This post may get lengthy ...... I'm going to post my info here rather than in the Solitude section because maybe more owners might look for info here rather than in the Solitude section and it might help someone else.
It's been three years since I replaced the bronze bushings January 2020 and then I also installed MORryde upgraded shackles and new wet bolts. I Completed a visual inspection this month and the springs look a little weak and the U bolts look very rusty. I have equaflex installed now and they also look a little worn. The suspension hangers look ok and not bent or deformed, but they do not have the "V" clips installed, our RV is a 2019. However we have @ 18,000 miles on the rig. This year we are taking another trip out South West and I don't want to break down on the road due to suspension problems. So I'm going to rebuild the suspension.
Now I'm not going to go with IS so this post has no correlation to Solitudes with Independent Suspensions.
I'm staying with bronze bushings for spring hung axles and not never fail bushings (nothing is ever never fail) but to order new spring hung axle parts to do the job what I needed to know was the exact leaf spring data, wheelbase, and U bolt data. I'll replace all 4 leaf springs, equaflex with MORryde CRE 3000 and install all new wet bolts, bronze bushings and upgraded shackles.
First thanks to [MENTION=26275]geotex1[/MENTION] for helping me figure out what springs and U bolts I have as he has the same RV we have and has done some of this searching and rebuilding. Now i believe all the full Solitudes and S Class Solitudes have the same spring hung type suspension, but I can't swear to that and some may have 3500# springs for 7000# axles or 4000# springs for 8000# axles, but they have the same axles tubes, hubs and suspensions, more on that later. It can be a little confusing getting the right data to know what to order. A lot of the parts web sites don't help either with conflicting dimension data.
I did send the axle part number GD 120087 Dexter 7658660 and serial number 131157791 to Dexter for info on what the axle came with. The part number info was taken off the axle data label. They sent back,
D70,Brk Axle, HF=90.00, 12x2,Elec,7K FSA Brk, Fig-EZ Lube, 2.250 Seal, 3.00xMED Wall, 8-6.50, H-D, 1/2-20 Stud, OvrSlg, SC=74.25, 1.75 Wide, 26" DblEye, 3500#, Bronzed Bushed, Sprgs, Calculate Leaf Sp Capacity, CSA TAG, Capacity=7000, Wired, 24" pigtails.
I get from that data each axle is 7000#, 90 inches long but 74.25 inches spring mount to spring mount, EZ lube axles, rear hub grease seal is 2.250 x 3 inch diameter, 8 lug nuts by 6.5 pattern with 1/2-20 studs, Leaf springs are 1.75 wide. by 26" double eye to eye loaded, 3500#, with bronze bushings with electric brakes.
You might find Dexter part numbers of 072-098-02 for the 3500# leaf springs.
Now I found out the over all spring length might be 26" loaded but the length you need will be 24 7/8 unloaded center eye to center eye. A big confusion point here when looking up parts.
Ok so I start looking up parts like on e-trailer and other sites and some of their information does and does not match up. e-trailer for example does not list, and they have told me they do not stock 3500# 6 leaf springs anymore, to upgrade to 4000# 7 leaf springs of the same dimensions. That is just the same as initially having an upgraded Solitude with 8000# axles. So why not and we end up with 8000# axles from our OEM 7000#. Its the very same axle but with heavier springs, But gotcha, that will require longer U bolts. You notice the data Dexter sent me had no info on the dimensions of the U bolts unless D70 means the U bolts. Geotex1 helped me out with the OEM U bolt dimensions and they are 1/2-20 weird size of 6 5/8 length.
So this is what I have on my list for ordering,
DX74XR (072-079-00) 4000# leaf springs, 7 leaf, 1 3/4 inch wide, 26 inch overall length - $169.89 each.
MORryde CRE-3000 - 35 for 35 inch wheelbase - $186.85 set
MR46ZR - MORryde U012-016 wet bolt and heavy shackle kit for 2 1/4 inch center eye to center eye - $112.68
CE23003 - U bolts - zink, for 1 3/4 springs, 3 inch axle tube, 1/2-20, 7 inches length - $44.56 (these might not be long enough, gotta check new spring pack thickness+3 inch axle tube)
I'll probably have to update this post and additional post, but lets get this posted first before I lose everything I've already typed in.
