Lazy Daze Owners' Group

sorry--need more feedback from the list

December 17, 2012, 04:21:32 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 135748

---

Well, after a trying unsuccessfully to get a few other things fixed that were not going right with repairs, I insisted that the front end/alignment/steering be checedk by the reputable Ford Truck Service Center here in AZ.
 Instead the repair shop took it to one of their RV people, a Charlie Echols.... his report was it was "within specs" and the reason it is "wandering" and there is so much play in the steering wheel now is because the rear springs are sagging and it is unloading the front end....

Having had it to the same Sanderson Ford Service Center in April of 2010, and having driven it back and forth to Northern Ca. to AZ, AND not experiencing any such issues with the rig, and it being parked til the accident, i find this strange, and more than a little suspicious.
 This is a 30ft. IB, 1998...has anyone else ever had this announcement made concerning 'sloppy' steering?? Has anyone on this list had to do anything about 'sagging springs' and if so, what are we talking about in the way of cost?

Any information or feedback concerning the springs, and issues with steering would be greatly appreciated.

Again, I did NOT have any such issues before the accident.

---

Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "CHERRYOTTE" our litte red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."

Re: sorry--need more feedback from the list

Reply #2 – December 18, 2012, 12:53:50 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 135772

---

Hello Gini!
 Gini, In my opinion, The ONLY way that the front end/alignment/steering could be competently checked would be to level the RV and use instrumentation to record the actual alignment of the front AND rear wheels with respect to the factory specifications for your RV.  The results would be available in a printed report that identified the Ford specifications, allowable tolerances and exactly where your RV was measured, hopefully within those tolerances.  If they did not give you or show you that report, you did not get what you asked for!

And on the other hand:
 Also note that a typical cause of 'road wander' in a RV is that it is not loaded correctly.  According to what Henderson's in Grants Pass, Oregon told us, the most common user fault for our Ford Chassis Class C's is that the front axle is not evenly loaded fairly close to, but definitely under, its rated maximum load.  If the load bias is the other way around, you can experience a wallow somewhat akin to a  porcine with well greased hindquarters.

Don McG, Retired Journeyman Mechanic, Retired Professional Engineer, EX- LD MB