Rebuild suspension

[davejay]

Hey,
Use less toilet paper.... I wish it worked like that... Good plan I thought. DJ

[Smartstream]

You "young" guys give up too easily. Having ticked over 7 decades let me educate you guys how to use less toilet paper, it's called a bidet.

Now having solved that issue I'm still trying to figure out what to do about tired and sore old bones and muscles.

[rmkrum]

Ditto. 7 decades plus here. Used to be young, strong, and foolish. Now I’m no longer young.

I’ve found it’s ok to still dream all the impossible dreams, but you gotta fight fewer unbeatable foes at this age.

And it still takes three times longer to recover.

[cmadmaxman]

You right on the recovery time! Down in Florida looking for warmer weather, but looks like it's following us! With all the wind these last 2 day, have to say the MO is handling great. Notice a little harsher feel on rough roadways over the old front springs. That was expected because of the air bags doing some of the work. So far very happy with the results.

[davejay]

Hey,
Excellent. I'm glad it's working . When you get your rear springs in, and the airbags set right, it ll be even better. Every little thing you do, refines the coach, and makes it more fun to drive. Hopefully, you can reach a point, to where you can fire up the fridge, fill the tanks, check the oil, and get gone. That's my plan.
And that's why I never break down. Always looking at stuff. Old guys like to tinker. It beats laying on the ground....in the rain.....getting a earful from someone , about something you should have looked at.. Been there.
DJ

[davejay]

Hey,
I was under the machine today, looking at the dog bone. It's the cross brace that keeps the drive axle from shifting side to side. Anyway, when you have your rear springs done, replace the bushings in the dog bone. Mine look ok, but since I'm replacing all rubber things, because this thing is 34 years old. I thought you may want to do it too. It's not hard, 4 bolts and the whole thing drops out. The bushing are not a press fit. They just slide into the brace.
I can't remember where I bought them, but if you look on this forum site I did post the part number etc. it's called a transverse rod bushing. There's 4 polyurethane bushings to the kit.
How do your airbags look. That would also be a good time to get those replaced if they old. If they are cracking on the roll at the bottom, do it. That is where most bags leak.. I replaced the air lines and the compression fittings with the new style push in connectors. I did a post on this too . All part numbers etc etc. DJ

[cmadmaxman]

Your right on looking at the bushings.

A little over 11 years ago, I replaced all the bushings and the air bags in the system. The bushings and pins I got directly from, now called, American Carrier Equipment Inc, the maker of these system in California. Great folks to work with and very helpful.

Can't think they would not be just as helpful now.

Attached is the DIY I wrote up then. Hope you can open it, I use Open Office!

Airstream Air Bags DIY.doc

[cmadmaxman]

I did an update and added a couple of photos of my air ride system. It is also a PDF file.

Did not find my deflated bag photo for the file!

Airstream a.pdf

[davejay]

Hey,
I remember reading your post on the dogbone bushings. I so wished I had done that when I had the gas tank out... It's got 80 gallons in it now. So I got to squeeze this 6'8" 290 pd frame in there. I wish I was 30 again. Piece of cake. Well you got everything covered on the rear end it appears.
Question, how do you get the axles out. I'd like to replace the wheel seals, and maybe the pinion seal. Can't figure out how they come out. DJ

[cmadmaxman]

I worked on a 2000 chevy dump truck a while back that I think was an Dana 80, but about the same hub assembly. I took some photos of the axle and rear hub assembly. You will need the special socket to remove and re-install the retainer nuts. I have the photo attached.

The pinion seal, I replaced on the MO, and to install it with out leaking, had to make a install tool to get it in right without leaking. I will get a photo if the tool I made to do that.

We have a full floating 70HD Dana. The ratio on my MO is 4:56. More on that to follow.

Here is some photos:










Hope this helps DJ.

[bobmiller1]

Excellent pictures ! Regards, Bob

[davejay]

Hey,
Thanks for the pics. So I take it, the axle slides out of those splines? Do you need a puller, or does it just slide out. I got the socket for the nut underneath the axle. I looked at this setup when we first got the MH. Doesn't look like a hard job at all. Nothing is leaking,just thinking about doing it. DJ

[cmadmaxman]

They should just pull out. Incase they don't, The end has a taped hole for a puller. Not sure but think 1/2-20?

[cmadmaxman]

Well, got the tail end up in the air and have the rear end and springs removed.
All new springs, bearings, seals, brakes and rotors, not to mention many hours with the bead blast booth!









Here is the pinion seal install tool that I made. These seals are a bear to install without pushing on the inside lip to install, especially with the pinion installed!

[davejay]

Hey,
Now that's the way to yank a rear end out. You going to paint it too? Gloss black...I hate putting stuff back together dirty. Aren t those adjusted springs the cheesiest thing you ever saw. Just take out the torch, and knock off the ends. Didn't t even take grinder and clean up the edges. How much did these things sell for? Do your new springs have that thin nylon spacer in between the springs? Well, it ought to ride a little better. That weak leaf side would tend to hog down on a bump, making for a weird twisting feel. I wonder if you got a couple of broken leafs at the center bolt hole. I'd be curious as to why it needed a shim only on one side. Maybe parked on a hill for a long time. Anyway, cool. Would you post a pic when it's all ready to go back in? DJ

[cmadmaxman]

Starting to put things back together after lots of cleaning. Also you can see the new springs that I'm putting back in.








Found this when I took the carrier out of the housing. 98,000 miles and the one spacer shim almost gone, and others with signs of much wear on the same side!

[cmadmaxman]

Originally Posted by cmadmaxman

Starting to put things back together after lots of cleaning. Also you can see the new springs that I'm putting back in.

Attachment 338678
Attachment 338679
Attachment 338680
Attachment 338681
Attachment 338683
Attachment 338684

Found this when I took the carrier out of the housing. 98,000 miles and the one spacer shim almost gone, and others with signs of much wear on the same side!
Attachment 338682

Son's coming over in the morning, and going to hopefully have it sitting on all rubber before the days over! Everything cleaned and painted, even the wheel wells [emoji18]

[cmadmaxman]

Well it's back on the ground. First test drive went good. A little higher on the tail, about an inch to 1 1/2.

[cmadmaxman]

What am I doing wrong with the photos? It's posting 2 instead of one!?

[cmadmaxman]

Originally Posted by cmadmaxman

What am I doing wrong with the photos? It's posting 2 instead of one!?

O well! Must show double until you refresh! Now only see one each[emoji12]