shadows4
Kansas City, Mo
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Ok back in May I had posted about bending one of my cam arms. I replaced both arms with a set off Ebay, now I've bent another one! How is this happening? Am I doing something wrong? I have included several pics of my set up. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I am currently looking on Ebay and Craigs list for replacement arm since they are no longer available from Reese. If anybody knows of any please let me know. Thanks in advance for any help, John.
Pics not working will try to add later.
* This post was
edited 11/02/09 12:32pm by shadows4 *
2000 4X4 Excursion Limited 6.8V10, 4.30, 124,000 miles
Hellwig Rear Sway Bar
Roadmaster Active Suspension
2000 Coachmen 297 RKS (Approx. 9000lbs loaded)
Reese Dual Cam Sway Control
I WORK FOR FORD, SO I DRIVE A FORD!
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robsouth
Near Atlanta, GA
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Can you take it to a machine shop and have it straightened?
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shadows4
Kansas City, Mo
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Ok Im gonna try this again.
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m16fullauto
Louisburg NC USA
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Are you pulling up any type of abrupt steep incline; such as pulling from a highway straight up a steep incline ? Were you towing the same location as last time you bent them ?
Since only one side bent, were you making a left of right hand turn up a steep incline ?
2004.5 Dodge 2500 Diesel 4x4
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Wow, you aint kidding it bent. That is serious forces working there. Any idea when it happened and what the circumstances were.
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m16fullauto
Louisburg NC USA
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How much "weight" are you loading up those bars ? It may be that you have so much weight on the bars they are binding the release mechanism on the sway bars. As they are unable to "release" making a tight turn, a tremendous amount of force is applied between the weight bar and where it connects to the sway bar. If somewhere along the trip you made a tight turn, it could of bent the sway bar.
On the side of the (TT) bar that is bent, that would imply you were making a turn which would pull the sway bar in the direction of your tailgate which might just bend it.
For exanple if drivers side of TT is bent, you making a right hand turn, sway bar connector not releasing, would pull the sway bar towards the bumper
* This post was
edited 11/02/09 01:36pm by m16fullauto *
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shadows4
Kansas City, Mo
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This is what I know or don't know. Two weeks ago we went on a trip to Nebraska and I know for sure it was not bent then. Went to a local campground this weekend. When I got to the campground I noticed it was slightly bent. I had to readjust the arm as it appeared the mounting plate had moved forward and spring arm wasn't resting on the cam properly. Moved the arm back about 3/8ths of an inch. When I got home, HOLY COW!!!! I live at the back of a cul-de-sac. Pulling into the cul-de-sac is slightly downhill to the left, then truck goes up. This is the only place I can think of where it might of bent. Bars are 1200lb bars by the way. I am running 4 links under tension. Thinking of getting a 2" raised ball to I could go to 5-6 links under tension. Maybe my bars are to level with the A frame? I'm at a loss. At least I have all winter to fix this. Was thinking of going out Thanksgiving but that probably wont happen now. Thanks, all.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Shouldn't the chains hang vertical?
If that bar were straightened, the chain would not hang vertical.
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HpyKmpr1962
Western NY
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Take a look at my set up pictures HereI believe that when turning , possibly sharp and probably while backing, the arm was flexed in it's bracket just enough that it got jammed under the end of the bolt. The weight of the TT caused the arm to bend. The other thing you mentioned was that the brackets had loosened up and were shifted on the TT frame.
I would take the brackets off of the frame and unbolt the arm and flip them end for end. Put the end with the "eye" that the arm attaches to towards the rear of the TT. I had / have issues with the brackets shifting when cranked really hard while backing, but havent had an issue since remounting the brackets.
I would straighten the arm with a press and put it back on. No heat.
If I had a picture of the inside of the wear parts on the end of the arm you would think yours look like brand new. I put mine on after my father in-law had towed for 100,000 miles + with them on his TT. They are from the mid 80's and are about half worn out.
Email if you have questions and I'll give you a call.
Dale
* This post was
edited 11/02/09 05:32pm by HpyKmpr1962 *
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m16fullauto
Louisburg NC USA
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"I had to readjust the arm as it appeared the mounting plate had moved forward and spring arm wasn't resting on the cam properly"..........
So something had to place a great deal of force for the mounting plate to move forward. So if making a turn would cause that much pressure on the cam and it did not release for example, the sway bar could get bent moving forward. The sway bar I'd think is not as "strong" as the weight dist bar.
As it moved it on your last trip, you may of tightend it down tighter
Do you have your hitch ball at the proper angle ? How much force is required to lock the leveling bars / sway bars for travel ?
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