Hey everyone, we recently replaced pretty much all of the suspension parts on our tandem axle travel trailer (leaf springs, shackles, equalizers, and bolts) and have run into an issue with the equalizer shackles behind the front axle hitting the frame constantly. This issue did not appear to be present before replacing the equipment. This happens regardless if unhooked, towing level, nose down, or nose up.We made sure to replace the leaf springs with the same size (26" eye to eye unloaded) per Dexter customer support and per old measurements. We also replaced the equalizer, bolts, and shackles with the Dexter E-Z flex kit(Part #K71-652-00) that was designed to replace the factory Dexter equalizer we had (Original Part #13-104).Any advice on correcting this?Drivers Side Back > FrontPassenger Side Front > BackOriginal:

The shackles are stronger than the spring-hanger, and that part of the spring hanger doesn't add any strength. The new shackles are just meatier. My vote is just leave it. It's already made clearance for itself.Also, once the rubber "springs" is the dexter-equalizer get some miles, they'll settle out a little, and you'll gain a tiny bit of eye-to-eye distance.

carringb wrote:The shackles are stronger than the spring-hanger, and that part of the spring hanger doesn't add any strength. The new shackles are just meatier. My vote is just leave it. It's already made clearance for itself.It's the possibility of the shackles hitting the frame hard and ripping the hanger off the frame that concerns me.

Picture makes new spring appear to be longer than old.

Yes, those new springs look longer than he old ones. I think that is he issue.

You have too long of spring installed. By comparing to a worn or flat spring for you eye to eye measuement to a new spring is where you are off.

Equalizer Shackles Hitting Frame | Good Sam Community

carringb
Explorer
Oct 08, 2020
The shackles are stronger than the spring-hanger, and that part of the spring hanger doesn't add any strength. The new shackles are just meatier. My vote is just leave it. It's already made clearance for itself.

Also, once the rubber "springs" is the dexter-equalizer get some miles, they'll settle out a little, and you'll gain a tiny bit of eye-to-eye distance.
CamperWill
Explorer
Oct 08, 2020
carringb wrote:
The shackles are stronger than the spring-hanger, and that part of the spring hanger doesn't add any strength. The new shackles are just meatier. My vote is just leave it. It's already made clearance for itself.

It's the possibility of the shackles hitting the frame hard and ripping the hanger off the frame that concerns me.
bob213
Explorer
Oct 08, 2020
Picture makes new spring appear to be longer than old.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2020
Yes, those new springs look longer than he old ones. I think that is he issue.
eHoefler
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2020
You have too long of spring installed. By comparing to a worn or flat spring for you eye to eye measuement to a new spring is where you are off.
CamperWill
Explorer
Oct 08, 2020
eHoefler wrote:
You have too long of spring installed. By comparing to a worn or flat spring for you eye to eye measuement to a new spring is where you are off.

I contacted Dexter who made the original springs and they provided me with the measurement of 26" unloaded based on the original part number and axle serial number. The replacement spring we purchased was 26" unloaded so I'm not sure that is the problem.
schlep1967
Nomad
Oct 08, 2020
Do you have your old springs? Jack the trailer up so the new springs are unloaded and compare the length of the springs. I'm thinking Dexter gave you the wrong information.
CamperWill
Explorer
Oct 08, 2020
schlep1967 wrote:
Do you have your old springs? Jack the trailer up so the new springs are unloaded and compare the length of the springs. I'm thinking Dexter gave you the wrong information.

That's the first thing we did before installing the new springs, they were pretty much identical taking into account some wear on the old ones. The only difference between the old and new spring packs is the stack height and that's just due to having an extra leaf.
schlep1967
Nomad
Oct 08, 2020
My first reaction is an angle grinder to take off the lower corners. My concern is if you do that, will the end of the spring hit the grease zirk located above the shackle in the second photo.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 08, 2020
Springs look longer in the top picture. Hardware is very bunched up.