Shock absorber problems anyone?

[Jerry_B]

Last year I had a shock upper mount break off the frame taking out the rear axle brakes. I now have a shock severely bent along with its lower mount on the spring plate. The shocks are the Monroe 555025 RV gas magnums. I wonder if the shock stroke is too short, or????? Anyone else having similar problems? thanks

[Jerry_B]

Man, I am getting really confused. My springs are mounted in the center spring shackle holes. Both sides of my front axle measure about 12.5 in. between shock mounting brackets. Any help here is greatly appreciated. I have another month before we move back up North so I have time to work the issue.

[Cummins12V98]

Jerry B wrote:
The distance between the trailers shock mounting holes is about 12.5 in. I believe this maxes out the 555001. Do I need much shock travel in the rebound?

I cross referenced the stock shocks by compressing and extending one of the existing ones and at the time that is what other MS owners were using.

Bad axle is fully extended in pic. I am also in the lowest spring hanger hole.

[Jerry_B]

The distance between the trailers shock mounting holes is about 12.5 in. I believe this maxes out the 555001. Do I need much shock travel in the rebound?

[Cummins12V98]

Jerry B wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
As I mentioned on the MS Forum the Monroe 555001 is the correct shock for your MobileSuites. I replaced the POS Chinese shocks on my 36SB3 MS with the 555001's and worked great.

Did you have the TrailAir centerpoint suspension? Mine does,is this is a factor in choosing the right shock? I bought this rig used so I simply replaced the shocks with the same part number,555025. Looks like I may be eating 4 slightly used shocks. I have a hard time navigating around the MS forum, too many different categories, but I finally found yours by looking under "todays" posts. Thanks.

Yes I had the CenterPoint Air bag system. Go to Monroe's site and compare the two for compressed and extended lengths.

[Jerry_B]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
As I mentioned on the MS Forum the Monroe 555001 is the correct shock for your MobileSuites. I replaced the POS Chinese shocks on my 36SB3 MS with the 555001's and worked great.

Did you have the TrailAir centerpoint suspension? Mine does,is this is a factor in choosing the right shock? I bought this rig used so I simply replaced the shocks with the same part number,555025. Looks like I may be eating 4 slightly used shocks. I have a hard time navigating around the MS forum, too many different categories, but I finally found yours by looking under "todays" posts. Thanks.

[Cummins12V98]

As I mentioned on the MS Forum the Monroe 555001 is the correct shock for your MobileSuites. I replaced the POS Chinese shocks on my 36SB3 MS with the 555001's and worked great.

[pcm1959]

Getting ready to install shocks on my rig. Does anyone know if it really makes any difference which direction the shocks angle from the center equalizer? Due to disc brake calipers, I need to mount them on the front of each assembly so from right side it would look like this: / ^ / . I see most mounted like this: \ ^ / OR / ^ \ . Does it really make any difference? I know that for the best performance that the shocks should be mounted perpendicular, however, due to space that is not possible on most trailer applications. Thanks.

[Charlie_D_]

That Dexter kit has the same shocks that came in my previous rig. In one year, one had a bent rod and 2 were locked upped

[Fulltimer50]

Jerry B wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
Wouldn't it be too long if it's bending? If too short, it would be trying to pull it longer and straight so speak, wouldn't it? I guess it might depend n how it's mounted?

Bill

The bracket bracket on the spring shackle plate is bent down about 45 degrees and the shock stem is nearly broken off. It appears the shock either stuck(froze) or the shock is too long when the spring is depressed.

Dexter Kit

The bottom plate is supposed to be bent. I had a similar situation. After checking a resent installation, I found that my shocks were 2" to short. The shocks were fully extended when at rest. Gotta check every thing these days. The threads on the shocks were long enough to allow spacers to bring the shock extension in. Will see how it works in April.

[eHoefler]

I just went through this last summer with our rig. The replacement shocks I bought the year before were too long and broke one upper mount and bent all the others. Shocks were bottomed out when installed. I installed them with the axles hanging when I rebushed the springs and replaced all the brakes, so I had no idea that is was a problem until I found a shock wedged between the tire and frame when backing into a site.

[rhagfo]

sayoung wrote:

Jerry B wrote:
Last year I had a shock upper mount break off the frame taking out the rear axle brakes. I now have a shock severely bent along with its lower mount on the spring plate. The shocks are the Monroe 555025 RV gas magnums. I wonder if the shock stroke is too short, or????? Anyone else having similar problems? thanks

Per my conversation with Lippert about my factory shock mounts.that shock is the equal to theirs for a mount spacing of 11 inchs from mount to mount & 3 in axles.

That sounds correct, the shock with the lippert kit measure a tick over 8.5" (8.625) compressed and 13.5" extended, which is about 5" of travel and the mid point 11". I would check your shocks to see if the measurement.

[Jerry_B]

cmeade wrote:
Have you checked equalizers and shackles for wear defects that allow axle to move out of place? Broken or soft leaf springs?

All shackles are new (Heavy duty stuff) and wet bolts are new. The springs are fine. Then equalizers are TrailAir rubber bellows.

[cmeade]

Have you checked equalizers and shackles for wear defects that allow axle to move out of place? Broken or soft leaf springs?

[sayoung]

Jerry B wrote:
Last year I had a shock upper mount break off the frame taking out the rear axle brakes. I now have a shock severely bent along with its lower mount on the spring plate. The shocks are the Monroe 555025 RV gas magnums. I wonder if the shock stroke is too short, or????? Anyone else having similar problems? thanks

Per my conversation with Lippert about my factory shock mounts.that shock is the equal to theirs for a mount spacing of 11 inchs from mount to mount & 3 in axles.