I am amazed that a firestorm has started on an issue that is not an issue
and has never been an issue to those that properly maintain their coaches.
There is nothing wrong with the engineering or application of the OEM hubs,
knuckles or bearings on the GMC motorhome.Thy are more than strong enough
for the application. ONE BIG EXCEPTION AND THAT IS IF THEY ARE PROPERLY
MAINTAINED!!!!!
Ask Dave Greenberg if he has ever had problems with his, and how many sets
he has used since new?
Never have I witnessed such stubborness by some that just cannot except the
fact that in this case there is not more than one way to skin a cat. You
have to maintain the coach in the way that makes it safe to drive. That
means maintaining the suspension in a way that has been proven to work.
Bottom line is that you cannot properly maintain the front hubs, knuckles,
torsion bars etc without the proper tools and the knowhow to use them.
People are looking for an alternative solution when most cannot even
properly take care of the original configuration. How are you going to
maintain the new "improvement" if you cannot maintain the original?
I have heard people admit that they have cut off the old bearings with a
torch and put new bearings on (in my estimation a very dangerous practice),
never admitting that they probably re-installed the wrong bearings and seals
with the wrong tools and all without checking the tolerances of the hubs and
knuckles, ,thereby compounding the original problem. You are asking for
trouble if you maintain your coach that way. The June 1996 issue of the
Cinnabar publication has the proper step by step method of removing,
checking and reinstalling the new bearings, hubs and knuckles and seals.
Why not follow it?
Ask any authorized GMC repair facility how many coaches come in with poor
shoddy work done by someone previously. Work that is unsafe.
don't believe it than lets do a survey and be honest about it.
1. How many have got the proper tools to remove the hubs from the knuckles
and the bearings from the hub. A slide hammer? A bearing puller made to
remove the GMC bearings?
2. How many have a seal installation driver, to properly install the seals
without distorting them and at the right depth?
3. How many have a calibrated torque wrench that goes to 250 ft# for the
steel wheels and 150 ft# for the Alcoas?
4. How many know how to check the new or old bearings for axial clearance?
Know how to clean and check the races and bearings for defects?
5 Know how to properly pack a new bearing and how much grease to leave on
them when installing it in the knuckle?
6. How many know how to properly check the upper or lower ball joints for
wear and defects(and yes there are brand new ball joints that are not
properly manufactured? Cinnabar found some brand new ball joints that had
the grease fittings improperly installed so that it was impossible to
properly grease the fittings.
I am not trying to argue with or embarrass anyone. Neither am I trying to
imply that I have all of the answers. We all have to learn how to do things
the correct way. but unfortunatly being taught the wrong way of doing
things can prove disasterous.
]
What do I recommend? join the nearest GMC Motorhome club, they normally have
the correct tools if you cannot afford them and want to do the maintenance
yourself. Or buy the correct tools to do the work. But if you are not
willing to do either, than take it to a recommended GMC authorized repair
facility, make sure that they have the knowhow (show them the cinnabar
article and ask if that is how they do it)proper tools and than let them do it.
just my 5 cents american or 10 cents canadian, or 6 pfennigs german.
>In a message dated 2/6/99 8:43:16 PM Central Standard Time, jdolan
>writes:
>
> >I don't know if everyone agrees that the offset wheels on the front are
> >as big a problem as they are made out to be. From different reports,
> >there are people that are using these wheels. I have not heard of any
> >failure reports. In the case of this modification, I would think that
> >any failure reports would be spread very rapidly throughout the GMC
> >community.
> >>
>The way my luck's been running, if I put 'em on, I wouldn't get out of the
>driveway - no, I'd get 37 miles out of Podunk and both would fall off, and the
>wrecker couldn't get under it & I'd have to find a Sikorsky to bring her home.
>GM's design may not be to some folks' liking, but until I see something tried
>and proven, I'll stick to what I've got.
>That's the last I'm going to say on that dead horse & ain't gonna read no mo'
>threads 'bout.
