Mor/Ryde Equalizer Failure

[Carl n Susan]

I recently took the time to crawl under the Monty to check the torque on the U bolts, lube the wet bolts and give everything a once over. Good thing I did! The U bolts did require some tightening but what bothered me was a feathery edge on the rubber portion of the equalizer. I was looking for cracks (there were none) but I wasn't sure what I was seeing. It turns out the rubber bushing was separating from the metal bracket. This is after only 18 months of ownership (8 months of which it was off being repaired) and 8,000 miles. Mor/Ryde warranties the equalizer for three years but extended warranty had to pay for installation.

Periodic maintenance is a good thing. Otherwise I would be on the side of the road with a suspension failure.

[8.1al]

WOW, it sure pays to crawl underneath and look around

[DQDick]

Nice catch, that was a problem waiting for a bad place to do it to you.

[kab449]

I'm going on 18 months, so I better get my butt under the trailer to get a look.
Thanks for the heads up.

[bigskyjimmy]

I do it all the time I crawl under the 5th and look around and check things out, WHY NOT??? might save you heartache down the road

[HamRad]

Carl,
Wow! For 18 months of ownership and only 8k miles on it you've had more than your share of problems with that "top of the line" rig! Thanks for sharing even if it does mean more work for me! Hope your luck improves. And I'm really sorry to hear about that tailgate going missing! And I can't believe they stole the taillights too! We had a rash of that sort of thing down this way a few years back. I try to remember to always lock mine but you know how that goes. Dennis

[gkidsdlite]

OK one more thing to add to the list of items to take along when we go fulltimin, a mechanics creeper!!! Keep the ideas coming fellow MOC'rs!!!

[Phil P]

Hi

I periodically send picture of ours to Mor/ryde and they keep telling me what I see is normal and haven’t recommended a replacement yet.

I now have 3 years 11 months and 45,000 miles on the suspension system. I have had 3 frame failures but no problem with the suspension system.

I am due a close inspection before the next trip to Nebraska at the end of the month. I will let you’ll know if there is any change.

Phil P

[Irlpguy]

Carl I would be most interested in any explanation from Lippert as to why this might have happened with that amount of mileage on your unit.
I am at about the same mileage and age on my 2012 and while replacing missing grease nipples and freeing up seized wet bolts that had never been greased, I checked this part of my suspension and found what appeared to be the start of splitting in the rubber on both halves.

Were you just unlucky Carl, or is this yet another example of a part of our #1 Keystone product we have to pay attention to, and further spend our money on replacing while our units sit unavailable to us.

After seeing your pictures Carl I now wonder if this will be the next thing to fail on my #1 Keystone product.

From the moment I hook up to my Montana and drive out of my driveway I am on pins and needles wondering if something is going to fall apart or break down. This is not how anyone should have to spend their retirement journeys, nor should I have to pack more tools and fix-it stuff than fun stuff to go on a trip.

[8.1al]

That is not a Lippert product,it is made by Mor/Ryde. I have seen a few other reports of this happening but just that, a few. The rubber may develop some cracks but that doesn't mean impending failure. A call to Mor/Ryde may help to clarify this.

[Carl n Susan]

Mor/Ryde tells me this is a freak occurrence. They have had very few failures in the vulcanization. Cracks in the rubber are common and cosmetic. My rig has spent an excessive amount of time at repair facilities. I am convinced moving it with a forklift and the resultant tight turns have contributed to the failure. My point in reporting it was to reiterate the importance of periodically checking things.

[Irlpguy]

quote:

Phil P wrote:

I periodically send picture of ours to Mor/ryde and they keep telling me what I see is normal and haven’t recommended a replacement yet.

I assume this indication of cracks is what you are talking about Phil and what Carl says Mor/Ryde consider normal. This is what mine look like currently.




It becomes increasingly evident how important it is to keep and eye on all of the suspension parts as well as others as part of a regular routine. I was not real concerned at what I found and only took the pictures as evidence in case of future failure.

[HOOK]

quote:Originally posted by Carl n Susan

Mor/Ryde tells me this is a freak occurrence. They have had very few failures in the vulcanization. Cracks in the rubber are common and cosmetic. My rig has spent an excessive amount of time at repair facilities. I am convinced moving it with a forklift and the resultant tight turns have contributed to the failure. My point in reporting it was to reiterate the importance of periodically checking things.

I recently watched someone moving trailers with a forklift. I think you might be on to something. The tires and suspensions were going through convulsions .

[Chip]

GOOD GRIEF!

Another thing to add to the Preventative Maintenance Checklist.

[1retired06]

We have 28,000 on our 2010 and Mor/Ryde has been issue free. Great advice on periodic checks.

[Phil P]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

I assume this indication of cracks is what you are talking about Phil and what Carl says Mor/Ryde consider normal. This is what mine look like currently.




It becomes increasingly evident how important it is to keep and eye on all of the suspension parts as well as others as part of a regular routine. I was not real concerned at what I found and only took the pictures as evidence in case of future failure.

Yes that it. They indicate that is normal and not a problem.

Phil P

[Art-n-Marge]

I recall reading about these and some amount of cracking was "acceptable" and there was supposed to be a way to measure when it was bad. I thought the reasoning was that these pieces of rubber would "take the hit" compared to having to replace more expensive parts.

I'll guess that the price to replace this part is not much compared to metal stresses, and it's the LABOR that will get ya. So how much is too much? I just want to tow within the weight limits, within the speed limits and eliminate any abuse and things should just work. Too bad this ain't enough.