Spring alignment

[campers302]

This is about a 2019 Forest River Coachmen Freedom Exp 248 RBS
Please take a look and tell me if this is anything to get excited about.
This TT has dual axles and these springs are on one side.
One end is forward the front wheel and the other end is behind the rear wheel.
The spring end that is out of alignment is the behind the rear wheel.
Thanks in advance for any and all comments.

[SeaDog]

I don't see that as a real problem many times durning mfg springs get a little twist in them. You could take the rig to a spring shop and have them install spring clips on both ends which would stop any side to side movement, this is done on springs that have allot of movement from loaded to unloaded and units with many leafs. JMHO

[DougW]

I don’t see that as a problem, even the spring clips that are often put on would be loose enough to allow nearly that much misalignment.

A couple of whacks with a hammer would probably put it back into alignment if you want to fix it. It probably will just go back to where it is after a while, but you could try if you want.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by DougW

I don’t see that as a problem, even the spring clips that are often put on would be loose enough to allow nearly that much misalignment.

A couple of whacks with a hammer would probably put it back into alignment if you want to fix it. It probably will just go back to where it is after a while, but you could try if you want.

That small amount of mis-alignment is no big deal and you'll probably see that on a lot of vehicles using leaf springs.

It only becomes a problem when the overhang is so great it reduces the amount of material carrying the load. In the extreme it could damage the tire next to it though by then it would be so far out of position it's carrying no load and a noticeable sag will be seen.

If you want to fix, jack up by the frame to unload the spring and use a BIG hammer to re-align.

[campers302]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

I don't see that as a real problem many times durning mfg springs get a little twist in them. You could take the rig to a spring shop and have them install spring clips on both ends which would stop any side to side movement, this is done on springs that have allot of movement from loaded to unloaded and units with many leafs. JMHO

Thank you for the reply. I will look again today at the rig and see what I can see on a closer inspection.



I am going to try to tap the spring back in position. I will watch to see how loose it is. If it moves to easily then I will need to have a shop align and tighten and put on spring clips. If it move hard then I will watch it for future movement. If it moves again or can not be hammerer I will take it to a spring shop.



I also realized that I did not look at the same tire as the spring was out of alignment, I went to the front axle, a whole nother spring system. I will check the front spring today and am willing to be that the spring will be out of alignment as much as the back.


Boy I bet that is clear as mud.


Again Thank You, for your reply, as it made the light bulb go off over my head. You may have seen the flash ;^).

[campers302]

Wow.
As I was making the drawing and my reply to SeaDog I see a few more replies came in.
Thanks to each and every one of you. I will inspect further today to look for loose nuts, cracked springs and the like.

Again thanks so much for the replies.

[campers302]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

That small amount of mis-alignment is no big deal and you'll probably see that on a lot of vehicles using leaf springs.

It only becomes a problem when the overhang is so great it reduces the amount of material carrying the load. In the extreme it could damage the tire next to it though by then it would be so far out of position it's carrying no load and a noticeable sag will be seen.

If you want to fix, jack up by the frame to unload the spring and use a BIG hammer to re-align.

Heres my fix

[DougW]

Originally Posted by campers302

Heres my fix

Keep in mind, the springs slide lengthwise against one another a bit when they flex, a U-bolt tight like that will cause an increase int he friction which will make the springs wear against each other a bit more and will make them a bit stiffer. Probably just a very small amount, but it will make a bit of a difference.

[campers302]

Originally Posted by DougW

Keep in mind, the springs slide lengthwise against one another a bit when they flex, a U-bolt tight like that will cause an increase int he friction which will make the springs wear against each other a bit more and will make them a bit stiffer. Probably just a very small amount, but it will make a bit of a difference.

Thanks for the reply. I guess we will have to keep a watch. Thanks again.