Monroe shock absorber warranty? Two blown and leaking!

[JohnL]

Polyurethane replacement bushings although stiffer are much more resistant to deterioration. A package of four is $4.75 here: https://www.suspension.com/9.8101 . I would check all the dimensions before purchasing replacements.

[Fritz]

1 hour ago, Dave and Kimberly said:

I've been following this (since first seeing it and then reading the older posts)... but is this doesn't seem to be "Dexter problem" but rather an Oliver problem.   They welded and put together the frame.  It certainly looks wrong... and its evidently been happening for a while?  Has Oliver been made aware of this?    Sure would like to see them rectify this soon!

I opened a ticket on this topic with Oliver early last week.  I sent them these two photos from our trailer, and commented that I would like assurance that the shock absorbers are properly mounted and safe (it does not look like the best of designs when the rubber gasket and mounting plates overhang the frame bracket).  

I received the following answer: " I looked under a couple of the camper and the spacing looks to be the same on all of the units as it is on yours. The cracking is normal as well."  

While the shock absorber mount may be the same on all of the current units, it is clearly installed so that only a portion of the rubber bushing is doing its job—the other portion doesn’t touch the frame mount.  While this is probably safe enough, the shock absorber bolts might not need to be tightened as much if the entire bushing had contact with the frame mount, and in which case the rubber bushings might not be cracking so early in the life of the shock.  In any case, the shock absorbers would not come with a full rubber bushing if the manufacturer intended for only a portion of the bushing to have contact with the frame.

My next step was to send an inquiry to the shock absorber manufacturer, but without removing and inspecting the shocks closely, I do not see a brand or manufacturer's name.  Does anyone have more information on these black shocks with no apparent brand name?

I like JD's suggestion of installing a heavy flat washer on the upper mounts.  

For those of you with older trailers: what have you chosen for replacement shock absorbers?

 

[Dave and Kimberly]

   I know that a natural result of a forum like this is that any "problem" tends to get a bit more press time.   So with that in mind, I've learned to try to not get overly excited about one-off problems and instead watch for those impacting more customers.   My concern rises a little bit however, when they do know about something and don't seem to put effort into a resolution.    It doesn't take an engineer to see that something just isn't right in this case.  Your service ticket response tells us that it's the same on all the units currently being built and for some reason that person thought that was a satisfactory answer??   I wonder if this would merit a phone call into Oliver... to try and run this up the chain of command a bit higher?   Anything related to the suspension could become a "safety" issue... and normally that will get a company's attention a bit faster.

   I'm just someone on the list... waiting on mine to be built and would really like to see it resolved before then!   

[John E Davies]

1 hour ago, Dave and Kimberly said:

Anything related to the suspension could become a "safety" issue... and normally that will get a company's attention a bit faster.

Keep in mind that it is very rare to find a travel trailer with factory installed shock absorbers. While they certainly help with the ride quality and they definitely help to keep the contents less shook up, I doubt that they add any actual towing stability to a typical poor quality leaf spring suspension design. So where I am headed is, I don't think this is a safety issue. It is however distressing for an owner to deal with, since there is no reason those bushings shouldn't last for a decade. If correctly installed....

In the past Oliver has reacted very quickly when true safety issues have arisen, like the missing inverter ground wire recall from several years back. Anything that could cause a fire or electrically shock a human gets quick response, that is the liability lawyers in action.

Split rubber bushings? Don't hold your breath on this one. On cars the suspension bushings are frequently cracked after a few years and it has no effect on them. When pieces start to fall out, then you need to replace them.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Frank C]

Yeah, apparently making shock bushings that don’t degrade & split is an unknown science that seems to elude most companies. 🙄 Here’s a pic of the shock bushings on my 2 year old F-250. 
 

[Rivernerd]

On 10/25/2021 at 10:52 AM, FrankC said:

Yeah, apparently making shock bushings that don’t degrade & split is an unknown science that seems to elude most companies. 🙄 Here’s a pic of the shock bushings on my 2 year old F-250. 
 

 

But at least the bushings on the F-250 appear to be fully supported, not hanging off the edge of the support bracket.  I hope Oliver takes steps soon to get the holes for the shocks drilled more accurately (further inboard) so the bushing is fully supported by the bracket.

[SeaDawg]

On 10/24/2021 at 4:05 PM, Fritz said:

l like JD's suggestion of installing a heavy flat washer on the upper mounts.  

The original idea was from @Mike D.. John e Davies offered alternatives. Just to set the record  straight. 

[Wanderers]

Just ordered a New Elite 2. Will be following this post very close. This is an easy fix for the company that is making these units. If we all open a ticket and call they might make the change to the jig. Using washers is a band aid fix. 

[Hokieman]

Good suggestion,  I’ll turn in a ticket and make a recommendation.   My shock bushings are relatively new, so not cracked yet, but just a matter of time.   For those replacing their shocks, you can re-use 2 dished washers from each of the old shocks and install between the bushings and the flat bracket surface.  In the meantime, I’m going to install some heavy 3/8” fender washers.  

[Wanderers]

We are coming from the Airstream world and where looking for a better company to deal with. Oliver seems small enough to as for changes like this that only male sense unless some engineer can explain how this set up is better outboard where the shock placement is now? Our trailer will be Heading north of the boarder and Canadian roads suck! I'll be looking at different shocks for the look run. Old Man Emu take a pounding on my 4 runner and lasted 250,000km before a change over as I though it was time. No leaking or crappy bushings. 

[John E Davies]

1 hour ago, Wanderers said:

I'll be looking at different shocks for the look run. Old Man Emu take a pounding on my 4 runner and lasted 250,000km before a change over as I though it was time. No leaking or crappy bushings. 

If you do locate a better quality shock, please start a new thread with that information. I am sure there are many owners who would like to upgrade. It is a specialized RV shock, maybe OME offers one, but I would not count on it. The only stout trailer shocks I have ever seen, that are short, have eyes at both ends, rather than these straight shafts. Here are the specs for the Monroe 555001, BTW do not pay that much! That is double the typical street price.
 

 

I don’t know when they changed from yellow to black, the latter will be much harder to inspect for a leak. I sure wish we could get this suspension on an Ollie.

 

John Davies

Spokane WA