This Sportsmobile just keeps making me smarter .....
So, was doing a rear brake job this weekend when I noticed this ....
Clearly a sheared center pin. I was going to tackle the job myself only to find that the nuts on the inboard u-bolt where seized. Put it back together the best I could. Monday morning found a great shop that could work on it Tuesday.
They repaired it this morning. Theory is that the u-bolts loosened up, the bottom of the center pin sheared off, then the spring pack started sliding around (explains some bad noises I heard last time I was 4wheeling).
Center pin really shouldn't look like this:
I had re-torqued the u-bolts once after Deaver put them on, but I guess they should be checked more than just once in their life.
I also learned from the tech today that the fastest way to check if they are tight is to tap the u-bolt with a hammer. If you get a "ping", they are good. If you get a "thud" they need to be tightened. He did this on the remaining u-bolts and found two more lose ones.
Sure am glad I discovered this in the comfort of my own driveway instead of out in the middle of nowhere.
My goal is to continue to teach by example ....
Phil