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Old 05-26-2017, 01:50 AM   #1
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Screeching sound when turning

I have an equalizer hitch and whenever I reverse or make sharp turns the hitch screeches!!!! I bought those bracket jackets and It still screeches. Is this normal??? Any advice on how to make it stop??
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Old 05-26-2017, 05:20 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by Usmarinecorps05 View Post
I have an equalizer hitch and whenever I reverse or make sharp turns the hitch screeches!!!! I bought those bracket jackets and It still screeches. Is this normal??? Any advice on how to make it stop??
When we had a bumper pull, I remember those screeches and trying everything to get rid of it. With an equalizer hitch, I think it's just part of the journey. But, it's been 12 years since I pulled a bumper pull. Perhaps they've come up with a solution by now.
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Old 05-26-2017, 05:31 AM   #3
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Equalizer suggests making sure the tension arms are parallel with the trailer frame when deployed. If not they suggest you may need to lower the tension arm brackets one hole and add one washer to the adjustment. If the arms are not parallel the sliding surface of the arm is not spread equally across the bracket, making loud sounds. When properly adjusted it will still make some sound, just not as much. Be sure to tighten the bolts to the proper tensions if you make adjustments.
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Old 05-26-2017, 05:43 AM   #4
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Try using some lube that is made for the hitch

High Performance Lubricant
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Old 05-26-2017, 05:53 AM   #5
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If it's a "Equal-I-zer brand, what you hear is probably friction. That is part of the 4 point sway control. Lube will help quiet that noise...sometimes. Noise a WDH...well...it's kind of the nature of the beast.
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Old 05-26-2017, 05:57 AM   #6
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Screeching sound when turning

When I had the bumbler pull, I had the same noise you described. The sway bracket jackets did nothing to quiet the noise. Someone on here suggested greasing the ball. Once I did, the noise was gone. (Until pulling on a rainy day, which makes re-greasing necessary.)
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Old 05-26-2017, 06:05 AM   #7
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Lol ! Yep ! That will do it to.
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Old 05-26-2017, 06:21 AM   #8
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It's the nature of the system to have some noise. Doesn't bother me I just got use to it. Later RJD
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Old 05-26-2017, 07:23 AM   #9
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I've experimented with different lubes on mine. This time I used a dry graphite on all surfaces. Ball and tension arm pivots. The hitch did well until we got to the campground. Then it went into howl mode. I'm going back to Equalizer's recommended grease for the arm pivots.
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Old 05-26-2017, 08:13 AM   #10
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I have an equalizer hitch and whenever I reverse or make sharp turns the hitch screeches!!!! I bought those bracket jackets and It still screeches. Is this normal??? Any advice on how to make it stop??
we have experienced the same noise and discovered, in our case, it comes from the anti-sway bar, ..... loosen it to see if it stops, if that proves to be where its coming from, then, no problem at all, ... just a little embarrassing when rolling thru a parking lot, because it does get attention, ......
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Old 05-26-2017, 09:46 AM   #11
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I have an equalizer hitch and whenever I reverse or make sharp turns the hitch screeches!!!! I bought those bracket jackets and It still screeches. Is this normal??? Any advice on how to make it stop??
Do you have the old-style L-pins, which have a standard cotter pin to hold them in place? If so, try getting the new-style L-pins, that have the attached, fold-down wire to keep them in place.

The old-style pins leave the top of the upside-down "L" resting on the spring bar. During a turn, when one of the bars pivots out against the L-pin, it can try to ride up the bend, and the 2 pieces can bind. This is why it's sometimes hard to remove 1 of the pins, if you are not in a straight line.

Conversely, the new-style L-pin is designed such that once engaged, the top of that upside-down "L" remains about 1/2" above the spring bar.

My L-pins were starting to seriously wear into my spring bars, which is what led me to believe that was causing most of the noise, even though I had the bracket-jackets. Once I started using these new-style L-pins, that screeching, popping, grinding went away.

You may also want to be sure you are properly lubing the bar-socket area under the head. I got lazy after a few years on that, and found that I had significant wear on the head as well. The guys at Equalizer said the amount of wear I had was not to the point of causing a problem, but that I should do better in my regular maintenance.
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Old 05-26-2017, 09:52 AM   #12
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Do you have the old-style L-pins, which have a standard cotter pin to hold them in place? If so, try getting the new-style L-pins, that have the attached, fold-down wire to keep them in place.

