Montana Suspension (busted

[deerrahn]

On our way to Ma. 10 days ago, we were in Manchester, Va. in the Flying J parking lot, (it is really small for overnighters) 3am, asleep, when this pickup and trailer tried to park beside us. Consequently, not knowing what he was doing, let his trailer hit the passenger RR of the 5th wheel. It did damage to the rear cap (does not appear to have broken any seals on the cap, but did wreck the ladder) and apparently busted the springs on the rear axle (as it pushed the trailer sideways). I don't now what the Insurance company is going to do about it, however: Has anyone have any info on replacing the suspension and springs. Is it a hard job, does it mess up the wheel alignment, etc? Just looking to the future to see what I might be looking forward to. Thanks for any info

[dieselguy]

Boy Howdy ... I'd venture to say if it actually broke the springs on your fiver, there's got to be quite a bit of other damage! To break what you suggest took a significant amount of force. Are you talking springs or shackles? Either way ... I'd carefully inspect the spring shackle hangars welded to the frame for cracks, breaks, bends, broken cross bolts. Indeed this may effect alignment depending on what's actually broken. It could have even tweeked an axle. Check the U bolts holding the springs to each axle as well as the equalizer bars (holds front and rear springs in place). A permanent fix won't be made in the field ... it will eventually have to be taken into a competent repair facility. As far as the actual spring replacement, you'll have to get adequate cribbing to help support the fiver frame as well as the jacks to lift it up. The springs can be unbolted from the axles as well as the spring shackles or what's left of them after adequate support has been put in place. This is quite a job for the average owner out in a parking lot if that is where it still sits.

[DQDick]

X2. If it damaged the suspension there has to be more hidden damage than just what you describe.

[old turbo]

I hope you called the local police and got an accident report and got his insurance info. I would get it to a repair facility asap at least for the suspension as this could cause other problems.

[1retired06]

Lot of damage for a parking lot accident. Sounds like it was not towable.

[deerrahn]

We had a tech come out and look at what had happened. It appears that when the other trailer made contact with our, it put enought pressure on it that it snapped the bolt that goes up through the spring into the axle. In the driving that we did the next two days, it finally loosened enough that the second leaf and the rest of the spring, slipped back about 4 inches . The U-bolt held everything basically in place, but put a lot of pressure on the front of the spring. We went to Seekonk, Ma and got a new hangers, bolts, and U-bolts. The tech will be out when we get the spring (it had to be ordered). It will be fixed on sight. Then we will have to concern ourselves about having it checked on alignment and make sure nothing else was stretched or put out of alignment, or cracked welds. The guy tht hit us, his insurance is going to pay for it. Thanks for the input. Have a Good Day

[richfaa]

That happened to us on or 06 3400,believe that is called a "Alignment Pin". It sheared off for a unknown reason the spring moved forward on that side causing lots of damage and ruining two tires. Repaired on the road by a dealership and had that underrated suspension cut off and replaced at Mor Ryde by the IS system.

[deerrahn]

Thank Goodness, we got the spring replaced,along with u-bolts. The Condo is now ok for the road. But not very far. It also kind of ruined those GOOD Chinese Marathon tires. Guess it will finally make me wake up and get a good set of tires. The alignment is good.
I hope to get the new lubricated bolt system (whatever they call it) when I get to Goshen this fall. The body work will have to wait until we get to Goshen also. Hopefully an apointment ahead of time will help. Thanks for all the imput
Have a Good Day