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fishingguy303's avatar
fishingguy303
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014

Front-end shimmy comming down the mountain

New to fifth wheel hauling here and experiencing front end shimmy when braking at normal highway speeds (45-60mph) going downhill and hauling. I am hauling a 2013 Dutchman Voltage 3 axle with a 2013 Chevy 3500HD 6.6 Diesel dually and cant figure out what's up? I had the TV brakes checked by the dealer, all is fine, weights are fine. engine brakes are working and the shimmy is still there with a high or a low gain setting, newby here needs help/advise. Thanks, Frank.

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  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Aug 11, 2014
    Water-Bug wrote:
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    Op use your exhaust brake and down shift to the same gear you came up a similar hill. You should rarely need to touch your brakes. 28+K here combined and it is rare I touch the service brakes descending a grade.


    The instructions have already been posted


    And you just did again.

    OOPS I did it again. :R
  • Water-Bug's avatar
    Water-Bug
    Explorer II
    Aug 11, 2014
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    Op use your exhaust brake and down shift to the same gear you came up a similar hill. You should rarely need to touch your brakes. 28+K here combined and it is rare I touch the service brakes descending a grade.


    The instructions have already been posted
  • shadoow's avatar
    shadoow
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Bighorns wrote:
    No excuse for this 2013 Dmax has an exhaust brake, learn to use it correctly!!! Yes that is a heavy TH, but correct use of you EB, should greatly reduce the need of using the service brakes!

    Agree.. I did this once. I have the same truck except it is a 2011 and now use the EB properly. I very seldom have to use the breaks coming off of the mountain now.


    how about some details/instruction on the proper use of the EB?
  • larry_barnhart's avatar
    larry_barnhart
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Might be cause by improper torqueing of the lug nuts. Usually it shows up after tire work has been done but maybe you would feel it before towing but it is an idea from the
    chevman
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Aug 11, 2014
    GoPackGo wrote:
    Warped rotors.


    Warped rotors will do it all the time. Glazed rotor will do it when they get hot. 3M makes little rotory pads and a spindle for a drill. My 93 Ram got glazed and I was able to clean the rotors with a few of this pads. Chris
  • Bighorns's avatar
    Bighorns
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    No excuse for this 2013 Dmax has an exhaust brake, learn to use it correctly!!! Yes that is a heavy TH, but correct use of you EB, should greatly reduce the need of using the service brakes!

    Agree.. I did this once. I have the same truck except it is a 2011 and now use the EB properly. I very seldom have to use the breaks coming off of the mountain now.
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Aug 11, 2014
    Me Again wrote:
    Glazed rotors will also can cause that. Chris


    Yup, probably riding the brakes a lot.
  • tsetsaf's avatar
    tsetsaf
    Explorer III
    Aug 11, 2014
    Drilled and slotted look cool but actually hurt braking performance for heavy hauling. Op has the answers he needs: 1.check the computer 2 check the rotors 3 use the eb more and service brakes less.

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