friction-anti sway bar noisey

[ronheater70]

So my Friction bar has been pretty quite, however the last trip out with it I ran through a ton of rain and it sounded really loud.. made me wonder if maybe I had it to tight or something.. Ironically, friends we were camping with arrived at the campsite with their TT behind their suburban and their bar was making the same loud groaning noise after the rain.. neither had done it before.

Getting ready to head out again this weekend for a 4 hour ride to the beach with it, and would really like it to quiet down some.. suggestions?

Oh I tightened it pretty tight by hand

[270S]

You didn't mention what make you have, but on my Husky (for sale http://www.zrd.com/pd/esdttrv.html) unit, I applied very light (little) Vaseline (NOT GREASE !!) to the area the bar slid on (area below where orange sticker is located). Special Red grease went on the snubber friction area (red arrow) that most WDHs do not have.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by 270S

You didn't mention what make you have, but on my Husky (for sale RV and Travel Trailer Services) unit, I applied very light (little) Vaseline (NOT GREASE !!) to the area the bar slid on (area below where orange sticker is located). Special Red grease went on the snubber friction area (red arrow) that most WDHs do not have.

Sorry, mine is the flat bar (Reese), I have been warned to put absolutely nothing on it..Maybe I should give it a sand down for a few seconds just to take the glaze off or maybe the glaze should be there and Im running it too tight..
I might just wipe it down with a rag and be done with it.

[270S]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

Sorry, mine is the flat bar (Reese), I have been warned to put absolutely nothing on it..Maybe I should give it a sand down for a few seconds just to take the glaze off or maybe the glaze should be there and Im running it too tight..
I might just wipe it down with a rag and be done with it.

I was also, however a light coat of Vaseline does not affect the operation and prevent rust that will make noise. Additionally, any tight turn, anything over a large radius, will make a banging noise telling you the anti sway is working and you are turning too tightly. I noticed this on my first gas stop after installation - W I D E turns now. You can call Ryan at Dan's Hitch 574-262-4638 in Elkhart if you have any questions. One of the few professionals I have come across in the RV Business community

[Brother Les]

Rain will effect all areas of the camper. Noise, leaks, Braking, humidity, how it handles pulling.

As for putting Vaseline on a Friction-Anti Sway Bar....
I consider Vaseline as 'grease' and defeats the purpose of the Friction-Anti Sway Bar..... Especially In The Rain.... The Noise means that it is Working... which is what you want it to do..... IMO....

I would not advise using it or any 'sound' reducer....

to me.. red flag, beyond design of product.

[270S]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

Rain will effect all areas of the camper. Noise, leaks, Braking, humidity, how it handles pulling.

As for putting Vaseline on a Friction-Anti Sway Bar....
I consider Vaseline as 'grease' and defeats the purpose of the Friction-Anti Sway Bar..... Especially In The Rain.... The Noise means that it is Working... which is what you want it to do..... IMO....

I would not advise using it or any 'sound' reducer....

to me.. red flag, beyond design of product.

Again, I had the exact preconceived idea myself before it was explained to me properly by Ryan at Dan's Hitch. He gave me a hands on 1 hour test ride (above and beyond - at the end of the workday, I gave him a nice tip) after he installed my WDH explaining everything including the Brake Controller that he did not install. This guy actually knows what he is doing and talks about. If he says to put Vaseline there, I trust him (in essence with my life). Again, an extremely light film to just coat it barely. The bar bottom is for the weight distribution, the anti sway is laterally in direction and there is NO Vaseline or Grease there. It is unaffected by the bar bottom Vaseline. The bar is intended to move fore and aft as it travels not be fixed or it would be bolted/welded to not move.

[jaherbst]

Do not put grease on your anti sway bars period. (or vaseline) You defeat the purpose of the friction bars. This is only common sense.

Jack

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by jaherbst

Do not put grease on your anti sway bars period. (or vaseline) You defeat the purpose of the friction bars. This is only common sense.



Jack

Before I went with the fifth wheel, I had an equal-I-zer Brand hitch. I put grease on the bars and it did make things a little quieter.

IT DID NOT HURT THE ANTI SWAY CAPABILITIES IN ANY WAY.

however, greasing the ball was more effective than greasing the bars.

If you find otherwise after greasing the bars, you can always clean it off.

Common sense.

[DreiHunde]

My Equalizer sometimes groans and sometimes doesn't. Its just the nature of the beast, Don't let the noise bother you.