The old-style pins leave the top of the upside-down "L" resting on the spring bar. During a turn, when one of the bars pivots out against the L-pin, it can try to ride up the bend, and the 2 pieces can bind. This is why it's sometimes hard to remove 1 of the pins, if you are not in a straight line.

Conversely, the new-style L-pin is designed such that once engaged, the top of that upside-down "L" remains about 1/2" above the spring bar.

My L-pins were starting to seriously wear into my spring bars, which is what led me to believe that was causing most of the noise, even though I had the bracket-jackets. Once I started using these new-style L-pins, that screeching, popping, grinding went away.

You may also want to be sure you are properly lubing the bar-socket area under the head. I got lazy after a few years on that, and found that I had significant wear on the head as well. The guys at Equalizer said the amount of wear I had was not to the point of causing a problem, but that I should do better in my regular maintenance.
I have the newer pins no different. Still nose plus my bars are 1400# little bigger takes up the slack and almost hits the L-pins. One good thing about the noise it does gets folks attention so they don't get in your way Later RJD
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Old 05-26-2017, 10:01 AM   #13
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Get a pair of these pads (called "Bracket Jackets) from Amazon and put them on your Equalizer hitch. Almost all of the noise you are talking about will disappear. We used these on our hitch on two different trailers for about 4 years, and they lasted the entire time, without having to be replaced.

https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-9...qualizer+hitch
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Old 05-26-2017, 10:03 AM   #14
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I have the newer pins no different. Still nose plus my bars are 1400# little bigger takes up the slack and almost hits the L-pins. One good thing about the noise it does gets folks attention so they don't get in your way Later RJD
The newer style pins are much easier to use with an Equalizer hitch, but do nothing to minimize the noise while turning.
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Old 05-26-2017, 12:57 PM   #15
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My 4 way Equal-i-zer noise came from the anti sway brackets rubbing against the hitch. When new it made some eerie groaning and snapping sounds, which as said above is normal. I then decided to lube the hitch ball and the area which rubs between the anti-sway brackets and the hitch, and the sounds went away. I also installed the bar pads, which did not seem to make any difference in noise. I don't think the type of L pin makes any difference.

Some say that lubing the anti sway brackets to decrease noise also decreases their effectiveness, but I have not found this to be the case, since I now get no noise and no sway - towing with my F-250 and making sure that I have enough weight on the front of the trailer.
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Old 05-26-2017, 01:17 PM   #16
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we have experienced the same noise and discovered, in our case, it comes from the anti-sway bar, ..... loosen it to see if it stops, if that proves to be where its coming from, then, no problem at all, ... just a little embarrassing when rolling thru a parking lot, because it does get attention, ......
The OP has a 4pt Equal-i-zer, not an old technology chains and friction bar WDH.

There isn't a anti sway bar you loosen.
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Old 05-26-2017, 01:20 PM   #17
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The newer style pins are much easier to use with an Equalizer hitch, but do nothing to minimize the noise while turning.
Well, maybe in your experience they do nothing to help with noise. But in my experience, I added the sway bracket jackets, and some noise went away, but the noise from the contact between the bars and L-pins still remained. After going to the new-style L-pins, that noise went away, too.
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Old 05-26-2017, 01:38 PM   #18
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If it is a high pitch squeal. There could be sand or tiny gravel on the hitch head between head and where bars connect into. Clean that area and then re-lubricate.
I had that happen on one camping trip. Not sure where I picked up the tiny gravel particles. I was lucky it didn't gouge the metal.
It wasn't the L Brackets causing it.
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Old 05-26-2017, 03:02 PM   #19
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Same horrible noise from my 5th wheel hitch

I experience the same noise which sounds like demons from hell trying to escape my 5th wheel hitch. I wonder what the neighbors think as it is worse as I pull out of my RV pad onto the street. It's then that I always remember that one-of-these days I'm going to apply some grease before hooking up the good'ol 325RES Crusader (Touring Pkg).
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