Shock mount failure

[Pete Masterson]

Sounds exactly like what happened when my shock mount failed. Bent the shock upper fitting and took out the air line. Fortunately for me, the failure actually occurred at the CCW facility while moving the coach from one service point to another. (I had noted an odd "popping" sound that seemed like it was coming from the passenger side suspension -- but that was an illusion as the "popping sound" was probably the last bit of the shock mount giving way on the left... Of course, the CCW folks had thoroughly checked the right side finding nothing significant...)

Be sure that the welder adds a couple of gussets to strengthen the weld -- Henderson's in Grants Pass had earlier welded the crack (short of complete failure) 6 months earlier, but their weld was insufficient.

I've subsequently inspected the rewelded mount several times, and it looks clean and appears to be holding.

I guess the caution here is for all the Wide Body owners to check the driver's side front shock mount and carefully examine the area around the mount for cracks. If the issue is caught before failure, you're likely to avoid having to pay for a new shock, because the failure mode seems to always bend the top of the shock.

The failure is in a Ridewell component that, frankly, was of insufficient strength for the loads applied.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 18, 2009, at 1:50 PM, Don Bradner wrote:

I'm the latest victim of a driver's side front shock mount failure. It took out the brake line when it went. I was not far from home on the way back from Q, so I limped on in (I know, in retrospect it was too dangerous, but I kept a lonnnng following distance!)

I've used the local Detroit dealer in Arcata (Trinity Diesel) a couple of times now for service, so I called them, and the service manager said he would swing by for a look, no charge. He ended up removing the shock and the air line, and said that he would come by the next time he was this way with a new airline. A new shock will have to be ordered (the top bent/caved in) and they will schedule an appointment to get it welded after they have that. Shock was 17 months old.


Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location: www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1