Rear leaf springs

[tankerpaul50]

Good Morning all Please can someone help i have a 2009 Burstner Privilege 700 on a fiat Ducato 3500kg I have a loud squeaking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle and have been told that it's the leaf springs Question are the springs standard or special for motorhomes. Thanks and a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all

 

[Lenny HB]

Normally the bushes that squeak, a spray with silicone or PTFE spray often sorts it.

If it's built on a chassis cab probably standard springs if on the Fiat camper chassis they will be uprated.

 

[tacr2man]

Rather too general a question . Best answer is to go to a suspension specialist who can properly assess whats needed . It may something as simple as a interleaf shim etc etc. Or as Lenny HB says try a spray

 

[Guigsy]

My 2007 van got pretty squeaky at the rear. Squirting silicone/PTFE at the leafs and the bushes at each end did help for a thousand miles or so before it needed redoing. But next time it went for an MOT, they said the bushes were shot and the bushing carriers were pretty corroded too. So I had the whole spring set replaced on both sides.

 

[Landy Andy]

Mine were standard fiat items, and replaced them we original Fiat items. I got them from Coastal Motorhomes who knew exactly what was fitted from my reg/vin. On removing the old items I thought I had wasted my time and money swapping them, as the old look good. But it stopped the noise, and then rode better, so worthwhile doing.

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[tankerpaul50]

Thank you all for your replies

 

[Jake Royd]

If I remember correctly the wee some squeaky bushes fitted as original. Modified bushes were fitted later and can be retrofitted to earlier vehicles.
We had this done it cured a squeak noted mostly when moving slowly.
We have another single clonk which it did not cure. This is where one end of one leaf touches the bush eye from memory.
I either ignore this or squirt some WD40 on it. This does cure it for a month maybe.
Two different leaf spring noises.

 

[L' Hobo]

Normally the bushes that squeak, a spray with silicone or PTFE spray often sorts it.

If it's built on a chassis cab probably standard springs if on the Fiat camper chassis they will be uprated.

According to one of the M/H magazines this month, one can get poly bushes to solve this problem.
I have never seen them?

 

[Guigsy]

According to one of the M/H magazines this month, one can get poly bushes to solve this problem.
I have never seen them?

Polyurethane bushings are often used in sports cars to make the handling more direct as there's far less flex than rubber. It also transmits more vibration and noise. And they also require lubricants to prevent them squeaking.

 

[L' Hobo]

Polyurethane bushings are often used in sports cars to make the handling more direct as there's far less flex than rubber. It also transmits more vibration and noise. And they also require lubricants to prevent them squeaking.

Interesting, I have had some on my 1989 Westfalia California since I fitted them in 2006 and have never had a squeak out of them.
Have I just been lucky?

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[Guigsy]

Interesting, I have had some on my 1989 Westfalia California since I fitted them in 2006 and have never had a squeak out of them.
Have I just been lucky?

Rubber bushings flex to achieve the movement. Poly bushings need surfaces to move over one another. When installing, they need to be greased. That grease can wash out and make them squeak.

 

[L' Hobo]

Rubber bushings flex to achieve the movement. Poly bushings need surfaces to move over one another. When installing, they need to be greased. That grease can wash out and make them squeak.

Yes, if I remember correctly, it's not a normal grease but something supplied with the bushes.
The other thing to remember of course, is the insert hole must be scrupulous clean before inserting the poly bush.

 

[mikebeaches]

If I remember correctly the wee some squeaky bushes fitted as original. Modified bushes were fitted later and can be retrofitted to earlier vehicles.
We had this done it cured a squeak noted mostly when moving slowly.

We had a 2010 Fiat Ducato-based coachbuilt motorhome which suffered from very loud squeaking on any undulations / bumps, especially at slow speed - occurred when the van was a couple of years old.

The problem was identified exactly as Jake Royd has described and apparently became a known Fiat fault. And as Jake has said, it was resolved by replacing the noisy / failed bushes with Fiat replacements with a modified design and construction.

In our case, the work was done under warranty, but it was frustrating at the time because it took a while for the issue to be pinpointed.

 

[Manic]

Has it got single or twin leaf springs, my Hymer has twin leafs and they get noisy.
I jack van up and lever the spring ends apart and apply Graphogen grease between the end of springs

 

[Winger]

My solution has always been a squirt oil can with some engine oil in it. Always seems to do the job.

Problem first noticed whilst in the throes of passion

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[Jake Royd]

We had a 2010 Fiat Ducato-based coachbuilt motorhome which suffered from very loud squeaking on any undulations / bumps, especially at slow speed - occurred when the van was a couple of years old.

The problem was identified exactly as Jake Royd has described and apparently became a known Fiat fault. And as Jake has said, it was resolved by replacing the noisy / failed bushes with Fiat replacements with a modified design and construction.

In our case, the work was done under warranty, but it was frustrating at the time because it took a while for the issue to be pinpointed.

I think from memory my work cost about £450.
The bush noise goes like a soft but clearly audible 'jiggle-jiggle' just as you are slowing for a turn etc. it's doing it all the time but engine and tyre noise drown it out at higher speeds.
My other noise is mainly a single 'dong' or 'click' when stationary and walking around the rear area.