Throw away your shockies
Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:05
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Featherfoot
Just had a brief discussion with a chap from a caravan repair
shop in
Perth. I asked for a quote on replacing the bushes and shockies on a Golf caravan with independent coil spring trailing arm tandem
suspension due to bad wear on the inside of the tyres. He told me where I could buy the bushes and do the job myself which I thought was strange and then tells me to throw the shockies away and not to bother replacing them as they do nothing. Now I would think the van would dance all over the place without the shockies due to the coil springs. I'm interested in what others may think.
Gary
Reply By: Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:10
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:10
I'd reckon you would be write. I have seen cars on the roads with stuffed shocks and the wheel/tyre is going nuts jumping up and down. How the person driving the vehicle doesnt feel it has got me stuffed. Im glad this bloke your talking about isnt working on my car. Leaf springs I could understand but coils ??? . Maybe you and I are both wrong ?? Regards Steve M
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Hoyks - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:30
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:30
On that setup, don't the shocks also stop the spring falling out by limiting travel?
AnswerID:
287061
Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:47
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:47
There are clamps holding the spring in place but I would'nt rely on them stopping the spring falling out so I think you would be correct.
Regards
Gary
FollowupID:
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Reply By: splits - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:39
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 15:39
I think you are right as well Gary. A few weeks ago I folowed a camper trailer with independent
suspension along a track in the Victorian High Country. It had a broken shock mount on one side so I was able to watch both sides of the
suspension moving up and down. The difference was incredible. The side with the good shock was rolling up and down over the bumps while the other side was bouncing in a blur.
Don't believe anyone who says you don't need them.
Brian
AnswerID:
287062
Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 16:29
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 16:29
Hi
What i still can believe is that ALOT of camper trailers don't run shocks!
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Follow Up By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 10:33
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 10:33
Hi lyndon, I'm one who doesnt run shocks on my C/t. Nothing
against them, but dont find them neccessary. The 5 leaf shackle
springs are fine without them & nothing moved or
broke in 13k outback trip. Coils or independant may require them. I replaced
the bushes which cost next to nothing & can see no evidence of any cracking or other damage to trailer. It is, of coarse, a matter of
choice...cheers...oldbaz.
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552386
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 16:49
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 16:49
Hi All
We had a 2004 Jayco Finch Out Back Pop Top, and it came with Leaf
Springs and Shockies, it was very stable to tow, and the
places we
took that would bring tears to your eyes.
Cheers
Daza
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Reply By: Featherfoot - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 18:52
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 18:52
Thanks for your thoughts guys.
Regards
Gary
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Reply By: Ady - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:06
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:06
Featherfoot......
the bad wear on the inside of the tyres are probably due to the wheel aligment being out....it can be adjusted but should be done by a Golf dealer or a wheel aligment place. The shock absorbers, if worn/soft, should be replaced. (they come with new bushes anyway.) Don't drive without shocks!!!!!! The tyres if still servicable could be turned around on the rims to get a few more
miles out of them....... I too, have a Golf with independend
suspension and belive me it will fix the problem.
Happy travels....
Adrian
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Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:35
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:35
Hi Ady,
The bushes I wanted changed are the pivot bushes on the
suspension arm where it pivots on the perch plate. The wear on the inside of the tyres appears as though it might be a camber problem so I thought those bushes may be shot.
I have the information for the toe in adjustment which looks easy enough to do.
Have you had tyre wear problems with your van?
The van I've had for 12 mths and am doing it up before we take off.
Have no idea what it tows like. The tyres will be replaced with new ones as the existing ones are not too flash.
Regards
Gary
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552315
Follow Up By: Ady - Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 at 10:04
Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 at 10:04
G'day Gary
I think you are on the right track re. the pivot bushes. Mine are still good and no uneven tyre wear so far, but I did rotate my wheels approx. every 15'000km including the spare wheel. I done about 45'000km so far and do all service and repair work my self.
Happy travel
Adrian
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Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 at 19:22
Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 at 19:22
Thanks Adrian
I'll rip them out when I get a chance hopefully that will fix wear.
Don't suppose your in WA?
Regards
Gary
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Follow Up By: Ady - Friday, Feb 15, 2008 at 19:52
Friday, Feb 15, 2008 at 19:52
Gary....
naaa...mate..I live in
Queensland...you know...raining one day...flooded the next.
However we don't have the bad weather down here(
Gold Coast) I feel sorry for the poor people up in Mackay who cop it all.
Regards
Adrian
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Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 16:47
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 16:47
Adrian your right obout the poor bods copping all that rain.
Thanks for your time
All the best
Gary
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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 02:15
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 02:15
Hi Featherfoot, we had a service 'done' by a caravan repair place down Maddington way and would not go back again, When we got the van home after the repairs the brakes on the right side were red hot, won't go into the end result of that but I'm wondering if it is the same place. Definitely won't be going back there and won't be recommending them either.
As far as the shockies are concerned they wouldn't be there for aesthetic reasons I wouldn't think.
Cheers
D
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287186
Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 13:08
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 13:08
Seems to me if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. I hate takeing my vehicles anywhere for someone else to work on them even a plain old service as they usually have a scratch on them or something wasn't done properly when you get them back.
I think it was a different place than you went to as this joint was in Beckenham. Thanks for your input Dunworkin.
Cheers
Gary.
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 14:41
Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 14:41
Yes it is a different place but we do know the one that you went to, have tried that one too. So far we have found Peacheys in Belmont the best but most expensive and one job that they did was not up to scratch but they fixed that straight away. We tried out the other
places because they are closer to home but once again it is probably another case of you get what you pay for.
Cheers
D
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Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 18:18
Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 18:18
After seeing the problems you've had I think I'll do the job myself.
Might take a while but I'm in no rush at the moment, could be 9 mths or so before I look like going anywhere.
Thanks
Gary
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