Squeaky Wheels

[thook]

For the past year or so I have been trying to chase down an annoying squeak everytime the trailer rocked or we stepped into the 5er. It has been driving us crazy. I have crawled around underneath and it seemed to be coming from one or more wheels. I finally pulled one of the wheels off and the noise from that wheel disappeared. To make a long story short, I discovered that the wheel noise was being caused by the wheels being torqued to 110 ft/lbs as recommended by Keystone. I backed off all the wheels to 105 ft./lbs and the noise is gone. This is below what Keystone says it should be. The only thing I can figure is that the higher torque was causing a warp in wheel which caused something to rub. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or had a similar experience?

[bw2]

I have been searching for the "squeek" as well. Thanks, I will give it a try!

[LonnieB]

The squeak is most likely from the magnet on the brake control arm rubbing against the plate inside the brake drum. When you park the trailer, you step on the brake, which energizes the magnet pulling it against the plate, where it remains ( un-energized ) until the wheels are turned a little. The slight amount of wheel movement as you walk around inside is enough to make it squeak, but not enough to cause the magnet to move away from the plate. Most likely, when you removed the wheel to check out the squeak, you turned the wheel enough to allow the magnet to move away from the plate.

This is just my thought on the subject, and I may be wrong, but I wouldn't think 5 lbs/ft would make the difference in squeak and no squeak.

[rlwhit]

Lonne, very good info. We have had the squeak for a long time. Next time parking I will unplug for the last foot or so. Always felt it was in the brakes.

[bigmurf]

I have a squeak also but it seems to be in the left side landing gear unit. I'm guessing the lead screw in the leg.
I don't have any magnets in the wheels.

[49merc]

I have found what Lonnie said is true. Not a lot you can do about it. I have had SOB trailers do the same thing. Can drive you nuts if you hear high pitched noises.
Bob

[Waynem]

I squeak when I walk, does that count?

[madeforeachother]

Well Waynem, that must mean that you have lost all of your marbles and be completely BONKERS!

[Andy]

madeforeachother, I like it. You go boy!

[Waynem]

In my other life, I'm known as "Crazy.

[sreigle]

I've seen a lot of them do this when they have the mor-ryde rubber equalizer that the newer Montanas have. Ours included. If we tightly chock the wheels on both sides it stops the squeak. Just using the yellow chocks don't see to take care of it but the between wheel scissor type chocks do stop it. Maybe with the yellow ones if you back into the rear ones to get the chocks really tight against the wheels, then hammer the front ones to be very tight, maybe that would stop it too. I'm not sure if your 2005 has the mor-ryde or not.

[thook]

I thought I had cured my "squeaks" by changing the torque on the wheels, but it's back. I think Lonnie has the right idea that it is the magnets resting on the wheel. Next time I park I will disconnect the trailer cord and then back in to my spot. I'll let you know if it works..

[sreigle]

Tom, you may be right. Lonnie's explanation makes sense. But, of our five fifthwheels and three Montanas, this is the only one with the MorRyde rubber equalizer. And we've been side by side with several others at the service center and other places. The morrydes squeak when the wheels are not securely locked in place. The non morrydes don't. You might keep this in mind in case the magnet situation doesn't solve it for you.