Broken Spring

[Jolu]

Wow! I have never seen a spring broken like this one. This is SOB of someone I know. Haven't had a chance to talk to him about what exactly happened. My guess is it happened all at once. Maybe a bump.
This could be a reminder to keep an eye on things under the trailer.


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[Tom S.]

Wow!!! I agree, with the lack of rust on the broken ends, they all broke at once. Maybe from a combination of too much weight, a big pot hole and going too fast?

[northeastdiesel]

I am impressed!!!!! I have seen them bent, I have even seen the Axles bent, but not snapped in half!

[exav8tr]

Looks like someone ran over a major bump, or a Texas sized pothole. I'm surprised the wheel is still in tact.

[PapaBeav]

That is unbelievable.

[DHenry]

Do you think the springs may have had the wrong temper when they were made?

[NCFischers]

I don't think I've ever seen springs broken like that.

[HamRad]

Wow! Now that is a broken spring! Somehow I can't see that happening with a Montana. I think there are too many other weak places that would break before the spring.

Keep checking under the rig.
HamRad

[Tfthorp]

Talk about the weakest link. Should have been other weaker links that should have failed first.

[Jolu]

As a follow up on the broken spring. The springs were made in China. When Lippert replaced the springs they were replaced with US made springs.
They owner was traveling down a Hwy in CA and he looked back and saw the trailer leaning and smoke coming from the wheelwell. No bumps, pot holes or curbs were involved.
I think I will crawl under the Monty and see if I can find a stamp on the springs to see where they were made. Makes me want to know.

[bullroc3]

I had this happen on my 1989 Skamper tow-behind. We were just pulling into a campground when I heard a clank. Did not think too much about it. We were just about to leave several days later when I noticed that the tires on the passenger side were much too close together. That's when I discovered it. Had to leave the camper in the campground and get it fixed. Picked it up a week later. We were about an hour from home.

[sreigle]

That sure does seem like an odd location for springs to break, especially all leaves. That area is clamped down pretty solidly, isn't it? Or supposed to be? I wonder if the u-clamp nuts were loose could the springs flex enough in that location to break?

Were the broken springs the ones made in USA? Or China?

[Jolu]

Steve, the springs that broke were made in China and Lippert replaced them with springs made in the USA.
The owner also said he was not over weight and as mentioned did not hit any pot holes, bumps or curbs.

[bear]

Hey, I know where it happen, it was on HWY 99 in Calif.That is my store and I am sticking to it!!!! HA HA HA

David

[8e3k0]

Poor quality control and too much carbon in the steel will cause a fracture of that type. Quite common for product coming out out other countries where parameters for percentage of carbon is not controlled and the spring material results in brittleness.
Have found this in tool dies and wrenches from India and China where the product is very brittle and fractures when stress is applied.

[Jdrobone]

Joe,
How did you determine that the springs were Chinese made? I kinda suspected as much but was there a stamp?
Jerry

[Jolu]

Jerry, the owner said they were marked as made in China and the replacement springs were not marked. So I guess there must have been a stamp someplace. Probably on top.

On Edit: To clarify the broken springs were clearly marked with China. The new springs were not marked with China. Leading one to believe they were US made.