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Old 11-08-2014, 03:48 PM   #1
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Warning suspension problems - Hellwig Springs adjusted incorrectly from the factory

Jayco incorrectly installed the Hellwig helper springs on many Greyhawk motorhomes with the "J-Ride" package. The Redhawk brand may also be affected. If you own a Greyhawk or Redhawk motorhome I strongly suggest you inspect your Hellwig springs adjustment. I have attached photos of an incorrectly adjusted spring and a correctly adjusted spring. If the springs are not correctly adjusted the spring shackle can fail due to the bolts stripping the threads. This can cause loss of vehicle control and or death. Given the weight of the unit the Hellwig helper springs should be adjusted so there is approximately 3/4" - 1" of distance to the factory springs.
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2014-07-23 22.19.54.jpg   Hellwig helper1.jpg  
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Old 11-08-2014, 04:09 PM   #2
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Mike, I know it's a problem, but the way you worded it is misleading.

The correction would be that they were installed wrong on JAYCO MH's(not by JAYCO) that work is done by Mor-Ryde as a part of the chassis stretch.
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Old 11-08-2014, 04:13 PM   #3
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Mike, I know it's a problem, but the way you worded it is misleading.

The correction would be that they were installed wrong on JAYCO MH's(not by JAYCO) that work is done by Mor-Ryde as a part of the chassis stretch.
Thanks Grumpy! However ultimately this is Jayco's problem from a warranty perspective. End customers don't deal with Mor-Ryde. Jayco isn't doing a formal recall however if you complain they will resolve the issue.
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Old setup:
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Old 11-09-2014, 01:06 PM   #4
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Just to make sure, it's the left one that is correct, right?
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Old 11-09-2014, 01:19 PM   #5
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That looks correct, that the one on the left has the smallest distance between the two springs...
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Old 11-09-2014, 02:17 PM   #6
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The one where the springs are closer together. The picture showing the springs with several inches of clearance between the springs is incorrect. What happens if the springs are installed incorrectly the spring shackles can slap during suspension cycling.
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Old 11-09-2014, 02:25 PM   #7
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Drat, I just checked mine, and they are installed incorrectly!

Just how dangerous is this? Can it be driven at all, or does it have to be towed to a repair facility?
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Old 11-09-2014, 03:07 PM   #8
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So I went out and measured ours today and they would. To be be tween 3 1/2 and 4 inches spread on the shackle.
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Old 11-10-2014, 12:31 AM   #9
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Just wondering. Where did you get this info? I checked the Hellwig site and they were vague or had no info at all.
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Old 11-10-2014, 01:10 AM   #10
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I got it directly from the Hellwig chief Engineer. My Greyhawk shackle bolts were stripped by the excessive slop in the system. As the motorhome is loaded the factory suspension sags which is normal, the issue is if the helper springs are not tight enough the shackles can be completely unloaded during suspension cycling causing unpredictable failure or at least poor handling characteristics. The handling on my rig improved dramatically after the springs were adjusted correctly.
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Old 11-10-2014, 01:12 AM   #11
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So I went out and measured ours today and they would. To be be tween 3 1/2 and 4 inches spread on the shackle.
Yes if you are at or near your GVWR this is way off.
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Old setup:
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Old 11-10-2014, 01:13 AM   #12
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Drat, I just checked mine, and they are installed incorrectly!

Just how dangerous is this? Can it be driven at all, or does it have to be towed to a repair facility?
It can be driven but I would be carful.
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Old setup:
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Old 11-10-2014, 02:10 PM   #13
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Both the front and rear are 3 to 4 inches. Do you adjust both to @ 1" ?

Also is there a torque setting that one could use to set the proper gap?
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Old 11-10-2014, 03:10 PM   #14
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Both the front and rear are 3 to 4 inches. Do you adjust both to @ 1" ?

Also is there a torque setting that one could use to set the proper gap?
Yes that is correct. If you look for a Hellwig dealer they can do it for you. Call Jayco and ask them to pay for it. Be very careful if you intend on doing it yourself because if you have been running the unit for awhile the bolts may be stripped. If you do intend on doing it yourself I suggest using a clamp to unload the shackle to allow you to adjust the springs without a load on them. Be very careful as the springs are under a lot of force and you can be killed or injured if you have a catastrophic failure. Also remember there is an adjustment on the front and rear and both should be set between 3/4" and 1". Also for the customers that are outside the Jayco limited warranty period Hellwig has a lifetime warranty for their products. They will replace anything that fails. I strongly recommend Hellwig products. Their customer service is outstanding. The adjustment here is to adjust the spring shackles to the maximum GVWR of the vehicle as most motorhomes are usually running at or near. For other LP35 applications this adjustment value may not be correct such as on a pickup or van. It is likely that the reason that they are not adjusted correctly is because the springs are installed by Mor-Ryde before the body is installed by Jayco. After the body is installed the Ford springs will naturally sag and need more support. The key takeaway is to keep the Ford springs from bottoming out on the bump stops which the Hellwig springs help quite a lot.
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Old setup:
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Old 11-11-2014, 10:25 AM   #15
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Checked mine..solid 3 to 4" gap. Spoke with Kevin at Hellwig tech support. Not unsafe but should be adjusted to 2" according to Kevin not less than 2" at 3 or four you are only getting 2500lb benefit rather than 3500lb which is optimal. I told him to talk motoryde for what it's worth. If there is not enough thread to tighten you can have spacers added. I will have my mechanic do the job as he is the only one I trust. I'll call Jayco and ask nicely if they will reimburse what should be minimal labor. My guy is 94 per hour. Should I be more than an hour
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Old 11-11-2014, 04:55 PM   #16
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I'll call Jayco and ask nicely if they will reimburse what should be minimal labor.
Please let us know what Jayco says about this. Thanks.
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Old 11-11-2014, 07:58 PM   #17
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Good info, im gonna check mine next week if i have time. So let me know if this is right 2 inch gap between spring with truck empty. Also by increasing the tension wil it also increase the ride hight in the back which can throw off the alignment?
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Old 11-11-2014, 11:10 PM   #18
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It didn't throw off my alignment but it did handle better. I haven't spoken with Kevin at Hellwig but I was told 3/4" - 1" probably due to the weight of the 31FS. I was about 500# under max weight. It puts the ride height back where it should be and helped keep the back end from bottoming out.
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Old setup:
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:45 AM   #19
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Well, there are no Hellwig facilities within a days drive of me (sigh). I've contacted Jayco, and am waiting to hear back from them. I don't know if this is something that the dealership can handle, or whether I'll need to take it back to the factory, but mine are at about 3 1/2 inches fully loaded. I didn't need this!
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Old 11-12-2014, 08:19 AM   #20
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I talked to our closest Hellwig dealer... He had no clue about any of this. The guy is a 100 miles and did not exude confidence in me with our conversation....
I have yet to approach our dealer ....taking a wait and see given were in storage and not willing to risk winter travel. What are the chances Jayco is going to step to the plate and issue a service advisory or recall? There is a lot of bad PR here that could be avoided. Lack of dillegence in monitoring message boards like this is an outdated business model -- step up, Jayco if you are listening and care about our safety and your reputation!
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