It's been three years since I replaced the bronze bushings January 2020 and then I also installed MORryde upgraded shackles and new wet bolts. I Completed a visual inspection this month and the springs look a little weak and the U bolts look very rusty. I have equaflex installed now and they also look a little worn. The suspension hangers look ok and not bent or deformed, but they do not have the "V" clips installed, our RV is a 2019. However we have @ 18,000 miles on the rig. This year we are taking another trip out South West and I don't want to break down on the road due to suspension problems. So I'm going to rebuild the suspension.
Now I'm not going to go with IS so this post has no correlation to Solitudes with Independent Suspensions.
I'm staying with bronze bushings for spring hung axles and not never fail bushings (nothing is ever never fail) but to order new spring hung axle parts to do the job what I needed to know was the exact leaf spring data, wheelbase, and U bolt data. I'll replace all 4 leaf springs, equaflex with MORryde CRE 3000 and install all new wet bolts, bronze bushings and upgraded shackles.
First thanks to [MENTION=26275]geotex1[/MENTION] for helping me figure out what springs and U bolts I have as he has the same RV we have and has done some of this searching and rebuilding. Now i believe all the full Solitudes and S Class Solitudes have the same spring hung type suspension, but I can't swear to that and some may have 3500# springs for 7000# axles or 4000# springs for 8000# axles, but they have the same axles tubes, hubs and suspensions, more on that later. It can be a little confusing getting the right data to know what to order. A lot of the parts web sites don't help either with conflicting dimension data.
I did send the axle part number GD 120087 Dexter 7658660 and serial number 131157791 to Dexter for info on what the axle came with. The part number info was taken off the axle data label. They sent back,
D70,Brk Axle, HF=90.00, 12x2,Elec,7K FSA Brk, Fig-EZ Lube, 2.250 Seal, 3.00xMED Wall, 8-6.50, H-D, 1/2-20 Stud, OvrSlg, SC=74.25, 1.75 Wide, 26" DblEye, 3500#, Bronzed Bushed, Sprgs, Calculate Leaf Sp Capacity, CSA TAG, Capacity=7000, Wired, 24" pigtails.
I get from that data each axle is 7000#, 90 inches long but 74.25 inches spring mount to spring mount, EZ lube axles, rear hub grease seal is 2.250 x 3 inch diameter, 8 lug nuts by 6.5 pattern with 1/2-20 studs, Leaf springs are 1.75 wide. by 26" double eye to eye loaded, 3500#, with bronze bushings with electric brakes.
You might find Dexter part numbers of 072-098-02 for the 3500# leaf springs.
Now I found out the over all spring length might be 26" loaded but the length you need will be 24 7/8 unloaded center eye to center eye. A big confusion point here when looking up parts.
Ok so I start looking up parts like on e-trailer and other sites and some of their information does and does not match up. e-trailer for example does not list, and they have told me they do not stock 3500# 6 leaf springs anymore, to upgrade to 4000# 7 leaf springs of the same dimensions. That is just the same as initially having an upgraded Solitude with 8000# axles. So why not and we end up with 8000# axles from our OEM 7000#. Its the very same axle but with heavier springs, But gotcha, that will require longer U bolts. You notice the data Dexter sent me had no info on the dimensions of the U bolts unless D70 means the U bolts. Geotex1 helped me out with the OEM U bolt dimensions and they are 1/2-20 weird size of 6 5/8 length.
So this is what I have on my list for ordering,
DX74XR (072-079-00) 4000# leaf springs, 7 leaf, 1 3/4 inch wide, 26 inch overall length - $169.89 each.
MORryde CRE-3000 - 35 for 35 inch wheelbase - $186.85 set
MR46ZR - MORryde U012-016 wet bolt and heavy shackle kit for 2 1/4 inch center eye to center eye - $112.68
CE23003 - U bolts - zink, for 1 3/4 springs, 3 inch axle tube, 1/2-20, 7 inches length - $44.56 (these might not be long enough, gotta check new spring pack thickness+3 inch axle tube)
I'll probably have to update this post and additional post, but lets get this posted first before I lose everything I've already typed in.
Last edited: