Forum Discussion

kep5niner's avatar
kep5niner
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016

Large slide squeals when retracting

The last two times that I had the FW out before the end of the season, when retracting the largest slide, there is a high-pitched squeal. I figured it was a warranty issue so I wasn't too concerned. But now, having the pleasure of working with my local dealer, their ability leads me to believe I'm on my own for fixing the slide issue.

Any idea what could be making that sound when retracting? It's a LCI electric slideout system. I've researched the LCI slideout owners manual, and based upon the parts diagram, I don't really see anything that could be making that sound. I almost thought it sounded like a failed roll-bearing of some sort, but I didn't see any indication of such. I've lubricated everything I can see (dry lube). I haven't opened up the underbelly yet - if I do, that won't happen until the spring.

Here's a link to the LCI slideout owners manual, in case I'm missing something:

LINK

Any suggestions on what it may be? Thanks!
  • My 2 cents here, I had a horrible screetching when extending and retracting the big slide and it was the last 18 inches or so of the extension or retraction. I tried all the dry lubricants recommended, plus some others, and I know not to use something wet such as grease. I read somewhere to try a spray on graphite. I found some at Home Depot. Extended the slide all the way out and used spray brake cleaner to clean off all the other tried remedies, and then sprayed down anything that looked like it could be metal to metal with the graphite. Retracted, extended and retracted and extended, and sprayed down again. All the screetching and squawking is now gone. I called LCI before I started the hunt and that was about as useless as...... well, I will let you finish what you think I was thinking.
  • I had two of my 3 slide outs squeal. I found info on LCIs website on the procedure for lubricating the gear pack. I do not know how to do links. Go to the LCI website, click on customer service at the very top of the page and click on the Slideout tab, then through frame tab, then 2 X 2 Electric slide mechanism, Manuals, then click service manual and it is on page 9. I did this on mine and it quieted it down significantly.
  • 2oldman wrote:
    It's probably the slide rubber. No big deal. You can try silicone lube spray.



    X2 on the silicone spray
    1- wipe down and clean all parts involved with slide movement

    2- spray liberaly with silicone

    3- run slide in and out to spread silicone

    I've done this and had good results

    Hope it works for you too
  • I chased a very annoying screech on one of my slides. I thought it was one of the roller wheels so I removed them to clean and lube. No joy.

    I then went outside with the slides out and sprayed the heck out of the gear tracks and the noise is gone. It really sounded like a support wheel was dragging a rock over our tile floor.
  • So is it your large slide on the drivers side? I am having a similar issue with my dinette slide, and it does sound like metal on metal. Looking underneath I wonder if its where the ram goes into the pass-through hole of the frame? There might be something to the rubber also as now that mine's a year old im sure the rubber is less pliable. I did use brake cleaner on all the exposed "workings" I could see and then used a light dry silicone spray on cogs/gears etc but no change. Im wondering if when the slide "tips" as it comes in if the floor is just dragging on an area that should have had a wear strip...

    For sure let us know if you track it down, possibly with pics as there is no way im going to a dealer as they will say its normal. I don't think that a loud squeal inside and out is normal and may lead to wear on a part I cant fix easily or cheap.

    Daryll
  • It's probably the slide rubber. No big deal. You can try silicone lube spray.