[270S]

Originally Posted by jaherbst

Do not put grease on your anti sway bars period. (or vaseline) You defeat the purpose of the friction bars. This is only common sense.

Jack

I'll trust the professionals, plus I did it and it works properly.

I can use a bigger font than you too, stop yelling - LOL.

Again, the science is the bar prevents sway in the lateral (horizontal) direction - no grease there. The bar inside the slot and "L" pin it is on prevents it bending laterally reducing the sway and limiting the turning radius. In the process the bar will & needs to move fore and aft. Vaseline DOES NOT Lubricate with any significance for the vertical direction which is for the weight distribution and NEEDs to slide as you hit hills and valleys between the TV & TT. Again, go ask a proven expert in the field of your choosing how it works instead of here to be comfortable.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by 270S

I'll trust the professionals, plus I did it and it works properly.

I can use a bigger font than you too, stop yelling - LOL.

Again, the science is the bar prevents sway in the lateral (horizontal) direction - no grease there. The bar inside the slot and "L" pin it is on prevents it bending laterally reducing the sway and limiting the turning radius. In the process the bar will & needs to move fore and aft. Vaseline DOES NOT Lubricate with any significance for the vertical direction which is for the weight distribution and NEEDs to slide as you hit hills and valleys between the TV & TT. Again, go ask a proven expert in the field of your choosing how it works instead of here to be comfortable.

I THINK I understand what you are saying now, do not grease the friction surface, but the attachment point to the hitch and trailer (where the pins go through) Correct?

[KansasJohn]

Yes, that is correct. I always put a liberal amount of general purpose lithium grease on the small attachment balls for the friction sway control on the trailer tongue rail and the drawbar on the truck, just like I grease my hitch ball itself. The only thing that you do not ever want to grease is the rectangle silver bar that slides in and out.

I will mention that I do notice some groaning during sharp turns in the rain. I think it's similar to vehicle brakes squealing in the rain, and is probably completely normal. The friction surfaces get wet and slide a little more than they are intended to. If it's raining hard, and I'm planning on driving a while in wet conditions, I will loosen my friction sway control a half-turn or so, and it seems to quiet it right down. Your experience may vary a little, so if you do loosen the sway control, drive carefully for a few miles initially to make sure that your sway control is still working effectively.

[elind]

If you are using this type of sway control, DO NOT USE ANY TYPE LUBE on the friction bar! It works like a disc brake on you truck to control sway motion. NOISE, it's the nature of the beast when wet.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by elind

If you are using this type of sway control, DO NOT USE ANY TYPE LUBE on the friction bar! It works like a disc brake on you truck to control sway motion. NOISE, it's the nature of the beast when wet.

Thanks elind, yes thats what I have.

I will lube the attachment points, ball, and weight WD bar attachments, and stay away from the friction surface.

[JP Camper]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

Rain will effect all areas of the camper. Noise, leaks, Braking, humidity, how it handles pulling.

As for putting Vaseline on a Friction-Anti Sway Bar....
I consider Vaseline as 'grease' and defeats the purpose of the Friction-Anti Sway Bar..... Especially In The Rain.... The Noise means that it is Working... which is what you want it to do..... IMO....

I would not advise using it or any 'sound' reducer....

to me.. red flag, beyond design of product.

I agree 100% I had an Equalizer and if it was making noise, you knew it was working. Friction is what makes it work.

[wrt111]

My anti-sway bar says: Dot not lube or clean rust off. The equalizer bars have a grease fitting to lubricate the L section of bar.

[270S]

Originally Posted by elind

If you are using this type of sway control, DO NOT USE ANY TYPE LUBE on the friction bar! It works like a disc brake on you truck to control sway motion. NOISE, it's the nature of the beast when wet.

I was not addressing your specific type of unit. I was specifically talking about my Husky and similar WDHs. Yours may be totally different - sorry if there is any confusion.

[IndianKen]

I have a Husky WDH HD with the pistons. I emailed Husky about the noise too. They advised me (in writing) to put a light coating of petroleum based grease on the friction point of the bar just like 270S stated.

[wnelsonfl]

Equalizer sells pads. Solves the problem!

[jughrad]

I use the EAZ Lift equivalent of your Sway Arm. I use Emery cloth to remove rust and degalze then rinse with brake cleaner. Excessive noise after rain is usually "rust dust" making the arm stutter along instead of sliding smoothly.

I generally camp in the rain (I live in Oregon :-]) and this problem occurs regularly. I also use red grease on the sway arm balls, zerk fittings of the bars and the hitch ball. I clean the old grease out every couple of outings.