Listing rig and a curious discovery

[LadyWindrider]

Hey, good info. I don't have a motor home, but I have a question. If you remove this shim, do you change the steering geometry and should you get the front-end alignment checked? Just a thought, but while you have them paying for it, I would get all I can.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by windrider

Hey, good info. I don't have a motor home, but I have a question. If you remove this shim, do you change the steering geometry and should you get the front-end alignment checked? Just a thought, but while you have them paying for it, I would get all I can.

Good question. I'd have to think on that one for a while. I don't think 1" in one corner would be that big of a problem for the alignment. Maybe I will call the alignment shop in the morning that just did my rig last month and ask them.

[MightyMike]

+10 points for NWJeeper!

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Last edited by TulsaSteve; Yesterday at 08:03 PM.


See- if you were here on the EAST coast, you would have been shoveling all that snow and been too busy to be snooping under there!!! LOL. Great catch!

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by MightyMike

+10 points for NWJeeper!

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Last edited by TulsaSteve; Yesterday at 08:03 PM.


See- if you were here on the EAST coast, you would have been shoveling all that snow and been too busy to be snooping under there!!! LOL. Great catch!

Thanks Mike, And to think I almost went to Nashua New Hampshire 20 years ago when I started my career. I'm glad I'm on the west coast right now.

[TulsaSteve]

Looked at the front suspension tonight.. Figured I would report in..

I have a shim that appears to the same size as the rear drivers side shim under both front springs.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by TulsaSteve

Looked at the front suspension tonight.. Figured I would report in..

I have a shim that appears to the same size as the rear drivers side shim under both front springs.

Are you sure it's a shim and not just the spring perch block? I looked on mine and didn't see anthing up front other than the spring perch. However if the distribution of weight on your rig is farther forward than others it isn't out of the question that they would put them in to try and level it a bit front to rear.

[TulsaSteve]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

Are you sure it's a shim and not just the spring perch block? I looked on mine and didn't see anthing up front other than the spring perch. However if the distribution of weight on your rig is farther forward than others it isn't out of the question that they would put them in to try and level it a bit front to rear.

Good question. I'll take a pic tomorrow and post.

[bwssr]

wether you add a spacer, or remove the one...REPLACE the u-bolts....NEVER reuse old ones NEVER!!!!!

[TulsaSteve]

Attached is what I have. Fronts both are the same. What appears to be 2 shims under 2 leafs.

Rears are different. One side has 1 shim under 3 leafs. Other side has no shims under 3 leafs.

[NWJeeper]

The fronts should be fine Steve as long as they are symetrical. The rear looks like the same situation I had. If you notice a pronounced list because of it then it likely should not be there. The best way to know for sure is to take measurements like I did when the rig is sitting on level ground. It's not uncommon for suspensions to be off by 1/4" from side to side or front to back. Very rarely are then ever perfect in all four corners. However in my case I was exactly off 1.5" on the passenger side vs the driver side. Not acceptable. Best you can do is email John at FR and ask if the shim in the rear is necessary or not like I did. Each floorplan and rig will be different so there are instances where I could see this as being necessary.

[TulsaSteve]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

However in my case I was exactly off 1.5" on the passenger side vs the driver side. Not acceptable. Best you can do is email John at FR and ask if the shim in the rear is necessary or not like I did. Each floorplan and rig will be different so there are instances where I could see this as being necessary.

Thanks for taking a look. I bet I need it removed, but I'll let John tell me. My rig isn't on level ground right now (got my 5 foot level out and checked), but I will plan to find a level spot and measure before I start the season. Shim on or shim off, I'll sleep better knowing it's right.

[betndavrv2]

nwjeepn.....
Here are pics of the rear springs of our 2010 Georgetown 378, no spacers.

[NWJeeper]

Betndavrv2,

As it should be then. As John at FR said there is no need for them and shortly after they built mine they probably stopped putting them in. Probably sometime after a build date of early '09 they stopped using them. My '09 is probably one of the last ones as we took delivery in September of '08 and a few months later the '09s had the one piece windshield. I would bet that the body changes would coincide closely with whether or not that spacer might be there.

[cfsoistman]

Well finally got the chance to check mine out. I have one in the rear on the driver's side and none on the passenger rear side. Both front have the same two smaller type shims.


Driver's Side Rear

Passenger Side Rear

Driver's Side Front

Passenger Side Front

Guess I'll be contacting John Armstrong.

[TulsaSteve]

My spacer comes out as soon as I make an appointment. FR is paying. Zero hassell.
Mine is a 2007 RV on a 2007 chassis. If you have a single rear spacer, call FR.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by TulsaSteve

My spacer comes out as soon as I make an appointment. FR is paying. Zero hassell.
Mine is a 2007 RV on a 2007 chassis. If you have a single rear spacer, call FR.

Glad to hear that Steve. Must concern them somehow or they wouldn't be offering to pay for the removal on all our rigs that are out of warranty. Charlie ya better make the call (or send the email). Fronts should be fine as long as they are the same amount of shim.

[cfsoistman]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

Glad to hear that Steve. Must concern them somehow or they wouldn't be offering to pay for the removal on all our rigs that are out of warranty. Charlie ya better make the call (or send the email). Fronts should be fine as long as they are the same amount of shim.

Sent the email with pictures to John Armstrong yesterday evening. I did question whether the alignment may become an issue once the shim is removed. There's a shop about 7 miles from my home that did the Dometic Recall work so that will be where I'll take it once John replies to me.

[bad1032]

Mine is at the shop getting the snow repair done, could someone send me a private message with either the email address or phone number so I can get mine fixed whle its in the shop thanks

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by bad1032

Mine is at the shop getting the snow repair done, could someone send me a private message with either the email address or phone number so I can get mine fixed whle its in the shop thanks

PM sent

[cfsoistman]

Got a reply from John Armstrong and he asked to see pictures of the motorhome from back a ways. I took a couple and it isn't very noticeable that there's a difference. The front is off by 1/2" Driver's side is lower. Rear is off by 2-1/8" Passenger side is lower so it's basically sitting there twisted. I emailed them off so we'll see where it leads.