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Front End Noise

Posted 11-19-2024 at 01:24 PM by HiBanky
Updated 11-25-2024 at 08:13 AM by HiBanky (No more business with FleetPride)

Story:
While traveling west on I 70 this past September, a loud banging noise started to come from the front of the coach. At first, I attributed it to the small hydraulic jack I keep in the basement compartment under the driver's feet but as I inspect the undercarriage I see that some of the rubber bushings on the sway bar are missing. There should be 8 bushings total. It seems like a simple enough thing to fix until I try to find the parts. My first attempt was to order a set of links from FleetPride. Using the VIN number, I was confident the correct parts would arrive but not so. No amount of phone calls and web searching located the right parts, so I planned on using the old rods with the new bushings from the incorrect new ones.

Disassembly:
I assumed the nuts would be corroded and difficult to remove so I soaked them in penetrating oil overnight. Three came off fairly easily but the last one was not moving and I eventually twisted the threaded end off. At the moment I was blaming myself for a rookie mistake until later when I discovered that some one had used red Loctite of something stronger on just that nut. Heat may have been a good solution but now it's too late. It probably took only about 45 to 50 lb-ft of torque to twist the 3/8-20 threaded end off because the shaft was undercut between the treads and the shoulder.

Parts:
Now that the sway bar links (Rods) are out I can see the new bushings will not fit so Its back to finding the right parts. Eventually I found them at Premier Truck Group and purchased one rod, 8 bushings and 4 nuts for about $60. They had to order the rod from their supplier, and they would not ship directly to me, so I made the 80-mile drive to pick them up.

Reassembly:
Installation is straightforward just go easy on the torque. The rods are different on each end. The short ends go into the frame and the long ends into the sway bar. The washers with the larger hole go on first then the rubber bushings and then the washers with smaller holes. Nylock nuts were not available at the time, so I used Grade C All Metal LN nuts and the old nuts as jam nuts. This will ensure that the rods will stay put without adding adhesive, probably over-kill. I'll do a test drive later this month, but I don't expect to have an issue.

Update 11/25/24
After receiving the correct links from Premier Truck Group I attempted to return the incorrect links I bought from FleetPride. The FleetPride website directed me to deliver the return items to any FleetPride store. The store in Vancouver WA was unable to refund my money directly but assured me it would happen if I left the parts behind. After a few emails going back and forth I was informed that the main office would only refund $7.95 because of shipping costs of a special order part. This was very disappointing and there was no winning the argument. So my advice is to avoid doing business with FleetPride.
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