jz1028
North Florida
New Member
Joined: 02/17/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
Problem solved with the misaligned shackle. As suggested, I pressed out the offending bolt and reseated it with the shackle plate in place to hold it straight as it was pressed back in because it was trying to go in canted again. I am guessing like others that Dexter does not mention orientation of the holes in the shackle assys. I emailed them and will post if they reply.
|
JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
LAdams wrote:
Or maybe Dexter is outsourcing these items to China as well as their bearings ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
Les
Les, China, no. India. Mine is stamped made in India
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!)
|
JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
jz1028 wrote:John,
The photo with your hand holding the shackle assy looks like the ones I got. It looks to me that the holes are facing downward at 6 o'clock. Am I missing something in the photo?
My bolts are canted inward toward each other. If they were canted outward, I would just put them in a vise or use a large c-clamp to align them to get into the shackle plate. It makes me mad that two are perfect and two are messed up. There should be some check for this at the factory. I guess there is no such thing as QA there.
Hi JZ
Yes my shackle grease look like 6:00 but when installed they turn 45 degree making them sort of 8:00...
I see you over came the problem
Good.
Glad you got it worked out.
John
|
LAdams
Northern Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
JBarca wrote:Les, China, no. India
GOOD GRIEF!!! ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/frown.gif "frown")
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
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
|
shenandoah75
Deland, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Les, Awesome wright up - did mine yday... though i am slow as molasses and i figured i'd be lucky to get one side done each day, but i did em both in just over 6 hours... My 7 and 4 year old boys helped me a little early on but left me later in the day and i was on my own. I really recommend a second pare of hands - esp when using the HF tool.
The harbor freight tool was awesome. Banging in the bolts with a "pipe" didn't work. The holes were simply to tight. I had to press them in first (with the tool in the middle of the metal), back them out with another c clamp so i could remove the BF tool, then press em back in for final...
I too had trouble getting grease in some it was easier when vehicle was raised). Can't wait to tow with it... I had two shackles where the pre inserted bolts were in the right plane. Two weren't and again the HF tool was invaluable.
BTW as you can see in my sig, mine is a light model and you can see how badly the bushing were even on a lighter trailer. I'd estimate we have ~20000 miles on it. So i think everyone should either do the E-Z or at least the original HD kit. But with the Dexter sale price, this was a good bet...
![[image]](http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae93/shenandoah75/axle2.jpg)
![[image]](http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae93/shenandoah75/axle1.jpg)
-brad
* This post was
edited 08/16/09 05:12am by shenandoah75 *
05' Suburban K2500 8.1L w/ 4.10s
2012 Jayco 32TSBH
|
|
|
JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Brad
Good Job!!!
You have continued to validate the service life of the nylon bushing sets. Not much. They can actually wear thru in less then the 20K.
It is not that much of a stretch to believe many TT’s now in use are riding around on steel on steel. Unless someone points this out to you, you never give it a thought. We “think” TT’s are made like automotive so we do not give it a thought. When was the last time on an auto leaf spring suspension did one change out spring pin bushings???
Hopefully some day these suspension upgrades will become standard in new TT’s or at least offered as an option. The cost of bronze greasable bushings and heavy duty shackles from day 1 is close to peanuts.
John
|
Learjet
Louisiana
Senior Member
Joined: 02/21/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
JBarca wrote:Brad
Good Job!!!
You have continued to validate the service life of the nylon bushing sets. Not much. They can actually wear thru in less then the 20K.
It is not that much of a stretch to believe many TT’s now in use are riding around on steel on steel. Unless someone points this out to you, you never give it a thought. We “think” TT’s are made like automotive so we do not give it a thought. When was the last time on an auto leaf spring suspension did one change out spring pin bushings???
Hopefully some day these suspension upgrades will become standard in new TT’s or at least offered as an option. The cost of bronze greasable bushings and heavy duty shackles from day 1 is close to peanuts.
John
In my case, heavy squeaking driving and bouncing thru the park was a good clue that something wasn't right. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/awink.gif "awink")
2017 Ram Big Horn, DRW Long Box, 4x4, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73
2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Onan 5500, Disc Brakes, 17.5" tires
B&W Ram Companion
|
LAdams
Northern Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Awesome job Brad - John and I continue to wonder why trailers like all of ours come with "plastic" bushings ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/doh.gif "doh") Good Grief!!
Les
|
Learjet
Louisiana
Senior Member
Joined: 02/21/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
LAdams wrote:Awesome job Brad - John and I continue to wonder why trailers like all of ours come with "plastic" bushings Good Grief!!
Les
I went by my dealers lot the other day and did see some EZ-Flex's installed on some new trailers. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
|
JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Learjet wrote:LAdams wrote:Awesome job Brad - John and I continue to wonder why trailers like all of ours come with "plastic" bushings Good Grief!!
Les
I went by my dealers lot the other day and did see some EZ-Flex's installed on some new trailers.
Learjet
Did you notice any grease fittings on the spring pins and heavy duty shackles? I have seen the Trail Aire rubber equalizer installed new on TT's but the same old plastic bushings and thin shackles.
I guess a glimmer of hope is that at least the rubber equalizer is starting to show up.
John
|
|
|
