoothest towing I have ever had on this rig.
Due to the timing and evolution of the upgrades I cannot exactly pin point what upgrade did the most or it is the combo of all 3, but it is smooth to where I can notice the difference.
And I also notice I has a new noise when making slow turns in the CG, both forward and backing into a site. I hear what I “think” is the rubber “working”. It is not a bushing squeek as I just greased them, (and I know that sounds from the old nylon worn ones…) it may be a little spring flexing but it sounds like a squirming rubber sounds. The spring must be doing some more working as the rubber is going in and out. As on the rigid equalizer, the springs do not change length as much. Now granted there is not a lot of spring length change but I can tell the is some steel noise along with rubber squirm.
Any one else experience this?
It may also be axle loads that make more or less noise. The EZ flex I have is rated fro 2 tandem 6,000# axles. While I do have 6,000# axle ratings from my last upgrade, the actual loaded weight is far less. And so is the intended loading of only 10,000# carried by both axles. My scaled axle weight with WD engaged and full water is 7,715#.
Those using the EZ flex on say a smaller 7,000# GVWR TT with only a 5,500# area axle weight may or may not hear this as much.
Now to the rubber, to change the rubber is not that bad, but may be beyond the non DIY’er. Just jacking up the side of the camper, put on jack stands, putting a bottle jack under each U bolt plate of each axle you can open the EZ flex pretty far and may be able to pry it out with out too much issue. I would suspect you do not even have to pull a pivot pin. If you did, just 1 shackle will do it.
I would also hope the rubber life is comparable to the Rubber torsion axles that even have more heavy squeezing going on and in that case you have to replace the entire axle as the cords as not serviceable in many cases if not all. However as with anything mechanical, checking the rubber is a prudent thing do to right along with checking the brakes and tires and bearings, grease etc.
So far I am a Happy Camper with the EZ flex. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
Hope this helps
John
PS I agree with Les, Dexter customer tech service is very good.
John & Cindy
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver
2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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TankerDude wrote:
Didn't get any pictures of the process, but if anyone wants to see what it looks like, I'll snap a couple and post them.
BTW, because of the longer shackles, the TT sits about 1.5 inches lower than it used to, which is fine by me. I think that also helped improve the towing of this TT.
Hi Tanker
Reading your write up, ah yup..... and those plastic bushings..... I know, you got to be kidding....
Your shock kit. Was this a Monroe shock kit? I have bought 4 of there gas Magnum shocks but gave up on them for the retro fit kits. Made my own lower mounts and have not made it to the uppers yet.
Your ride height being lower by 1.5". I have also bumped into this but not that much. But in my case My Sunline is a low rider to begin with. I did have to work on the hanger mounts to get back some of my height to original or else I would hit the wheel well if one tire lifted the TT up off the ground and the other was spinning in air. In my case it was shackle length and some of new axle seats to create this.
Point in all that, what is your running tire clearance between top of tire and the touch point above what ever it is? Fender well etc.
If you are much less then 2" you may hit pending certain pot holes etc. But again do you have triple axles? They may carry over the pot hole better.
PS I must admit I did get a chuckle from reading your reply as I have too experienced some of that.
John
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