When, & cost, to change shock absorbers?
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:28 am
Hi, I'm a newbie to Eagles (1979 Model 05 converted in about 1997), so lots of questions over the next few weeks. here's the first:
How do you know when your Eagle needs new shock sborbers?
The reason I am asking is that I recently did a 1200 mile trip in which the bus suspension felt just fine (satisfyingly more firm that the typical airbag motorhome suspension we had been used to
). But, on certain bumps, particularly those found on elevated overpasses in East Texas ( ), there seemed to be way more "hobby horsing" than I experience in a car or that I recall experiencing in our previous National Tradewinds pusher.
I have been warned more than once that the combination of the Eagle's tag axle being in front of the drive axle, and the torsion bar based suspension's conversion of suspension movement into fore and aft versus sideways displacement, craetes a hobby horse type of effect on some bumps. In fact, I've been told that the driver can start to "defy gravity" if the seat belt is not on tight!
But, I what I am wondering is, on a stiff bump at 65 to 73 mph range (depending on speed limit at the time), does an Eagle with decent shock absorbers bounce more than once or twice?
I've only ever experienced this hobby horse effect on elevated overpasses, so I'm wondering if it's just due to the bus's front end trying to go airborne, or if new shock absorbers would make a bbig difference.
Also, if and when new shock absorbers are required, how much do they cost for parts and how much for instalaltion typically?
Jim Gnitecki
How do you know when your Eagle needs new shock sborbers?
The reason I am asking is that I recently did a 1200 mile trip in which the bus suspension felt just fine (satisfyingly more firm that the typical airbag motorhome suspension we had been used to
). But, on certain bumps, particularly those found on elevated overpasses in East Texas ( ), there seemed to be way more "hobby horsing" than I experience in a car or that I recall experiencing in our previous National Tradewinds pusher.I have been warned more than once that the combination of the Eagle's tag axle being in front of the drive axle, and the torsion bar based suspension's conversion of suspension movement into fore and aft versus sideways displacement, craetes a hobby horse type of effect on some bumps. In fact, I've been told that the driver can start to "defy gravity" if the seat belt is not on tight!
But, I what I am wondering is, on a stiff bump at 65 to 73 mph range (depending on speed limit at the time), does an Eagle with decent shock absorbers bounce more than once or twice?
I've only ever experienced this hobby horse effect on elevated overpasses, so I'm wondering if it's just due to the bus's front end trying to go airborne, or if new shock absorbers would make a bbig difference.
Also, if and when new shock absorbers are required, how much do they cost for parts and how much for instalaltion typically?
Jim Gnitecki
