Violent front end shaking

[davron94]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and have been enjoying RV'ing for the last 2 years.

My RV is a 2007, Class C, 26" Fleetwood Jamboree with the Vortex engine and Chevy Express chassis.

The issue that I am experiencing is that, while driving (on the trip back home, after I have used the front stabilizers during camping(I only take the front end high enough to level and stabilize the RV. Tires never come completely off the ground), when the brakes are applied at normal speeds (30-40 MPH), the front end will start to shake excessively. the shaking can be very violent, especially when going down hill. After driving a couple of miles on flat road, the issue goes away until the next time the RV is jacked up on the stabilizers. I have taken the RV to the local RV shop, they have been able to duplicate the issue, but cannot find the root cause. they say the suspension is tight, nothing is wrong with the rotors and brake pads, and I just had Bilstein heavy duty shocks put on last year also. Does anyone have any recommendations or have experience with this issue? I'd really like to get it fixed before my next trip. It seems very unsafe.

Thanks!!!

[Travelcrafter]

I guess it would be different on certain types of suspension but the wheels are going to follow an arch as the truck/chassis goes up, at least to some degree. It's just something you can watch for and I'm not saying this is your problem but if all checks out it could be a contributing factor. I had a similar problem with a pic up truck.

[IAMICHABOD]

davron94 wrote:

IAMICHABOD wrote:

enblethen wrote:
You need to get it to a front end shop that deals with larger vehicles and not just cars and pick ups.
I believe they will find issues as I said before with the control arm bushings and/or the ball joints.
They should check out all steering linkage as well.

If you are in So Cal I know of a good shop that does just that.

I'm in the Ventura County area, if they are close to that, i would greatly appreciate a referral.

Well it would be a bit of a drive, it is in Bellflower.
B and D Alignment
You can give them a call and see if they have any Ideas about your problem and maybe a referral in your area,ask for Jerry Butcher, he is the Manager and very knowledgeable on RV suspension.

[davron94]

IAMICHABOD wrote:

enblethen wrote:
You need to get it to a front end shop that deals with larger vehicles and not just cars and pick ups.
I believe they will find issues as I said before with the control arm bushings and/or the ball joints.
They should check out all steering linkage as well.

If you are in So Cal I know of a good shop that does just that.

I'm in the Ventura County area, if they are close to that, i would greatly appreciate a referral.

[davron94]

Travelcrafter wrote:
I don't have a fix but when you raise the front of your rig the tires most likely pigeon toe in and when you drop it back to the ground one or both tires may stay in a degree of misalignment due to several factors like tire pressure, tire type and condition until you drive it down the road and they find there center. If you take it to a tire shop and nothing is found. Try to observe the tire geometry the next time you raise it and you will see what I mean. Also next time when you drive off after having the rig up try steering back and forth while driving at low speed to center the tread back on the road way. Hope this makes sense to you and helps the situation.

Are you saying that it would pigeon toe even if the tires don't lose contact with the ground? I never take the stabilizers high enough to lift the tires completely off the ground. The shocks are the heavy duty Bilsteins and they are only about a year old and a half old.

[Travelcrafter]

I don't have a fix but when you raise the front of your rig the tires most likely pigeon toe in and when you drop it back to the ground one or both tires may stay in a degree of misalignment due to several factors like tire pressure, tire type and condition until you drive it down the road and they find there center. If you take it to a tire shop and nothing is found. Try to observe the tire geometry the next time you raise it and you will see what I mean. Also next time when you drive off after having the rig up try steering back and forth while driving at low speed to center the tread back on the road way. Hope this makes sense to you and helps the situation.

[EMD360]

This happened to me in our 2006 Ford F250. Scared me pretty good. I was driving about 50 going downhill and braking on a curve. The truck shook like crazy as if the brakes had seized up. I took it in and got a complete brake job--new rotors etc. Then I got a letter from Ford saying be careful, this can happen, we don't have a fix. I just filed it in the round file. Love the big truck, its a workhorse and hopefully it won't happen again.

[rooney77]

winnietrey wrote:


Not saying I have the answer, But when you hit the brakes the rig is going to nose dive. If one side does nose dive and the other not, I wonder if that would account for the shaking when the OP hits the brakes? I would think the stuck side would do some bouncing of the tire, and perhaps that is why he feels the shake.

