JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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camperforlife wrote: My trailer originally had the shackle to the front springs pointed up and the shackle to the back spring went down. That is the way the EZ-Flex went on as well but it put the EZ-Flex unit at an odd looking angle. When I started to put weight on the wheels the first side popped both shackles up as all the pictures show.
The other side stayed as it had always been so I jacked it back up and put bottle jacks under both axles and played with the load on each axle and low and behold the back spring shackle settled in the up position. I am wondering if the back spring shackles were never installed properly to start with causing the springs to be in a bind.
What you are describing is what we nick name, "shackle flop".
Some where in your campers life, maybe at the factory, when they had the axle up off the ground that one shackle flopped down and they never flipped it back up before putting it back down on the ground. The axle goes lower then normal, the equalizer pivots extreme and the shackle goes over center. It can happen to both sides or just one.
Like you said, just slide a bottle jack under the axle seat to hold the axle from flopping once the camper is up on jack stands. If it flopped, no big deal if the camper is up off the ground, just manipiulate the axle and equalizer so the shackle flops back up.
This is how I prevent it. Jack up, put on stands then slip the bottle jacks in place. You are not lifting with the bottle jack only support.
![[image]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b378/JBarca/T310SR%20Camper%20Upgrades/Axle%20Rebuild/4jacking.jpg)
![[image]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b378/JBarca/T310SR%20Camper%20Upgrades/Axle%20Rebuild/5Supportbottlejack.jpg)
![[image]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b378/JBarca/T310SR%20Camper%20Upgrades/Axle%20Rebuild/6supoprtunderaxleseat.jpg)
You did good getting this done. And yes the hard bonunce reduction is noticable. Schocks are the next step. They take the constant sine wave whip out going over a bump and the long camper flexing everything. Shocks are even more noticable then the EZ flex when I added them.
John
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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Slowmover
Fort Worth, TX
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Joined: 11/14/2003
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And shocks keep the tires from being the sole "absorbent" of road shock. A great alignment, wheel balance and shock absorbers are all good for cooler-running, potentially longer lasting tires.
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE RAM 2WD 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 11-cpm solo, 17-cpm towing fuel cost
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amdriven2liv
Oregon
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Has anyone found a kit for the shocks? I remember there was a kit, but it went away, think it was with Monroe.
2004 F350 6.0L 4x4 CC LB King Ranch, Scangauge II
2010 Mountaineer 324RLQ,
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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amdriven2liv wrote:Has anyone found a kit for the shocks? I remember there was a kit, but it went away, think it was with Monroe.
Yes, Monroe "use" to have a kit. They have all but stopped making them. Unless you can find some left overs.
See here I had to make my own. Adding TT Shock Absorbers (Long/lots of pics) I used the Monroe Gas Magnums.
Dexter does sell a kit that uses the axle u bolt plate and a weld on top mount. See the Dexter web site you can buy it direct or shop around. The shocks are not as good as the Magnums but it is better then nothing.
Hope this helps
John
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amdriven2liv
Oregon
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Thanks John. I do remember your plates you made. I will look into the Dexter.
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elkhorn98
California
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Joined: 07/31/2001
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Finally installed the ez flex and wet bolt hd kit. Thanks to all those who posted tips before. Did it by myself so first side was about 3 hours second side about 2 hours. I have the harbor freight tool but only used it to seat the bolts. Needle nose pliers took care of the old bushings in short order. I also tapped in the new bushings with a 9/16" bolt...way faster than the hf tool. My 5th is a 2007 and has less than 10,000 miles...plastic bushings were still ok but the shackles were getting oblong and tweaked. My trailer height dropped by 3/16" so no issues replacing my alko gear. Ran out of time so I'll have to test drive tomorrow.
Elkhorn98
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison w/45 gal Transfer Flow Tank
RBW X16 Slider, Yamaha EF 2400iS
2007 Springdale 245 5th Wheel - E-Z Flex HD Suspension & Mobile Outfitters Shock Kit Upgrades
with Firestone Transforce Ht Lt 2357515 tires
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Dave-Sparky
Sequim, Washington
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Joined: 11/02/2009
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JBarca wrote:amdriven2liv wrote:Has anyone found a kit for the shocks? I remember there was a kit, but it went away, think it was with Monroe.
Yes, Monroe "use" to have a kit. They have all but stopped making them. Unless you can find some left overs.
See here I had to make my own. Adding TT Shock Absorbers (Long/lots of pics) I used the Monroe Gas Magnums.
Dexter does sell a kit that uses the axle u bolt plate and a weld on top mount. See the Dexter web site you can buy it direct or shop around. The shocks are not as good as the Magnums but it is better then nothing.
Hope this helps
John
I recently purchased the Monroe Shock kit for my trailer. I got them online from Shock Warehouse along with the Monroe magnum shocks. Price for all the parts was just over $200 for my tandem axle rig.
I will be starting the install of my EZ-flex and shocks this week.
Dave and Colleen
Colleen's Beach House
1991 Dutchman TT 24FK
2007 Chev Avalanche AWD
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amdriven2liv
Oregon
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Thanks for that link. I might need to revisit this issue in the near future.
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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Dave-Sparky wrote:JBarca wrote:amdriven2liv wrote:Has anyone found a kit for the shocks? I remember there was a kit, but it went away, think it was with Monroe.
Yes, Monroe "use" to have a kit. They have all but stopped making them. Unless you can find some left overs.
See here I had to make my own. Adding TT Shock Absorbers (Long/lots of pics) I used the Monroe Gas Magnums.
Dexter does sell a kit that uses the axle u bolt plate and a weld on top mount. See the Dexter web site you can buy it direct or shop around. The shocks are not as good as the Magnums but it is better then nothing.
Hope this helps
John
I recently purchased the Monroe Shock kit for my trailer. I got them online from Shock Warehouse along with the Monroe magnum shocks. Price for all the parts was just over $200 for my tandem axle rig.
I will be starting the install of my EZ-flex and shocks this week.
Thanks for posting. Good to hear. Maybe they had enough complaints about lost sales trying to find them they started making them again.
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elkhorn98
California
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Well I finally went for a test drive and it feels a little smoother. Bushings weren't too bad but the shackles were wearing oblong holes and they were tweaked a little sideways. The new dexter shackles are a lot stronger.
Here is a photo of the new equalizer and I'm holding the old one with the shackles.
![[image]](http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/531390_3569039038956_1662379820_2782705_337569594_n.jpg)
* This post was
edited 05/06/12 10:58pm by elkhorn98 *
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