Alignment bending jig

[jim bounds1]

Finished another six wheel alignment this evening and had a tough time.
The rear boggie wheels were both toed in and both front boggie wheels
were toed out. The job was further complicated because the frame had
settled and there were already 7 shims cambering out the boggie to
compensate for the sag! What a tired out frame. Finally, I added the 4
air bag system to the mix!

I had to shim the *#|=?" to where I could bend the arms to get proper
toe. Next, I had to add to the camber shim collection to offset the
further settling that had occured. There was some surface rust on the
inner "C" channel and suspect more hidden. This guys next stop will be
for a new set of frame rails!

The moral of this is to watch your rear alignment for problems such as
this. Surface rust could be telling you of hidden dangers! Clean &
undercoat your frame rails now before you have to replace them.

Watch your tire wear to see if you have suspension problems such as
these. The coach had cupped the tires badly and unless I had suggested
to check the alignment to the customer, he would have been happy
replacing the bad tires!

Do not mean to scare you but this is a pretty serious situation for this
poor soul and I would hope you can do something to keep your couch from
a situation such as this. I'm going to check every coach I work on from
now on for this stuff!

Jim Bounds www.gmccoop.com

 

[jim bounds1]

YOOGEEBEAR,
I'm not clear on what you mean- Does the tire not cup when the coach is
loaded? The cupping I am referring to is an uneven tire wear to the
trad of the tire as it bounces due to balance or suspension problems.
Email more info on the wear you have.

You are right in singling out the pass. side front boggie tire, that's
the one that takes the beating from curbs! If you were to see how
easily the swing arms bend during the alignment process, you would
understand how hitting one curb, pothole or recessed man hole cover
would trash the rear wheel alignment.

So far, every coach I have checked has had the pass. front boddie tire
toed in at least some amount. Look at the tire, if you see wear or
scuffing on the outside edge of that tire you probobly have a similar
situation. This is not that hard to repair as long as your wheel bearing
and swing arm pin are in good shape.

Jim Bounds www.gmccoop.com

>
> Jim;
>
> I have no rust anywhere; but do have cupping taking place on my right rear
> front wheel...the cupping almost completely dissappears/ does not occur when
> the coach is fully loaded; water, propane,fuel,people and stuff.
> What do your think?
>
> Jbiava