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07-24-2014, 10:27 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellaire
Posts: 39
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Question
On your sway arms, what areas should you lube/grease and what should you not grease? Not sure of the correct terminology but where the ends of the sway bars go into the metal pockets, (where it actually moves left and right when you make turns), should you grease this where it moves to the left and right ? It is metal to metal that constantly makes rubbing contact. I think these may be called spring bars. the back end has the chain links and the front end is where I am asking about. Thanks-------------Mike
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07-24-2014, 10:45 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Olsburg
Posts: 348
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I always greased the top and bottom on each side and then had a rag to wrap them in when taken off to keep the grease off everything. I never greased the chain end. Also Don't forget to give your ball a little lube love also.
__________________
2015 Eagle 34.5 BHTS FW
2012 Chevy 2500HD LTZ CC 4x4 DMAX
B&W Companion
TST 507 flow thru
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07-25-2014, 07:21 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Greater Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,393
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Yes, you need to grease the ends where they fit into the sockets. In fact, my sockets have grease zerks on them. When I first got my trailer & WD hitch, it made a horrible grinding sound. Followed the advice of folks, here, and put some grease on the ends of the round bars. When I went to insert them into the sockets, I noticed the zerks. Pumped the zerks full of grease, added a thin coating to the ball, and now it's as quiet as a church mouse - at least until I turn a corner. I couldn't agree more with Ll2 on wrapping the ends with a towel, plastic bag, or something. Makes a heck of a mess inside the storage pass-thru when that grease gets all over everything!
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2013 Eagle 266RKS
2011 Ford F-150 w/3.5L Ecoboost & H.D. Tow Package
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07-25-2014, 09:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,217
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Be careful about greasing friction rotation points on your WDH/sway control hitch. For some points, the friction is what provides the sway control, and you don't want to lube that. In Brownie's example above, the round bars do not provide any friction sway control, so they should be greased where they enter the hitch head. However, I would not use standard grease on an Equalizer hitch head with 4-point friction sway control. They make a "lubricant" to use on the spring bar pockets, but IIRC, it's not standard grease, it's more like Vaseline. Vaseline is a very inefficient lubricant under pressure and works more to cut the noise than provide lubrication. Either way, if your spring bars hang in brackets on the trailer tongue that provide friction sway control, you definitely don't want to lube those points. I have been known to use Vaseline there, but I used very little, and wiped it off after a few tows and the noise has calmed down significantly.
Either way, I would still grease the hitch ball.
Just my pair o' pennies.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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07-25-2014, 03:40 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellaire
Posts: 39
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Still confused
My sway bars are square and not round. They are Reese and about 30 years old. The rear has the chain links, and the front is where it goes into the pocket area and does the moving left and right.
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07-26-2014, 10:34 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Greater Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,393
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
Be careful about greasing friction rotation points on your WDH/sway control hitch. For some points, the friction is what provides the sway control, and you don't want to lube that. In Brownie's example above, the round bars do not provide any friction sway control, so they should be greased where they enter the hitch head. However, I would not use standard grease on an Equalizer hitch head with 4-point friction sway control. They make a "lubricant" to use on the spring bar pockets, but IIRC, it's not standard grease, it's more like Vaseline. Vaseline is a very inefficient lubricant under pressure and works more to cut the noise than provide lubrication. Either way, if your spring bars hang in brackets on the trailer tongue that provide friction sway control, you definitely don't want to lube those points. I have been known to use Vaseline there, but I used very little, and wiped it off after a few tows and the noise has calmed down significantly.
Either way, I would still grease the hitch ball.
Just my pair o' pennies.
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Good points, CB! I should have mentioned NOT to lube the friction sway control. And thanks for bringing up the Vaseline on the Equalizer hitch head, as well.
__________________
2013 Eagle 266RKS
2011 Ford F-150 w/3.5L Ecoboost & H.D. Tow Package
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07-26-2014, 10:50 AM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cobblestone1820
snip..... and the front is where it goes into the pocket area and does the moving left and right.
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..... Yes, it's the "pockets" in the ball mount where you apply some grease. Sounds like you have the trunnion (square) style spring bars, not the round style.
Bob
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2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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07-26-2014, 01:53 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellaire
Posts: 39
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Hmmmmmm
But the pockets is where the friction DOES take place.
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07-26-2014, 02:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,217
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It doesn't sound like your hitch is designed to provide integrated sway control, (weight distribution only) so those spring bar sockets are most likely safe to lube. If you're towing a larger trailer, I would get a sway control to add to your setup. If you grease them, tow for a bit and see how it does, if it sucks, you can always wipe the grease off and start over.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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07-26-2014, 02:51 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellaire
Posts: 39
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I think u r right
I think you are correct Bob in that mine are just Reese weight distributing bars only. We got them back around 1984. used a few times then but havent camped now in about 24 years.
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07-26-2014, 10:55 PM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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Please note that 'Camper_bob' references a "Equalizer hitch head" in his post, which is the " Equal-i-zer" brand WDH with integrated sway control. I offer this clarification because many folks refer to a standard WDH (Reese, Draw-Tite, etc.) as an equalizer hitch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
snip...... In Brownie's example above, the round bars do not provide any friction sway control, so they should be greased where they enter the hitch head.......snip
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The above statement (which is correct) refers to WDH brand names like Reese, Draw-Tite, etc., who manufacture standard WDH's that come in either a Round Spring Bar or Trunnion (square) Spring Bar.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
snip...... I would not use standard grease on an Equalizer hitch head with 4-point friction sway control. They make a "lubricant" to use on the spring bar pockets, but IIRC, it's not standard grease, it's more like Vaseline.....snip
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The above statement (which is correct) is referring specifically to the "Equal-i-zer" brand WDH.
'Camper-bob', please advise if I'm not interpreting your statements correctly.
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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07-27-2014, 10:09 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,217
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle
Please note that 'Camper_bob' references a "Equalizer hitch head" in his post, which is the " Equal-i-zer" brand WDH with integrated sway control. I offer this clarification because many folks refer to a standard WDH (Reese, Draw-Tite, etc.) as an equalizer hitch.
The above statement (which is correct) refers to WDH brand names like Reese, Draw-Tite, etc., who manufacture standard WDH's that come in either a Round Spring Bar or Trunnion (square) Spring Bar.
The above statement (which is correct) is referring specifically to the "Equal-i-zer" brand WDH.
'Camper-bob', please advise if I'm not interpreting your statements correctly.
Bob
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Nope, that's all 100% correct!
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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07-27-2014, 10:41 AM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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...... appreciate the confirmation
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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07-27-2014, 02:54 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellaire
Posts: 39
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Thanks Guys
Thank you guys for all the very helpful information. I try to limit myself to just a couple questions a day lol.
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