SAW Top Hat "Clank"

Pops · 09-24-2009, 03:31 PM

I was getting a very slight clank tapping sound as the truck's weight shifted while articulating. I figured it might be the SAW Tophat problem that's been posted on here numerous times so I tightened the bolts down, still clanking, tightened some more and quickly snapped one in half. So yea,the bolts were plenty tight enough.

Soooo, I went down to ACE hardware to pick up a replacement Grade 8 bolt and went ahead and got some split washers to try out too. Being that the backside bolts are so dadgumned hard to get to, I only put the split washers on the two easily accessible bolts on both sides for now.

Lo & behold, the friggin' sound is GONE!!!! No more noises at all..... I hopped over a 1.5' tall parking lot curb last night just to make sure and sure enough, not a single peep.

So I called Greg earlier today to let him know and he said he's gonna start including them with the SAW orders for good measure. So for you guys getting the SAW Tophat clank, pick up some of these to put on the bolt side and see if they fix the problem for you too.

This fixed mine:

**AZPRO4X** · 09-24-2009, 06:04 PM

good catch pops....

themaildude · 09-24-2009, 06:18 PM

Thanks Pops. Don't have the problem but good to know if it develops.

yamatitan · 09-24-2009, 07:17 PM

My saw's came with those? Guess I got lucky......

EDIT: or maybe it had something to do with my aluminum top hat instead of the steel one.

WhiteTitanSe · 09-24-2009, 07:57 PM

yeah all the saws Ive intstalled came with those as well..... either way good catch pops!

Pops · 09-24-2009, 08:00 PM

Maybe I'm wrong but from the replies, does it sound like maybe that might explain why some have the clank and others don't??

54warrior · 09-25-2009, 03:59 AM

Haven't had any issues with any clanking. Not sure if mine had the lock washers or not, it's been so long.

**Juday** · 09-25-2009, 05:22 AM

Did the clank happen when the shock was being compressed, or on the rebound?

Pops · 09-25-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juday

Did the clank happen when the shock was being compressed, or on the rebound?

Neither / Both..... It was more like it was sliding over when moving onto a sideways hill then if I went onto an opposite angled hill, it sounded like it was shifting to the other side of the coil bucket. It sounded like an aluminum tapping / tinging. At first I thought a drop bracket bolt might be loose and the drop bracket was shifting so I rechecked them all. Then it dawned on me that the coilbuckets are thin steel and make that same exact sound. Then I remembered the bolts are significantly smaller than the bolt holes so I went to tighten them more.