Any Momentum owners with the 8000 lb suspension / Disc Brakes?

**Dive Bar Casanova** · 02-26-2024, 09:34 AM

Considering ordering a new 398 M with the Disc brakes and the 8000lb suspension.
Any takes? Good bad? Buy it and don't look back is what we'd like to hear.

Any side effects?
Is it working out OK?
Thank you.

**Wileykid** · 02-27-2024, 07:02 AM

I have a 320G with the 8K axles and disc brakes. They are fantastic, disc brakes should be required on trailers over, say, 10K lbs., at the weight of the trailer you are talking about, it should be mandatory. It is night and day difference in stopping power. I have never heard a negative on them, other than there is a very slight delay in the brakes applying due to the electric hydraulic pump.

I ordered mine from the factory with the 8K axles to get the higher GVWR over the 7K axles (18K lbs GVWR vs 16,800 GVWR), and the factory disc brakes. Also, for my trailer, with full water and toys, it is possible to exceed the 7K axles, where as not the 8K axles. The only negative is, a lot of us with the 8K lb axles have seem to be breaking shackle bolts around the 10-15K mile area. Not sure why, and the factory is well aware of it. The amount of failures is probably an insignificant number in the amount made, but it is happening.

**Calbar** · 02-27-2024, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Dive Bar Casanova

Considering ordering a new 398 M with the Disc brakes and the 8000lb suspension.
Any takes? Good bad? Buy it and don't look back is what we'd like to hear.

Any side effects?
Is it working out OK?
Thank you.

If you want the 8K axles and disc brakes I have heard a lot of good things from people who went with the Independent suspension and no spring hangers to break either.

Rob

**Dive Bar Casanova** · 02-27-2024, 10:24 AM

Much appreciated.
Thanks

**Dive Bar Casanova** · 02-28-2024, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by Wileykid

I have a 320G with the 8K axles and disc brakes. They are fantastic, disc brakes should be required on trailers over, say, 10K lbs., at the weight of the trailer you are talking about, it should be mandatory. It is night and day difference in stopping power. I have never heard a negative on them, other than there is a very slight delay in the brakes applying due to the electric hydraulic pump.

I ordered mine from the factory with the 8K axles to get the higher GVWR over the 7K axles (18K lbs GVWR vs 16,800 GVWR), and the factory disc brakes. Also, for my trailer, with full water and toys, it is possible to exceed the 7K axles, where as not the 8K axles. The only negative is, a lot of us with the 8K lb axles have seem to be breaking shackle bolts around the 10-15K mile area. Not sure why, and the factory is well aware of it. The amount of failures is probably an insignificant number in the amount made, but it is happening.

Do you think regularly changing-out the shackle bolts would help prevent the shearing?

**Scott'n'Wendy** · 02-28-2024, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by Dive Bar Casanova

Do you think regularly changing-out the shackle bolts would help prevent the shearing?

Probably. Regularly looking at the suspension can only help. Believe it or not, GD maintenance schedule calls for a complete suspension tear down every year.

But......I can't help but think you are looking at another one because of the suspension issue you have/had with the present one. I'm not 100% sure but I think the hangers, equalizers etc will still be the same units on the new one. Pretty sure they use the Mor-Ryde CRE3000....which IMO, is a pretty poor equalizer. Better than the 4000, but...you know my thoughts on that. Just something to consider.

**Dive Bar Casanova** · 02-28-2024, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Scott'n'Wendy

Probably. Regularly looking at the suspension can only help. Believe it or not, GD maintenance schedule calls for a complete suspension tear down every year.

But......I can't help but think you are looking at another one because of the suspension issue you have/had with the present one. I'm not 100% sure but I think the hangers, equalizers etc will still be the same units on the new one. Pretty sure they use the Mor-Ryde CRE3000....which IMO, is a pretty poor equalizer. Better than the 4000, but...you know my thoughts on that. Just something to consider.

So probably best to go with the Independent suspension? Out here ya have to take your unit to where you bought it for service and this is the only unit with a 18' garage. No Heartland dealers. Our current GD dealer is 3 hours away and in the 3 years we've owned the unit it's spent almost half that time in for repairs. This is more to get a better dealer close to home. Maybe independent suspension is the way to roll.

**Dive Bar Casanova** · 02-28-2024, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by Calbar

If you want the 8K axles and disc brakes I have heard a lot of good things from people who went with the Independent suspension and no spring hangers to break either.

Rob

I'll look into this today. Thanks for the tip.

**KIMandALLEN1988** · 02-28-2024, 06:07 AM

Good morning. We have a 397 and ordered it with the 8k axles/disc brakes. We also installed Sumo Springs. Our previous unit was a 351 tandem axle. While obviously longer, I feel like the 397 pulls easier, is much smoother overall and is less "punishing" for lack of a better word on bumps. It's still a large trailer, but stopping is very acceptable. We just got home from a multi-month road trip/volunteer gig out west. We traveled through some challenging roads, from very rough interstates, to chuck hole filled RURAL dirt roads. We hit a bridge transition in NM that was so jarring two cars were stopped with (I assume) flats or damage. We pulled over at the next safe spot, but everything looked ok to me, including hangers/etc. I've heard this issue about the shackle bolts from others. How do you know if they are damaged? Is it obvious, a missing bolt or sheared head? Do you have to pull them and inspect? Thanks AP

**ajg617** · 02-28-2024, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by KIMandALLEN1988

How do you know if they are damaged? Is it obvious, a missing bolt or sheared head? Do you have to pull them and inspect? Thanks AP

We found out at Glacier National Park when checking torque on lugs - rear wheel moved 5 inches forward with torque wrench pressure. Spring on right rear was hanging free and bolt missing. Bolt on left rear was broken in two and wedged into the spring eye. Hangers and springs were ruined. Momentum pulled in next day with a missing bolt and and hanging spring at neighboring campground - found out from a mobile tech that helping us both. I intend on installing IS as I don't want to go through this every year.