Get underneath & check
Noticed this after my trailer did not feel quite right. I drove down a steep mountian road windy & narrow with shear drop-offs yesterday from Guadlajara to melaque. Scary. Here is the picture of the b...
Forum Discussion
Lynnmor wrote:
I found that the shackles are made of cheap steel that is 5mm (.196") thick instead of the designed .250". The bolt holes are punched in rather than drilled or bored resulting in a tapered hole. The taper has very little engagement with the bolt splines so they start to move. The movement will cause rapid wear and a failure like yours will follow. I made my own shackles from .250" thick, heat-treated alloy steel and bored straight holes. I also made the plates a bit wider and longer for more strength. I don't know if the thicker heavy duty parts have straight holes or not, but if they are tapered they too will fail, but take longer. I also added wet bolts and made a special one, that an Equa-Flex like yours would need, because of the split arms at the bottom.
Do you have a fifth wheel or a travel trailer?
X2!
I decided to compare mine.
The stock unit Mics out;
Thickness .249 or 1/4" (Lynnmor, you got the really cheap ones!)
the part above the hole .37 about 3/8"
The hole showing wear .573" X .580 a difference of .07" or 1/16".
The new Shackle mics as follows.
Thickness .5" or 1/2"
The part above the hole .470 or about 15/32" very close to 1/2"
The hole was .56" or 9/16.
The much thicker shackles will hold up WAY better than the old 1/4" or less.
In addition the bronze bushings replacing the mashed nylon provide a much stronger system.
