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Old 02-09-2004, 07:05 PM   #1
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1978 25' Tradewind
Roseland , Florida
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leveler springs

This morning at 5am I heard a snap & ping and when I looked it turned out that one of my leveler springs gave up the ghost. I just looked all over the web for levelers for this and have had no luck. Any leads out there?
'84 345.
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Old 02-10-2004, 05:14 AM   #2
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1978 31' Sovereign
Texas Airstream Harbor , Zavalla, in the Deep East Texas Piney Woods on Lake Sam Rayburn
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What Springs?

Kooblekidz:

You didn't say what shape the shocks are in, but, if you think they might need replacement, the spring may be a moot point.

Since the spring is gone, you will have to take at least one end of the shock off to slip the spring off.

While you have the shock disconnected, run the shock in and out as hard as you can by hand. If there are any "soft" or "free" areas in the travel (particularly at the point where the shock normaly "sits"), it's time to reshock.

A worn shock absorber system will really affect the ride and steering. AS installed the springs on the shock to be neutral when sitting with a normal load, so the spring action really comes into play only on a "bounce" or return.

Several members of the Forum have reshocked with Gas piston Bilstein's. I have, and since the Bilstein's design does not permit the reinstallation of the springs, did not reinstall the springs.

The upward force the Bilstein shock exhibits at rest (gas piston effect) is around 80 lbs. I compressed the spring by hand, and discovered the amount of upward force contributed by the old shock spring was surprisingly low - I estimate around 200 lbs at max compression.

I am very happy with the new Bilsteins, but there are certainly other manufacturers of quality shocks out there.

If you prefer to go back with external springs, any shock mounted aftermarket spring should work (barring frame interference). You might have to purchase a pair to match them.

My opinion is that if the old shocks are more than a couple of years old, and considering the time and effort it takes to check the shock and respring, just plan on replacing both of the front shocks with a pair quality brand shocks. That way you know the history and one more portion of the equation is eliminated if you have to trace out squirrley handling, front end vibration, and abnormal tire wear.
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Old 02-10-2004, 05:35 AM   #3
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1978 25' Tradewind
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I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm talking about one of the springs in my rear leveling jack. There are 2 large springs attached by a coupler, one on each side of the hydraulic legs. That's what snapped.
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Old 02-10-2004, 05:43 AM   #4
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Ohhhhhh!

Most large hardware and Homer Despot type stores have a large selection of springs. Since all the jack springs do is help bring the jacks to horizontal (no "roadability" issues here), I would suspect that any of these "off the shelf" type springs would work, as long as they are approximately the same size. I wouldn't think that an exact match would be necessary, given the relatively simple job the spring is asked to perform.
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