Noise coming from under the coach

[Jagspe]

Hey Guys,

Need some help here. I have a sound coming from under the coach. It starts when I start rolling. It starts as a low pitched sound, and as the coach speeds up, the noise gets more high pitched. Eventually it seems to go away at higher speeds.

I thought it was coming from the passenger side wheels, it still may be. It does seem to be more towards the middle of the coach though. I am having a hard time pinpointing the area exactly.

Any ideas?

FYI - I have a Forest River Sunseeker 3170DS. It's a Ford E450.

[A32Deuce]

Chech the center supports on your drive shafts.

[Jagspe]

Is that was is refered to the carrier bearing? How do I check it?

[A32Deuce]

Yes it is. Grab and see if there is any movement. Even tap with a rubber mallet to see any movement. Just an idea since you say it's in the middle. I know what most under Meath is called, not sure everyone on here does.

[A32Deuce]

I have in the past hit them with WD40 and went for a ride to see if the noise went away or got quieter.

[Jagspe]

Thank you. No movement. It looks like I have two of the them. Neither has any play in it.

[A32Deuce]

Chasing down noise can be very difficult since you can't Jack it up and run it in gear to listen. Easy with a car, but bigger is dangerous.

[A32Deuce]

I'm in central jersey near the river.

[Jagspe]

Any thought of it being differential fluid?

[A32Deuce]

Possible it might be low. Any signs of a leak? Maybe a dry U joint. See if any look really rusty/different from the others. With out hearing/seeing, hard to figure out what the noise could be. Just trying to think about from years of playing with our cars. What year and how many miles?

[extxn]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

Possible it might be low. Any signs of a leak? Maybe a dry U joint. See if any look really rusty/different from the others. With out hearing/seeing, hard to figure out what the noise could be. Just trying to think about from years of playing with our cars. What year and how many miles?

What Deuce has said and if you don't have heavy jack stands to get the tires off the ground ~ try to find a shop where they can lift the rig & run in gear at slow speed, listen for the sound that way.

[Wolverine 1945]

Often we think we know about where a noise is coming from,,,
Only to find out it is coming from somewhere else !!!
May Not be coming from the middle ???
No Help I Know !!! Just a thought !!!

[Jrcoker]

We have a similar noise from our 2017 E450 and took it to Ford for diagnosis. Drivetrain was modified when the frame was stretched. Per Ford, we need major work on drivetrain due to modification and driving motorhome is not recommended until drivetrain is correctly installed/repaired.
It's at the dealer waiting for FR and dealer to work out warranty work.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Jrcoker

We have a similar noise from our 2017 E450 and took it to Ford for diagnosis. Drivetrain was modified when the frame was stretched. Per Ford, we need major work on drivetrain due to modification and driving motorhome is not recommended until drivetrain is correctly installed/repaired.
It's at the dealer waiting for FR and dealer to work out warranty work.

I guess I had no idea that FR was stretching the frames !!!
Or the drive Trains ???

[A32Deuce]

They have the frames stretched in two places as per Ford specs. It looks like they add one or two carrier supports for additional drive shaft/shafts. Having only seen the stretched chassis at the factory, I cant say how they are ordered. Different length class c, different length chassis.

[Wolverine 1945]

There are a lot of very long MHs out there,,,
That don't look right to me !!!
Way too much MH hanging over the rear wheels !!!
Just my opinion !!!

[Jrcoker]

There is a letter in our owner documents package stating that the Ford chassis has been modified if the wheelbase exceeds 158" when measured from the center of the front tire to the center of the rear tire. Our wheelbase is 176".

[TheWolfPaq82]

You don't have to have "physical play" in the carrier bearings or U-joints for the bearings to be bad or making noise. "Play" is a good indication that they've been worn out for a long time, but bearing can be bad and not have noticeable play in them. Sure fire would be to get rears off ground and someone underneath while turning wheels and driveshaft....Preferably by a "Certified" mechanic.

[A32Deuce]

Just having U=joints out of phase can make noise.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Jrcoker

There is a letter in our owner documents package stating that the Ford chassis has been modified if the wheelbase exceeds 158" when measured from the center of the front tire to the center of the rear tire. Our wheelbase is 176".

I checked our 2500TS yesterday,,, it is approx 184"