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Ride height/shocks response

Yahoo Message Number: 6232
OK, thanks to your help and a little sleuthing, here's what I have figured out. First, the tire pressure is correct, that is not the issue. CC says the Continentals are only 3/8" larger, but this thing is riding (either) 2" high in the front, or 2" low in the rear, easy. There's definitely a ride level adjustment problem here.
It also has the Gabriels on the front and they are definitely not up to the job. Is Koni the only alternative? Why do you need adjustable shocks at additional expense when you're going to set and forget anyway.

I had Bilsteins on my last rig and liked them a lot. Any idea what the Koni's cost? Isn't the factory going to be a very high priced place to buy them? Does anyone know the Koni part number?

Thanks.

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6233
From: "mainecoons0" dhhouck@...>
(snip) > Why do you need

adjustable shocks at additional expense when you're going to set and forget anyway.

As far as I know ... Koni shocks are adjustable to accomodate wear ... not adjustable for the application, as were the adjustable Rancho shocks I installed on our old Dodge Ram pickup. I'd set them at "1" when I wasn't towing and "5" when I was (if memory serves). To adjust the Ranchos, I simply turned a knob. To adjust the Koni shocks, you disconnect one end, turn it as specified in the instructions, and re-connect. And do the same for both sides.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfr: 11/97

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6239
In spite of what Country Coach says, I'd measure the tire diameters on the Continentials vs the Toyos and make sure that they are "3/8" taller...my suspicions are that they are more like 1 to 2 inches taller if you have the H series Continentials..anyway, if you don't have a slide they may have sent you the lower profile Continentials and if so they might only be 3/8 inches taller. If so, you can take a quick measurement at the wheel wells to verify your thoughts about it riding high in the front and if true, take a look at the front air ride first and make sure it's close to correct height. Someone might have tried to compensate for the bad Gabriels with a stiffer air ride????..

Good luck.

Ray and Rue

1999 36ft 30322 Allure

Quote from: mainecoons0
OK, thanks to your help and a little sleuthing, here's what I have > figured out. First, the tire pressure is correct, that is not the > issue. CC says the Continentals are only 3/8" larger, but this > thing is riding (either) 2" high in the front, or 2" low in the > rear, easy. There's definitely a ride level adjustment problem

here.

Quote
>

It also has the Gabriels on the front and they are definitely not

up

Quote
to the job. Is Koni the only alternative? Why do you need > adjustable shocks at additional expense when you're going to set

and

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6247
OK, I do have a slide and I will check the tire diameters. I have to say that just looking at them, the Continentals look a lot bigger.

I'm going to deal with this whole issue first by putting better shocks on and then by making sure this coach rides level.

CC suggests I raise the rear 3/4" over spec to compensate.

Dan

Quote from: ragarue
In spite of what Country Coach says, I'd measure the tire

diameters

Quote
on the Continentials vs the Toyos and make sure that they

are "3/8"

Quote
taller...my suspicions are that they are more like 1 to 2 inches > taller if you have the H series Continentials..anyway, if you

don't

Quote
have a slide they may have sent you the lower profile
Continentials

Quote
and if so they might only be 3/8 inches taller. If so, you can

take a

Quote
quick measurement at the wheel wells to verify your thoughts about

it

Quote
riding high in the front and if true, take a look at the front air > ride first and make sure it's close to correct height. Someone

might

Quote
have tried to compensate for the bad Gabriels with a stiffer air > ride????..

Good luck.

Ray and Rue

1999 36ft 30322 Allure

[quote author=mainecoons0"

> OK, thanks to your help and a little sleuthing, here's what I

have

Quote
figured out. First, the tire pressure is correct, that is not

the

Quote
issue. CC says the Continentals are only 3/8" larger, but this > > thing is riding (either) 2" high in the front, or 2" low in the > > rear, easy. There's definitely a ride level adjustment problem > here.
>

> It also has the Gabriels on the front and they are definitely

not

Quote
up

> to the job. Is Koni the only alternative? Why do you need > > adjustable shocks at additional expense when you're going to set > and

> forget anyway.
>

> I had Bilsteins on my last rig and liked them a lot. Any idea

what

Quote
the Koni's cost? Isn't the factory going to be a very high

priced

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6256
Dan,

I would start by getting the same diameter tires all the way around. The difference is more than 3/8", and this will also affect your leveling "travel" distance. Once this is done then I would get the latest ride height specs and have it done.

Ride height is something I have done myself, and back in 1998/1999 we use to set the front 1/2" lower than the specs if we had a "tracking" complaint.

Setting ride height, we had a bay with pits so you could "walk" under the coachs. What I did was start the engine, then spend about 20 minutes under the coach. The bottom of the ride height arms had a rubber gromet that slid on a metal male nipple. I would adjust the rear and set the measurement. Then to check it I would slide the lower rubber gromets off the male nipples and drop them down, this would dump the air from the bags. Then I would slide them back on, coach would go back to ride height, and then re-measure & re- adjust. I would do this approx 4 times till it was dailed in. Then I would do the same up front. Sometimes it required a bit of WD-40 on the lower grommets.

Now this is NOT something you can do at home in your driveway, you need a pit to play it safe.

Good Luck,

Damon

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6258
Damon, you do have a pit in your yard, don't you??

Note that my post said that you might want to find someone that you really don't like to do it for you...

Quote from: damonrapozo

Dan,

I would start by getting the same diameter tires all the way > around. The difference is more than 3/8", and this will also

affect

Quote
your leveling "travel" distance. Once this is done then I would

get

Quote
the latest ride height specs and have it done.

Ride height is something I have done myself, and back in 1998/1999 > we use to set the front 1/2" lower than the specs if we had > a "tracking" complaint.

Setting ride height, we had a bay with pits so you could "walk" > under the coachs. What I did was start the engine, then spend

about

Quote
20 minutes under the coach. The bottom of the ride height arms had > a rubber gromet that slid on a metal male nipple. I would adjust

the

Quote
rear and set the measurement. Then to check it I would slide the > lower rubber gromets off the male nipples and drop them down, this > would dump the air from the bags. Then I would slide them back on, > coach would go back to ride height, and then re-measure & re- > adjust. I would do this approx 4 times till it was dailed in.

Then

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6262
Yeah, its right next to the wash rack & 4 point scales... I have a few people in mind for the ride height too ;-).

Damon

Quote from: ragarue
Damon, you do have a pit in your yard, don't you?? >

Note that my post said that you might want to find someone that

you

Quote
really don't like to do it for you...

[quote author=damonrapozo"

> Dan,
>

> I would start by getting the same diameter tires all the way > > around. The difference is more than 3/8", and this will also > affect

> your leveling "travel" distance. Once this is done then I would > get

> the latest ride height specs and have it done.
>

> Ride height is something I have done myself, and back in

1998/1999

Quote
we use to set the front 1/2" lower than the specs if we had > > a "tracking" complaint.
>

> Setting ride height, we had a bay with pits so you could "walk" > > under the coachs. What I did was start the engine, then spend > about

> 20 minutes under the coach. The bottom of the ride height arms

had

Quote
a rubber gromet that slid on a metal male nipple. I would adjust > the

> rear and set the measurement. Then to check it I would slide

the

Quote
lower rubber gromets off the male nipples and drop them down,

this

Quote
would dump the air from the bags. Then I would slide them back

on,

Quote
coach would go back to ride height, and then re-measure & re- > > adjust. I would do this approx 4 times till it was dailed in.
Then

> I would do the same up front. Sometimes it required a bit of WD-

40

Quote
on the lower grommets.
>

> Now this is NOT something you can do at home in your driveway,

you

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6269
Damon,

When you did this, what mode was the coach in; parking brake on or off? Transmission in neutral or drive: engine running or stopped with tanks charged? Obviously, with brake off, transmission in drive and engine running, the vehicle would have to be well chocked. What did you use for this? From what I can make out, unless most of the aforementioned conditions are met, the "Travel" mode is not reached.

Any comments would help.

2000 Intrigue #11066

Peter A Harrison
1-800-274-5245
1-260-482-6321 Voice
1-260-483-3653 Fax

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6278
I adjust the ride height on my Magna at Petro when I get it serviced.
They let me go down in the pit and even help me do it (I tip the guy who helps me). I have to readjust them twice a yeat at least. I don't know why they won't stay put. I suspect it is the valves. All three have failed, two in waranty. These #$%&&*&%$ thimgs have caused me a lot of grief. jerry in NM, '00 Magna.

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6280
Jerry, could you describe what valve failure looks like? I looked under mine yesterday and noticed the rear passenger side valve is adjusted all the way up, very little room to raise more. Yet the coach is riding too low in the back and sloped that way as well.
But the leveling system works perfectly. Would you say the valve has failed?

If you are in Albuquerque, so am I. let's talk. I'm at 890-0310.

Dan

Allure #30180

Quote from: gerald
I adjust the ride height on my Magna at Petro when I get it

serviced.

Quote
They let me go down in the pit and even help me do it (I tip the

guy

Quote
who helps me). I have to readjust them twice a yeat at least. I

don't

Quote
know why they won't stay put. I suspect it is the valves. All

three

Quote
have failed, two in waranty. These #$%&&*&%$ thimgs have caused me

a

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6293
Dan, I answered this once and it got lost in cyberspace I guess. I'll try again. (I'm ususlly parked in Williamsburg (T or C) when I'm not on the road.)

The failed valve does run out of adjusment and eventually the air bags defate. I could hear air leaking out of one of my failed valves.
I had a valve replaced at Cummins in Alb. on Broadway. They are pricey but it beats risking your life working under there. jerry in NM, '00 Magna.

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6294
Jerry from what I understand, the valve replacement is a simple operation and the valves are available from truck parts suppliers, they are used on many trucks. I'm sure my guy could install one properly for a lot less than you were charged.

This may also be related to the fact they put the oldest tires on this side when they did the tire retrofit. They are a lot more worn than the others, I'm going to change them first, and the shocks, and then try to adjust the ride height properly.

Thanks.

Quote from: gerald
Dan, I answered this once and it got lost in cyberspace I guess.

I'll

Quote
try again. (I'm ususlly parked in Williamsburg (T or C) when I'm

not

Quote
on the road.)

The failed valve does run out of adjusment and eventually the air > bags defate. I could hear air leaking out of one of my failed

valves.

Quote
I had a valve replaced at Cummins in Alb. on Broadway. They are > pricey but it beats risking your life working under there. jerry

in

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6303
Peter,

Parking brake off, parked in a level bay with wheels chocked. Trans in neutral, & engine running. We had some purchased wheel chocks, big heavy duty truck type. The travel (green) light/mode has to be lit up on the HWH leveling panel.

Once I got the measurement adjusted (on top of the arm), I would check by removing the lower (non-adjustable) arms off the male nipple, bring the arm down which deflated the bag, then lift it up and slide it back on the nipple and measure. I found this to be the most accurate way. It took 3 or 4 times to get each one set, but when it was set it seemed to last.

Damon

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6305
--
Dan:

The same problem occured on my coach. . After replacing the left side and traveling several thousand miles with a significant difference in the positioning of the arms the second valve failed. I did an autopsy on the valve. I actuall sent pictures of the failed components to CC.
No response. They don't make them. The parts are a combination of nylon type material and just plain plastic. Over time the lubricants get stif and abrupt shocks seem to take a toll. I hit many rough roads in Newfoundland and the other on a trip south. I may have just been looking for a scape goat but . The interesting thing I found however at the FMCA convention was how many different types of ride height valves are used.

Point to be taken ..... They should look very similar in angle and position

James M. Green Intrigue 2000

- In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, "mainecoons0" wrote:

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6310
Thanks Damon. If only CC provided such clear and practical instructions in their literature... Oh, sorry, I was just day dreaming ;-)

Britannia Inc.,

Peter A Harrison
1-800-274-5245
1-260-482-6321 Voice
1-260-483-3653 Fax

Re: Ride height/shocks response

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6325
I, too, have gone through 3 ride height control valves including a complete failure on the left rear that allowed the frame to contact the tire and ruin it. Not to mention all the molten rubber it sprayed onto the radiator and my tow car! Another time when one of the valves failed while crossing some railroad tracks, I hit bottom so hard the stove cover flew off and broke. After about six adjustments, I told the tech to raise the front end 2 inches and to heck with the specs (or words to that effect). I did not hit bottom anymore but my tires started to wear badly on the outside on a 1500 mile trip so I lowered it an inch and had the front end realigned. So far for the last 5000 miles I have been a happy camper.

Ken Johnson
Magna 00
S/N5811