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Leveling and a Bang

Yahoo Message Number: 84047
First off I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving.
Last night we parked on a slightly uphill lot, leveled, let slides out, etc. just like always. Maybe it was more than slightly uphill because the rear suspension was extended quite a bit but seemed well within range of its capability since the leveling didn't take an unusually long time.
Some time during the night my wife and I were awakened by a slow ratcheting or jacking sound, maybe one per second for about seven or eight seconds. That was followed by a large bang and the feeling of the rear of the coach dropping an inch or so. Then the compressor came on. I got up and went to the control panel and it indicated the coach was low in the rear. I got my flashlight and did a cursory walk around without seeing or hearing anything unusual. The rear suspension was still extended. After letting the compressor run for another minute or so with no apparent affect I turned the leveling system off and went back to bed.
Putting things together it's apparent the leveling system sensed the rear of the coach was low and was attempting to raise it until something broke or sheared.
Question to you guys it what likely broke and will it be safe to drive tomorrow? I'm in the boonies in south Georgia and getting any kind of serious repair will be a major undertaking.

Thanks,

Jerry

2003 Magna Haven #6190

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84048
Okay, after more searching my first guess is I overextended and broke a shock. I'll let you know in a bit. If that's all it is I will probably drive back to Florida tomorrow without having it repaired.

Jerry

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84049
The first thing I would check is the shocks and mounts in the rear.

Mikee

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84051
I can see the upper and lower shock mounts and they look fine (from a distance). Maybe a shock broke internally?

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84052
Jerry,

Do not know if your coach has extension restraints on the rear, these are usually chains or cables that limit extension travel to prevent from overextending the shocks. They are mounted from the chassis to the rear suspension. If you have these and a shock is not broken it may have been one of these limiters.

Mikee

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84053
Didn't see any chains or cable but it was still dark out and I didn't crawl all the way up underneath. Just looked from the back and could see upper and lower mounts.

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84055
When rear is almost all the way up like this and the airbags are almost fully extended they can make it big banging noise nice like this as they move slightly. I think they kind of hang up a bit. I've had this happen.

rich 2002 magna.

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84056
Hey Jerry - Sure hope you both enjoyed Turkey Day:)!
It is the description of the what took place, that confuses me in regards to being a Shock break or limit straps. Suppose the 'jacking sound, over 7-8 seconds' could have been a mount giving away, from either of the two above. The shock actually breaking, I would think would be castrophic and instant, if it was the rod of the shock. You also said you let the compressor run, with no change... Wonder if you had a bag or line to bag failure? If so, you will know the moment you try to get underway and level place your rig in travel mode...
Best of luck, and of course let us know how it goes, and root cause when found...
Very best to you both, be safe, and sure have fun - as it's all part of the experience:)! Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84058
Jerry

Not sure how long you have had your coach but our 08 Allure when set on bad pitch with one end at almost max you can get, especially with temp changes overnight, the coach dropping and then the compressor comes on for what seems forever as it corrects the level. We often switch off the monitoring as our level rarely changes that much over a full 24 hr cycle. The rachet sound stumps me, are you sure that it simply was not the bags being inflated from the reservoir and creaking in the process, then the pump working to fill it.

Does the coach go to ride level and have you then tried releveling?

Michael

2008 Allure 31683
--

Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84059
I don't know if you have a tag axle but on our coach we get an occasional loud bang which is the brakes slipping on the tag axle. When you set the parking break and then level the coach it changes the torque on the tag brakes. I think that when we park on gravel the tag tires slip enough to release the force. On paved sites, we will occasionally get a load bang/clunk sound which was explained to me by Chris Snyder as the tag brakes slipping. We have had the rear suspension fully inspected and no shock or mount problems. I know for sure everything in the backend is good because we just had to have the rear axle track bar replaced. It came loose and was bent. Ca-ching!

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84061
As you are leveling with the brakes applied and extending the suspension quite a bit, it may have been the tag axle brake shoes being forced to slip as the wheel rotates. TWI 2004 Intrigue 111731

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84063
It made the jacking sound with no discernible movement. The bang did sound catastrophic. Maybe the compressor had already started when the jacking sound started.
From reading some of the replies I'm becoming cautiously optimistic that the jacking sound was tension being built into the brake shoes and the bang was the wheel rotating suddenly. But it still doesn't make sense the compressor continued to run with no change. Maybe I didn't let it run long enough.
I always set the brakes before leveling and do always wind up with skid marks on my driveway when I level. Last night we were on grass but it is in an area we occasionally park and the dirt is packed very tightly.
Couple of clarifications. In my original post I said that at the bang the coach settled but in retrospect I can't say what it did except jolt. And yes, we do have a tag.

Leveling and a Bang

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84093
Just wanted to let you guys know when I was leaving this morning it went into Travel Mode just like normal. Pulled over to a more level area and it leveled just like normal. Made the trip home with no issues and then leveled normally when I got here.
I do believe I'm going to start dumping air before leveling in the future. I've read both sides but now the positives seem to outweigh the negatives.
It was disconcerting when it happened. It was the middle of the night (approx 1:30 am) and we were in a dead quiet area in the country. To top it off we were laying, almost literally, right on top of the tag axle. When the drum jolted on the brakes it was really a jolt.

Thanks for all your help.

Jerry

2003 40' Magna Haven w/Tag #6190

Re: Leveling and a Bang

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84094
Jerry - We have bumps and bangs from the tag axle mechanism all the time until things get settled. There are rubber encapsulated journals there that twist then break loose suddenly. Rust, dirt and debris can cause the metal pivots within the rubber to hang slightly. It's been going on for 4 years now without any problems. That's the scene with our bus anyway. Safe travels.

At 12:29 PM 11/24/2012, you wrote: