Update on Alcan springs and Monroe shocks...

[Jason Foster]

14 minutes ago, Geronimo John said:

I actually looked into the bump stop idea, but the clearance is so small I did no find any would fit and still be progressive in nature.  IF one has overhead clearance when in storage, flipping the axle would give the clearance for a bump stop.  I don't have any spare clearance so I stood down on the idea.

GJ

I guess I'm going to have to brave the fire ants and crawl under mine to see what the clearances are.  My curiosity box is humming.

[Ronbrink]

On 10/23/2024 at 8:00 AM, johnwen said:

I try to use the tell tale signs of trucks black tire marks around those dips

On 10/24/2024 at 5:55 AM, Ronbrink said:

The dark spots at road dips are the result of oil droplets from fluid leaks, the sudden bounce forces these accumulations to release and drip onto the road surface.

Well, curiosity got the best of me when noticing the ‘black tire marks’ at the ‘dark spots’ where road dips occur, so googled it:

“Tire marks are often visible at highway dips because the sudden change in road surface causes increased friction between the tires and the pavement, leading to more pronounced marks, especially when vehicles are accelerating or braking while going over the dip, which can further amplify the tire-road contact and leave visible marks behind.”

 

 

[johnwen]

8 hours ago, Ronbrink said:

Well, curiosity got the best of me when noticing the ‘black tire marks’ at the ‘dark spots’ where road dips occur, so googled it:

“Tire marks are often visible at highway dips because the sudden change in road surface causes increased friction between the tires and the pavement, leading to more pronounced marks, especially when vehicles are accelerating or braking while going over the dip, which can further amplify the tire-road contact and leave visible marks behind.”

 

 

Ron, I was going to point that out  :)  While my experience has been mostly observing tire marks, it does make sense that oil/grease could also be forced to the road.  In any event, I see them coming slightly ahead of time and am now slowing when I approach them.  I was thinking that trucks with adjustable axles, such as cement trucks that lower  their additional axles when fully loaded,  were the culprit as I've seen some pretty low to the road when not fully retracted.  But I'll have to defer to Google :)  Thanks for the info..

John

[John and Debbie]

On 10/22/2024 at 2:53 PM, johnwen said:

We're in southern Mississippi just after traversing some pretty rough roads across Louisiana.  We've retorqued the u bolts per Alcan's recommendations and then some.  A few still need minor tweaking so I'll continue checking for another 1000 miles or so.  The Alcans seem to be doing great and I'm glad we went that route.  Lew and Tucker were a pleasure to meet and they taught me a few things 🙂 I changed my Oliver shocks in July, in Maine, with Monroe Magnum 555001s.  Upon completion of the springs install in Colorado, Tucker informed me 1 of the struts were blown and would not extend after compressing it.  We continued on to our next destination without the bad shock installed and I re-installed another 555001 after a visit with O'Reilly (not a common stock item so had to be ordered ahead of time).  All was going well until Louisiana roads...after reaching Lake Mary Crawford, a public fishing lake by Monticello, MS, I discovered 2 more shocks leaking, removed them and ordered 2 more from O'Reilly.  Only 1 came in so I reinstalled the best of the 2.  They would extend ok after compressing so I figure they has some life left, but had oil that had leaked from the top of the shock.  I wiped the shocks down and will check on them from time to time until getting back to SC.  I'm thinking the frequent severe porpoising through dips in the road for over 30+  miles may have forced the oil out and down the bottom outside cylinder.  We will see if the struts continue to leak and report back at a later date.  My TV now has 121000+ miles (over 21000 so far this year alone since leaving SC) on it and I'm seriously thinking about replacing the shocks on it when we get back.  They're not leaking nor appear in bad shape but the truck seems to be a little more springy on hard stops and porpoises a little more than when newer.  The tires are new so no unusual wear at this time.  I have had zero problems with exchanging the bad shocks at O'Reilly's (lifetime guarantee...thanks Steve L)  but am thinking I'll want to try another brand to see if it lasts a little longer.  Still happy campers here... 🙂

John

"I have had zero problems with exchanging the bad shocks at O'Reilly's (lifetime guarantee...thanks Steve L)  but am thinking I'll want to try another brand to see if it lasts a little longer.  Still happy campers here... :)"

I got a message from Lew at Alcan Springs and he was hoping that RadFlo could be the best choice for a shock, but theirs were about $200 each.  I will be bringing four shocks with me of the Bulldog equivalent to the Monroe 555001 if those are available.   We will have the five leaf spring replacement done in April.

John

[ScubaRx]

If anyone is interested in trying the Bulldog shocks, AutoZone sells them for $53.99 online only and claims to have them in stock.

They state they have a Limited Lifetime Warranty (you can read it at the link provided below.)

The part number is HD1214-0656.

This link should get you there.

[Patriot]

3 hours ago, John and Debbie said:

We will have the five leaf spring replacement done in April.

I think you will be very happy that you had Alcan do the job. I know I was. Good for you on getting an appt with Lew and his team. 👍🏻

[KeysConchs]

On 10/28/2024 at 4:03 PM, ScubaRx said:

If anyone is interested in trying the Bulldog shocks, AutoZone sells them for $53.99 online only and claims to have them in stock.

They state they have a Limited Lifetime Warranty (you can read it at the link provided below.)

The part number is HD1214-0656.

This link should get you there.

Hello Steve

Contrary to your post above, everything I've read indicates the part number for Bulldog replacements of the Monroe 555001 is HD1213-0656, not HD1214-0656. I put the specs for each as well as the Monroe OEM 555001 in the image below. The specs on the left are for the HD1214-0656 and the right frame is the 1213.  If you compare it with the OEM Monroes (the bottom frame), the 1213 shocks line up much more closely than the 1214.  My question is: is this just a simple mistake or is there a reason you were recommending the Bulldog HD1214-0656? I ask because I am about to change mine out on my 2018 LE2 (#344) and want a robust replacement.  

 

Edited January 23 by KeysConchs

[John and Debbie]

15 hours ago, KeysConchs said:

Hello Steve

Contrary to your post above, everything I've read indicates the part number for Bulldog replacements of the Monroe 555001 is HD1213-0656, not HD1214-0656. I put the specs for each as well as the Monroe OEM 555001 in the image below. The specs on the left are for the HD1214-0656 and the right frame is the 1213.  If you compare it with the OEM Monroes (the bottom frame), the 1213 shocks line up much more closely than the 1214.  My question is: is this just a simple mistake or is there a reason you were recommending the Bulldog HD1214-0656? I ask because I am about to change mine out on my 2018 LE2 (#344) and want a robust replacement.  

 

I bought the Bulldog HD1213-0656 for my upcoming Alcan 5 leaf conversion.

John

[johnwen]

4 hours ago, John and Debbie said:

I bought the Bulldog HD1213-0656 for my upcoming Alcan 5 leaf conversion.

The HD 1213 is indeed a perfect fit for Hull 996 with our Alcan springs.

John

Edited January 23 by johnwen

[rideandfly]

2 hours ago, johnwen said:

The HD 1213 is indeed a perfect fit for Hull 996 with our Alcan springs.

John

We don't have Alcans, but as information, replaced original Monroe shocks with Bulldog 1213-0656 shocks on our Dexter 5200lb axles with 5 leaf Dexter springs.

Edited January 24 by rideandfly