Huntindog wrote:
librty02 wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
Hondavalk wrote:
Looks like a Bingo to me. From the manual:
"In some cases the friction on the L-brackets can generate noise. Lubricating this joint is not recommended."
L bracket sway jackets are the company's response to excessive noise, particularly during low speed turns, and as such acts as a "lubricant". The point is rather moot anyway as the company itself says on it's own website -
"Use of the Sway Bracket Jackets does slightly reduce the amount of friction sway control provided by the L-bracket assemblies. However, this reduction is minimal, and in most applications barely noticeable because the majority of the Original Equalizer Hitch’s integrated sway control comes from the rotational friction surfaces of the spring arm sockets in the hitch head. This sway control is not affected at all by the use of the Sway Bracket Jackets. The L-brackets will still provide a certain measure of sway dampening friction."
In other words lubricating the L brackets will have little effect on reducing sway control. I myself for years used a dry film spray lubricant on my own Equal-i-zer, sockets and L brackets, with great results - significant reduction noise, no noticeable reduction of sway control because most of it occurs at the head sockets. :B
"Use of the Sway Bracket Jackets does slightly reduce the amount of friction sway control provided by the L-bracket assemblies. However, this reduction is minimal, and in most applications barely noticeable because the majority of the Original Equalizer Hitch’s integrated sway control comes from the rotational friction surfaces of the spring arm sockets in the hitch head. This sway control is not affected at all by the use of the Sway Bracket Jackets. The L-brackets will still provide a certain measure of sway dampening friction."
My take and what the company is telling us is yes most of the hitch head reduces sway but not all...the other is taken up by the L brackets...That jacket is not lubricant...That jacket does reduce the amount of friction sway control as stated above. They also state they do not recommend to lubricate the joint.
So the hitch is noisy to do its job. People complained about the noise. The company then creates this jacket to quiet it down to keep sales up admitting it does lessen the control of sway.
I as an owner will never use the jacket nor lubricate the L brackets as per manufacturers recommendation as that is not the initial way it was engineered in its entirety to control sway...
I am now on my 3rd EQUALIZER. I have had a 10K, 12K and now a 14K. The first two were without the bracket jackets, as it wasn't around then.
My present one has them. It IS an improvement. There is no noticeable reduction in sway control.
Many things we take for granted are now different than they were originally designed.
It is called progress. Without it, we would still be driving model Ts
I also agree with you to a point as anything may be progress but usually when it comes to progress any other company would charge us for it and include it with the kit and call it a redesign or an additional improvement. Today's vehicles cost a lot more than that model T because of years of progression in engineering. In my mind a good analogy for comparison would be that all stock cars today would come from the factory making suspension noise and if you would like not to hear that noise we have this accessory we will sell you for XXX of dollars to stop the noise and with or without the noise the vehicle still has the exact same ride qualities.
This is just how I see it...but like I said above to each their own on how they want to use it.
