I have a 02 Newmar. The main slide out made a new and worrisome sound. The clunk, thunk noise seemed to be in the area of the front rail. The slide extended and retracted normally, but I am concerned that there is a problem. The slide is currently extended. I did look at that front rail, nothing looked unusual, but I know nothing about mechanical things. There is a threaded rod, what I can see again looks ok. I cannot see the far end of either rod or rail. Any ideas? UPDATE!!!!! The slide has operated normally since that 1 time loud thunk clunk by the front rail. I had the coach serviced at a Newmar facility today. I mentioned the slide issue. Turned out the roller was bad, just that 1, all others good. Replaced with new $17 roller. Thanks

the soundyou are describing sounds like the shear pin on the end that connects the rod to the farther gearbox.Your pin might be loose and walding out the uole and the clunk is the rod turning then catching as it gets to theend of the hole

I agree it sounds like a shear pin.Look under the slide for a square tube that runs the length of the slide. At each end of this tube there will be a bolt where the gear connects. This is the shear pin. The bolt may still be in place but one end of it will be broken off.

OP here. I will check in the morning. Thank you, I think you guys gave me good advice. If it's the pin at the far end is it accessible? Also I am mechanically inept, is this something a mobile tech can fix?

look between the front tire and infront of the cargo bay there should be a trap door with two screwstake them out drop the door. you might want to get a grade 8 1/4 by 1 1/2 with a few washers to replace the shear pin with

Two thoughts, the shear pin is oneThe other.. If for some reason the side is out of sync the rack will JUMP a tooth on the pinion.. This causes a loud THUNK, this can happen if something blocks it moving all the way in or out, or if the pin shears.

loud "thunk" retracting the slide | Good Sam Community

newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Nov 30, 2014
the soundyou are describing sounds like the shear pin on the end that connects the rod to the farther gearbox.Your pin might be loose and walding out the uole and the clunk is the rod turning then catching as it gets to theend of the hole
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 30, 2014
I agree it sounds like a shear pin.
Look under the slide for a square tube that runs the length of the slide. At each end of this tube there will be a bolt where the gear connects. This is the shear pin. The bolt may still be in place but one end of it will be broken off.
klm
Explorer
Nov 30, 2014
OP here. I will check in the morning. Thank you, I think you guys gave me good advice. If it's the pin at the far end is it accessible? Also I am mechanically inept, is this something a mobile tech can fix?
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Nov 30, 2014
look between the front tire and infront of the cargo bay there should be a trap door with two screwstake them out drop the door.
you might want to get a grade 8 1/4 by 1 1/2 with a few washers to replace the shear pin with
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 30, 2014
Two thoughts, the shear pin is one

The other.. If for some reason the side is out of sync the rack will JUMP a tooth on the pinion.. This causes a loud THUNK, this can happen if something blocks it moving all the way in or out, or if the pin shears.
TennesseeBob
Explorer
Nov 30, 2014
I had a loud thunk on my bedroom slide and it was the bracket that the threaded rod passed thru had broken off and hanging up
dougrainer
Nomad
Nov 30, 2014
Newmar's do NOT have shear pins or any such type pin. Newmar slide room motors/transmissions are secured to the slide system by a Transtorque bushing connected to a 1 inch round driveshaft. NO holes or pins or bolts. That threaded rod is just the manual stop in case the amp control does not stop the room at the correct time on extension to prevent over torqueing of the inside slide Fascia's. That rod may be the source of your clunk. The "Thunk" can be normal on a 12 year old Newmar slide mechanism from normal wear and tear. I would have it checked out by a Service Facility that has ACTUAL experience on Newmar slides as Newmar Slides are patented by Newmar and are the ONLY type system out there that Newmar uses. Doug
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 30, 2014
Just to help you find it better, the square tube that incorporates the shear pins is parallel to the frame of the trailer - not perpendicular to it.
BTW, the shear pins look like a regular grade 8 bolt but are actually special shear bolts. You can use a regular bolt but you loose a safety margin.
dougrainer
Nomad
Nov 30, 2014
ScottG wrote:
Just to help you find it better, the square tube that incorporates the shear pins is parallel to the frame of the trailer - not perpendicular to it.
BTW, the shear pins look like a regular grade 8 bolt but are actually special shear bolts. You can use a regular bolt but you loose a safety margin.

There is no such thing on a Newmar slide system. Doug
J-Rooster
Explorer
Nov 30, 2014
I had that sound happen to me once in the 90's when I owned a Fleetwood. The shear pin broke.