Banging Noise from Front of F-550 chassis ?

[Catoff]

Hi. My father-inlaws tripple e commander 2002,only 12,000klms. Has been in storage many years and i have the job of bringing this RV back to life :). I am hearing a loud banging noise when im driving slow? I have greased all points of the chassis i can see. Swaybar links,bushes look intact and check for broken bolts,i removed the lower bolts from the Bilstein shocks and they extended normaly without delay or noise,Checked front wheels bearings for play.
If i jack up either side of the front of the vehicle and then release the jack quickly i hear this noise the same as when driving slowly.

Has anyone heard of or had a similar issue like this ?.

[jerryduffman]

I have a 2000 Fleetwood Bounder on a Ford F53 chassis; I had a similar problem; went through a Ford truck center to diagnose the problem and found no problems with the suspension. Cheched tires and alignment. Inspected everything that could be checked ... nothing. I took the moterhome to an RV repair shop and they found a broken /corroded support bracket/brace between the chassis and the lower support member of the dashboard. Poor materials selection and poor design of the structure supporting the dashboard. There are 2 support brackets; 1 on passenger side and one on drivers side ..try inspecting these brackets for corrosion and/or broken welds. My steering column actually has slight movement and the seat of the pants feels like the drivers seat has slight movement.

[thgoodman]

To build on jerryduffman post: In addition to corrosion failure (rust) you could also have a broken weld on one or more chassis mount brackets. You must inspect them carefully because the broken weld may be closed when the vehicle is at rest and you might see only a very thin crack along the weld.

Since you know it makes the banging noise when lowering a jack, the gap would probably open when the vehicle is raised on a jack. Raise the vehicle and support it with properly rated jack stands. If there are broken welds you may have a better chance of seeing them.

[jerryduffman]

Had similar issue with a 2000 Fleetwood Bounder; F-53 Chassis. Went through the whole front end diagnosis; found nothing. Turned out to be a rusted mount support between the motorhome and the chassis. There are two mounts; poor material selection by Fleetwood; both were rusted through allowing movement of the dashboard and driver's/passenger's seat. Scheduled repair @ Decateur, Indiana facility in Nov 2013. Repair couldn't be completed and am scheduled to go back in June 2014. Will require structural repair and bracing of dashboard and fabrication of support bract attaching chassis to coach body. There is a driver's/passenger's side support that you need to inspect for damage.

[Catoff]

RVUSA wrote:
Maybe you would be better off trying a dealer.

Gonna call to pick their brains,but not taking it to a dealer.

[Catoff]

CG Dawson wrote:
WOW, There was a service bulletin relative to that on the 2002/2003 F53. I had it installed on mine but can't remember just what it was for sure, some kind of bracket on each side.

Yes i heard of the leaf bracket/bolts having problems,i'll try calling Triple E. Thanks Dawson

[wolfe10]

http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14342741.cfm

[CG_Dawson]

WOW, There was a service bulletin relative to that on the 2002/2003 F53. I had it installed on mine but can't remember just what it was for sure, some kind of bracket on each side.

[RVUSA]

Maybe you would be better off trying a dealer.

[Catoff]

Executive wrote:
Hmmmm....you've mentioned your Father-in-law but I notice you didn't mention your Mother-in-law...have you checked the lower compartments....:h:h......:B:B....Dennis

[Catoff]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Sway bar bushings may be bad. These are the rubber bushings that are in the middle of the sway bar, where it attaches to the frame. There should be two of them.
The bushings can be bad at the end of the sway bar also, at the links, but I think you said you checked those.

They are all good

[Catoff]

Daveinet wrote:
Worst case, get a mechanics stethoscope from an auto parts store and start poking around. Could even be leaf springs popping, as one leaf binding against the one below it. As you lower it, put your hand against the spring, and see if you can feel the shock wave vibrate through the spring.

Father-inlaw said he hit a pot hole. I will try the leaf idea as i have been stumped before on my f-350 and i eventually found it to be the leafs.

[Executive45]

Hmmmm....you've mentioned your Father-in-law but I notice you didn't mention your Mother-in-law...have you checked the lower compartments....:h:h......:B:B....Dennis

[Daveinet]

Worst case, get a mechanics stethoscope from an auto parts store and start poking around. Could even be leaf springs popping, as one leaf binding against the one below it. As you lower it, put your hand against the spring, and see if you can feel the shock wave vibrate through the spring.

[midnightsadie]

have it jacked up and then have some one else release the jack, get down on the ground and listen, but not real close. lots of maybe,s.