Wandering steering/response/fishtailing

boybach

boybach

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2020
1,033
195
63
Well lads the front end is done. As far as I can tell the parts are all new and the steering box has been centered. The whole front end setup checks
out.
The coach is still a handful to keep straight; maybe not as bad as it was when I drove the 400km to base camp, but still not what I would call OK.

My test drives have been pretty short following all the adjustments, not sure if things will settle in a bit more but now I'm thinking it could be a
problem in the rear wheels.

Any advice on how to start checking the situation back there?

thanks

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
New parts arent always good enough. Everything has to be tight, the alignment has to be spot on, the bogies need to be tight.
________________________________
From: twlldeen
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2021 12:40:50 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: Wandering steering/response/fishtailing

Well lads the front end is done. As far as I can tell the parts are all new and the steering box has been centered. The whole front end setup checks
out.
The coach is still a handful to keep straight; maybe not as bad as it was when I drove the 400km to base camp, but still not what I would call OK.

My test drives have been pretty short following all the adjustments, not sure if things will settle in a bit more but now I'm thinking it could be a
problem in the rear wheels.

Any advice on how to start checking the situation back there?

thanks

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
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When everything's right, two finger steering is easy.

Bogie Pins can't be loose...

Correct mid/rear wheel toe with porta-power; mid passenger side wheel is often toed in from brushing curves turning right. The bogies move around a
lot when turning, so a nice straight approach before stopping and measuring is necessary.

Did you set ride height and confirm after a drive? Same with toe?

Absolutely sure no play anywhere in front? Relay arm can rock and create play.

How much caster do you have?
--
Bill Van Vlack
'76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid
November 2015.
 
Larry,
I have been involved with the steering issues starting in 1990 when most
were starting on RADIAL TIRES. The Bias Belted tires were great, but I
could not get but 20,000 miles before they wore out.
What is the BIG DEAL of radial tires???
About 8 years ago I started to find out that our ORIGINAL front
alignment specs were not useful.
Once the FACTORY publishes such data, it is almost impossible to have it
changed, therefore the expensive alignment machines are storing worthless
data and think it is great when it is worthless.
I learn from people that know a lot and are willing to share.
The latest specs to follow for front end is:
To in/out: Negative 1/16"
Caster: 3- 4 1/2 degrees Positive
Camber: Slightly Negative.
I try to have my tech start with such small BS procedure as air pressure,
rear and front height (both sides) play in the rear pins and Front end
Knuckle/ bearing play,
Do we have 100% success??
No, mabe 80%.
I am open to discuss with all on this or other issues on the phone, please
never Gmail as it is totally non business,

> Well lads the front end is done. As far as I can tell the parts are all
> new and the steering box has been centered. The whole front end setup checks
> out.
> The coach is still a handful to keep straight; maybe not as bad as it was
> when I drove the 400km to base camp, but still not what I would call OK.
>
> My test drives have been pretty short following all the adjustments, not
> sure if things will settle in a bit more but now I'm thinking it could be a
> problem in the rear wheels.
>
> Any advice on how to start checking the situation back there?
>
> thanks
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
> Larry,
> I have been involved with the steering issues starting in 1990 when most
> were starting on RADIAL TIRES. The Bias Belted tires were great, but I
> could not get but 20,000 miles before they wore out.
> What is the BIG DEAL of radial tires???
> About 8 years ago I started to find out that our ORIGINAL front
> alignment specs were not useful.
> Once the FACTORY publishes such data, it is almost impossible to have it
> changed, therefore the expensive alignment machines are storing worthless
> data and think it is great when it is worthless.
> I learn from people that know a lot and are willing to share.
> The latest specs to follow for front end is:
> To in/out: Negative 1/16"
> Caster: 3- 4 1/2 degrees Positive
> Camber: Slightly Negative.
> I try to have my tech start with such small BS procedure as air pressure,
> rear and front height (both sides) play in the rear pins and Front end
> Knuckle/ bearing play,
> Do we have 100% success??
> No, mabe 80%.
> I am open to discuss with all on this or other issues on the phone, please
> never Gmail as it is totally non business,
>
>

>
> > Well lads the front end is done. As far as I can tell the parts are all
> > new and the steering box has been centered. The whole front end setup checks
> > out.
> > The coach is still a handful to keep straight; maybe not as bad as it was
> > when I drove the 400km to base camp, but still not what I would call OK.
> >
> > My test drives have been pretty short following all the adjustments, not
> > sure if things will settle in a bit more but now I'm thinking it could be a
> > problem in the rear wheels.
> >
> > Any advice on how to start checking the situation back there?
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Larry
> > --
> > Larry - Victoria BC -
> >
> > 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> > working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

Thanks Jim, I call you in a few, right now back working on the Onan.

thanks

Larry

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
> New parts arent always good enough. Everything has to be tight, the alignment has to be spot on, the bogies need to be tight.

Ok, know dick about the bogies yet other than I just installed JimK's greasers ...how do I check that the bogies are indeed tight? What part needs
tightening?

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
There are pins in the bogie box, one per bogie, that allow the bogies to swing up and down. Those pins wear, as well as the bushings they ride in, and
become loose. The GMC vendors sell replacement pins and bushings.
--
Bill Van Vlack
'76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid
November 2015.
 
To Check the rear pins is to lift the rear , can be done one side at a time.
Bleed off the air from the air bag and grab each tire and rock it
horizontally , they should not have any obvious slop.
Sometimes one can place a tape trom the frame and mark the tire tread and
see if you can get more than 1/16", then one will need to contact us to
barrow the reamer and acquire the pins and bushings .

On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 9:46 PM Bill Van Vlack
wrote:

> There are pins in the bogie box, one per bogie, that allow the bogies to
> swing up and down. Those pins wear, as well as the bushings they ride in,
> and
> become loose. The GMC vendors sell replacement pins and bushings.
> --
> Bill Van Vlack
> '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath,
> Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o
> mid
> November 2015.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
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