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As some on this forum will recall, several years ago some of us with Reflection 5th wheels embarked on a project to select springs to match the load being carried which differed by up to 1000 lbs side-to-side because of the way the storage is arranged in these models. More background here for anyone interested. (Particularly post #5) https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...imum-clearance
Recently, (20,000 miles later) I noticed that the trailer appeared to be leaning to the right . . . the opposite direction from the "heavy side". I have been running the OE 2600 lb springs on the right and aftermarket 3000 lb springs on the left so that the trailer rides level. So, I re-measured the loaded arch height of the springs and sure enough . . . the OE springs had flattened by 1/2" while the aftermarket springs had barely changed. Replacing the right side springs with other 2600 lb springs that I had from the original project returned the trailer to level, side-to side.
This led to the bushing discovery documented in this other thread https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...e-bushing-wear
The only way that I noticed this was because I had different springs on one side than the other. For someone running matching OE springs all around, this loss of ride height would be difficult to detect. However . . . flattening springs are over stressed springs. Monitoring loaded arch height (described in the first link) is really not that hard to do and will tell you fo sure whether your springs are deteriorating.
Rob
Recently, (20,000 miles later) I noticed that the trailer appeared to be leaning to the right . . . the opposite direction from the "heavy side". I have been running the OE 2600 lb springs on the right and aftermarket 3000 lb springs on the left so that the trailer rides level. So, I re-measured the loaded arch height of the springs and sure enough . . . the OE springs had flattened by 1/2" while the aftermarket springs had barely changed. Replacing the right side springs with other 2600 lb springs that I had from the original project returned the trailer to level, side-to side.
This led to the bushing discovery documented in this other thread https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...e-bushing-wear
The only way that I noticed this was because I had different springs on one side than the other. For someone running matching OE springs all around, this loss of ride height would be difficult to detect. However . . . flattening springs are over stressed springs. Monitoring loaded arch height (described in the first link) is really not that hard to do and will tell you fo sure whether your springs are deteriorating.
Rob