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Topic: Dexter HD Suspension & EZ-Flex Install (long w/ pictures)

Posted By: Tvar on 01/09/10 10:40am

What I did on my install I took a 5/8 wheel cylinder hone and honed the spring eyes out to where they were clean enough to eat off of then greased the bushings then used an old bolt and taped them in with a hammer they went in with ease .
Mike


Posted By: LAdams on 01/15/10 01:48pm

I had thought about the hone but I didn't have one and didn't want to buy one...

Has anyone heard about the avialiability of the shock mounts yet???

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

HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS


Posted By: amdriven2liv on 01/15/10 03:21pm

My bushings went in ok. Although a hone probably would have made sure the surface didn't have any defects in them. I needed the ball joint tool to seat the new bolts. I did use a "C" clamp, but the "umph" it needed to seat the bolts just twisted the clamp.

Now just waiting to hear about shock mounts. Am thinking of just mounting one set on one axel. I have issues with the holding tanks.


2004 F350 6.0L 4x4 CC LB King Ranch, Scangauge II
2010 Mountaineer 324RLQ,


Posted By: LEWISCLAN on 01/18/10 09:35am

This thread was very helpfull as I just installed the ez flex system on the rig , we also installed the Greenball wheels for the 6 lug 3760lb rated wheels and a set of 245 Ribs, I also made up a set of the Moride cross members my 2 sons and I had everything fabed & installed with in 5 hours thanks to Adams thank you for the detail & photos


Posted By: my3wags on 03/16/10 12:26pm

Thanks for pic's Les. just did the install last weekend and it went perfect. Was able to check the brakes and repack wheel bearings also....Man I feel better about the setup now.

Thanks again
Erik


Big E and family of three
2002 F250 SUPERDUTY CREW CAB 4X4 7.3 PSD
Most of the goodies !!

2004 KEYSTONE SPRINTER 297 FWBHS
All of the goodies
Hunting in the Imperial Valley !!!



Posted By: birdman7389 on 04/04/10 03:58am

More thanks for this thread! I just finished our hauler, everything was smooth. I cant believe the junk that was installed from the factory, this is a definite upgrade.


Posted By: TECMike on 04/06/10 03:10pm

Getting ready to put Trailair's wet bolt kit in my Equaflex system and I need to know from you guys who have done it, what did you do to prevent misalignment of the axles during the installation process?

Would doing one side at a time prevent misalignment problems? Or is there a better way to prevent misalignment during the reassembly process? Thanks so much!

Mike


Posted By: amdriven2liv on 04/06/10 04:18pm

If the wet bolts are replacing the bolts through the hangers and equa flex, I would do the hangers first, that will give you movement to adjust at the equa-flex system.


Posted By: JBarca on 04/06/10 08:33pm

TECMike wrote:

Getting ready to put Trailair's wet bolt kit in my Equaflex system and I need to know from you guys who have done it, what did you do to prevent misalignment of the axles during the installation process?

Would doing one side at a time prevent misalignment problems? Or is there a better way to prevent misalignment during the reassembly process? Thanks so much!

Mike


Hi Mike

You used the words “misalignment of the axles”. Do not know what context you are using that in. By doing a wet bolt upgrade you are not changing any axle alignment changes. Do not undo the U bolts holding the axle tube to the springs as that can shift the actual alignment of the axles to each other and to the tow ball.

See this pic. The front axle is held in alignment by the front spring hanger and the rear axle is held in alignment by the rear spring hanger. The EZ flex, the Equaflex or the standard rigid equalizer does not change the axle alignment relationship to the tow ball or axel to axle. They can however change TT ride height by affecting the toggle links length and the height of that end of the spring.

[image]

You will notice in that pic I have a jack stand in front and in the rear to take the weight of the camper. There are 2 bottle jacks under the axle tube at the U bolt area to hold the weight of only the axle tube, not the camper. When you pull the spring bolts it will prevent it from dropping and by supporting the axle tubes it will help prevent shackle flop down until you get the camper and wheel back on the ground again.

I have done 2 campers with this upgrade. The one you see I had the entire camper off the ground on 4 jack stands. The other camper, I only jacked up one side and the wheels where still on the other side on the ground. Both methods I still used the bottle jacks to hold the axle tube. It is even more important if the other side in still on tires on the ground as there is more weight on the axle tube then the entire camper off the ground.

And both times, I just do the complete left side of the camper, then go and do the right or other side. I did not flip flop and do just front axle and the rear axle. Technically you can but while doing a side, I did front and rear of that side and put the wheels back on and went to the other side.

Hope this helps and good luck

John


PS If you want to not have 1 axle get away from you, or think it will, do the spring hanger wet bolt upgrade both front and rear one at a time on that side and then go do the equalizer. The spring hanger bolt will hold the axle from shifting fore and aft. But even if it shifts, just put it back in the spring hanger and you are back to where you started.

However it is easier to change the wet bolt on the spring hanger by unhooking the equalizer toggle links. Then just let the bottle jack straight down and the spring bushing can get knocked out and lift the axle straight back up. If you leave the shackles on, the axle must pivot towards the equalizer to ever clear the spring from the spring hanger. And it must lift and swing foward to ever get the spring back in the spring hanger. I have had them all unhooked on one side and not be a problem just have the jack under the axle tube.


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!)



Posted By: TECMike on 04/08/10 06:38am

Thank folks.... exactly what I need. WONDERFUL tread, posts, and help. I deeply appreciate it!

Mike


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