I suppose it's possible, I'm no mechanic. I just can't imagine that though. Seems that if the shock was frozen then that tire wouldn't move up or down at all and all the bumps would be transmitted straight to the frame. But it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, just ask my wife. 😄

[winnietrey]

rooney77 wrote:

winnietrey wrote:
Only thing I can think of, is a bent or seizing shock. Did it ever do it with the old shocks? When you lift the front end, you will be extending the shock pretty much to it's max range. A bent rod, or improper mounting, or bad shock from the factory, and that may jam it. Or maybe they put the wrong shocks on

I can not see why any other front end parts would behave this way, if it only occurs when you raise the front end.

After a few miles maybe the thing unsticks and that is why the symptoms go away.

One thought next time after you lower it down, from the stabilizers, do the old bounce test on the front end. If a shock is stuck, you would get no bounce on one side. Just my 2 cents, But my money is on one or both shocks

A frozen shock shouldn't cause a tire to bounce/wobble. It would make it ride horribly though. If the shock was stuck the suspension wouldn't be able to cycle at all, well not until something gave way at least. Worn out shocks could allow vibrations to amplify to the point of bouncing I suppose.

Also, tie rod ends being shot can cause all sorts of crazy issues.

Not saying I have the answer, But when you hit the brakes the rig is going to nose dive. If one side does nose dive and the other not, I wonder if that would account for the shaking when the OP hits the brakes? I would think the stuck side would do some bouncing of the tire, and perhaps that is why he feels the shake.

[j-d]

Stuck Shock...uncommon but not rare, I've seen a couple. If you do NOT have one, perhaps something in the front end is so loose or badly worn that it drops out of position. Then it doesn't re-position till after it has caused the coach to wobble.

[rooney77]

winnietrey wrote:
Only thing I can think of, is a bent or seizing shock. Did it ever do it with the old shocks? When you lift the front end, you will be extending the shock pretty much to it's max range. A bent rod, or improper mounting, or bad shock from the factory, and that may jam it. Or maybe they put the wrong shocks on

I can not see why any other front end parts would behave this way, if it only occurs when you raise the front end.

After a few miles maybe the thing unsticks and that is why the symptoms go away.

One thought next time after you lower it down, from the stabilizers, do the old bounce test on the front end. If a shock is stuck, you would get no bounce on one side. Just my 2 cents, But my money is on one or both shocks

A frozen shock shouldn't cause a tire to bounce/wobble. It would make it ride horribly though. If the shock was stuck the suspension wouldn't be able to cycle at all, well not until something gave way at least. Worn out shocks could allow vibrations to amplify to the point of bouncing I suppose.

Also, tie rod ends being shot can cause all sorts of crazy issues.

[rooney77]

davron94 wrote:

rooney77 wrote:
Google death wobble and you'll get more information than you can shake a stick it.

You said it only occurs when braking, that leads me to believe you have warped rotor or a bad caliper. Take it to a mechanic, not an RV place, and have them check it out for you.

This issue only occurs after the front end has been jacked up on the stabilizers and then only when braking. then after a few miles on flat road, it goes away. wouldn't a rotor or caliper problem show itself more often?

Missed that part. Well I'd say it's got to be in the suspension, ball joints are the first thing that come to mind but as has been mentioned control arm bushings could also be at fault. It's unusual that it's resolving itself though.

[winnietrey]

Only thing I can think of, is a bent or seizing shock. Did it ever do it with the old shocks? When you lift the front end, you will be extending the shock pretty much to it's max range. A bent rod, or improper mounting, or bad shock from the factory, and that may jam it. Or maybe they put the wrong shocks on

I can not see why any other front end parts would behave this way, if it only occurs when you raise the front end.

After a few miles maybe the thing unsticks and that is why the symptoms go away.

One thought next time after you lower it down, from the stabilizers, do the old bounce test on the front end. If a shock is stuck, you would get no bounce on one side. Just my 2 cents, But my money is on one or both shocks

[IAMICHABOD]

enblethen wrote:
You need to get it to a front end shop that deals with larger vehicles and not just cars and pick ups.
I believe they will find issues as I said before with the control arm bushings and/or the ball joints.
They should check out all steering linkage as well.

If you are in So Cal I know of a good shop that does just that.

[enblethen]

You need to get it to a front end shop that deals with larger vehicles and not just cars and pick ups.
I believe they will find issues as I said before with the control arm bushings and/or the ball joints.
They should check out all steering linkage as well.