>Lanier
>'73 BeenThereDoneThat
>Jackson, MS
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
and has never been an issue to those that properly maintain their coaches.
There is nothing wrong with the engineering or application of the OEM hubs,
knuckles or bearings on the GMC motorhome.Thy are more than strong enough
for the application. ONE BIG EXCEPTION AND THAT IS IF THEY ARE PROPERLY
MAINTAINED!!!!!
Ask Dave Greenberg if he has ever had problems with his, and how many sets
he has used since new?
Never have I witnessed such stubborness by some that just cannot except the
fact that in this case there is not more than one way to skin a cat. You
have to maintain the coach in the way that makes it safe to drive. That
means maintaining the suspension in a way that has been proven to work.
Bottom line is that you cannot properly maintain the front hubs, knuckles,
torsion bars etc without the proper tools and the knowhow to use them.
People are looking for an alternative solution when most cannot even
properly take care of the original configuration. How are you going to
maintain the new "improvement" if you cannot maintain the original?
I have heard people admit that they have cut off the old bearings with a
torch and put new bearings on (in my estimation a very dangerous practice),
never admitting that they probably re-installed the wrong bearings and seals
with the wrong tools and all without checking the tolerances of the hubs and
knuckles, ,thereby compounding the original problem. You are asking for
trouble if you maintain your coach that way. The June 1996 issue of the
Cinnabar publication has the proper step by step method of removing,
checking and reinstalling the new bearings, hubs and knuckles and seals.
Why not follow it?
Ask any authorized GMC repair facility how many coaches come in with poor
shoddy work done by someone previously. Work that is unsafe.
don't believe it than lets do a survey and be honest about it.
1. How many have got the proper tools to remove the hubs from the knuckles
and the bearings from the hub. A slide hammer? A bearing puller made to
remove the GMC bearings?
2. How many have a seal installation driver, to properly install the seals
without distorting them and at the right depth?
3. How many have a calibrated torque wrench that goes to 250 ft# for the
steel wheels and 150 ft# for the Alcoas?
4. How many know how to check the new or old bearings for axial clearance?
Know how to clean and check the races and bearings for defects?
5 Know how to properly pack a new bearing and how much grease to leave on
them when installing it in the knuckle?
6. How many know how to properly check the upper or lower ball joints for
wear and defects(and yes there are brand new ball joints that are not
properly manufactured? Cinnabar found some brand new ball joints that had
the grease fittings improperly installed so that it was impossible to
properly grease the fittings.
I am not trying to argue with or embarrass anyone. Neither am I trying to
imply that I have all of the answers. We all have to learn how to do things
the correct way. but unfortunatly being taught the wrong way of doing
things can prove disasterous.
]
What do I recommend? join the nearest GMC Motorhome club, they normally have
the correct tools if you cannot afford them and want to do the maintenance
yourself. Or buy the correct tools to do the work. But if you are not
willing to do either, than take it to a recommended GMC authorized repair
facility, make sure that they have the knowhow (show them the cinnabar
article and ask if that is how they do it)proper tools and than let them do it.
just my 5 cents american or 10 cents canadian, or 6 pfennigs german.
>In a message dated 2/6/99 8:43:16 PM Central Standard Time, jdolan
>writes:
>
> >I don't know if everyone agrees that the offset wheels on the front are
> >as big a problem as they are made out to be. From different reports,
> >there are people that are using these wheels. I have not heard of any
> >failure reports. In the case of this modification, I would think that
> >any failure reports would be spread very rapidly throughout the GMC
> >community.
> >>
>The way my luck's been running, if I put 'em on, I wouldn't get out of the
>driveway - no, I'd get 37 miles out of Podunk and both would fall off, and the
>wrecker couldn't get under it & I'd have to find a Sikorsky to bring her home.
>GM's design may not be to some folks' liking, but until I see something tried
>and proven, I'll stick to what I've got.
>That's the last I'm going to say on that dead horse & ain't gonna read no mo'
>threads 'bout.
>Lanier
>'73 BeenThereDoneThat
>Jackson, MS
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
