Results for "tie rod"

Engine Easy 20 min read 100 👍 0

RV Wheel Alignment Guide: Warning Signs, Cost & When to Get Service

This Class A Freightliner Chassis alignment I finished yesterday still pulls hard left through those tight campground turns — did I mess something up? who knew? 🙄

Now I'm dealing with some funky tire wear patterns and my rig seems to have developed a mind of its own on the highway - it's pulling to one side like it's trying to make an unscheduled scenic detour. I'm pretty sure I need a wheel alignment, but honestly, I have no clue what warning signs to look for or how often this service should be done.

What are the telltale signs that scream 'GET AN ALIGNMENT NOW!'? I'm specifically looking for recommendations near Glendale, AZ, and I've heard mixed things about Bell Road RV. How do I find a shop that actually knows what they're doing with big rigs like my Freightliner? And what should I expect to pay for this delightful reality check? Any guidance would be awesome before I end up as one of those viral RV fail videos! …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 87 👍 0

Ford E450 RV Tire Cupping: Causes, Diagnosis & Complete Fix Guide

Walked out to our 2017 Ford E450 Class C this morning and noticed dangerous washboard-like tire cupping on the front right - is this safe with grandkids aboard? Left side is starting to join the party too. Here's the weird part though - this beast still tracks straight as an arrow, no steering wheel shimmy, turns fine, and when I jack it up the tire doesn't wiggle around like a loose tooth.

I'm scratching my head because everything LOOKS fine. Suspension components seem solid, shocks aren't leaking like my wallet at RV parks. But could the shocks actually be shot at only 36,000 miles? And more importantly - if I just slap new tires on this thing without fixing the root cause, am I just going to end up with expensive cupped tires again? …more

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Engine Easy Research and appointment 87 👍 0

F53 Motorhome Wheel Alignment Florida: Where to Find Heavy-Duty Service Experts

Standing here looking at my F53 motorhome for the third time this year needing wheel alignment and I'm absolutely done with tire shops saying they can't handle it. I recently had six new tires and Retrobands installed at NIRVC in Georgia, along with some suspension upgrades, and now I'm in the Gainesville, Florida area for the winter. My 12'-8" tall Class A seems to be too heavy for standard alignment equipment.

I'm trying to figure out what type of shops actually have the heavy-duty equipment needed for F53 chassis alignment. Are there specific places I should be looking for, or am I gonna have to drive all over creation to find someone who can do this? Any tips on what to ask when I call around so I don't waste time showing up somewhere that can't help me? …more

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Chassis Medium 1-2 hours 86 👍 0

F53 Death Wobble DIY Fix: $20 Panhard Bar Solution

Between 60-70 mph my F53 chassis motorhome's steering wheel started violently shaking yesterday and now I'm terrified to drive anywhere. It's really scary when it happens - the whole front end starts shaking violently after hitting certain bumps or potholes.

I've been reading that this might be related to something called a panhard bar or lateral axle movement, and that there are expensive commercial solutions like the Roadmaster Tru-Trac that cost $500-700. But I'm not even 100% sure that's what's causing my problem.

Is there some kind of inexpensive way I could test or temporarily fix this issue to confirm what's actually wrong before I spend that much money? I'm reasonably handy but don't want to make things worse. Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours for thorough inspection 84 👍 0

2022 Newmar Bay Star 3609 Steering Play & Tire Wear Issues

Nobody told me what steering play should feel like on a 2022 Newmar Bay Star 3609 with 11k miles, and I'm worried these issues aren't normal. The coach has Liquid Springs and a Safe T Plus steering stabilizer that were professionally installed right after delivery, so I expected the steering to be really tight.

However, the owner mentioned there's still noticeable steering wheel play, and when I looked at the tires, the outer edge of the right front is significantly worn while the left front looks perfectly even. For such low mileage, this seems concerning to me. The owner says he gets annual alignments done professionally, so if it's not alignment causing this, what else could it be?

I'm worried there might be something seriously wrong with the chassis or steering components that could be dangerous or expensive to fix. Am I being overly cautious, or are these red flags I should walk away from? I really don't want to buy someone else's problem, especially when it comes to steering safety. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 81 👍 0

Ford E-450 Motorhome Alignment: Complete Caster Adjustment Guide for RVs

After following the Ford manual's factory alignment specs on my 2019 E-450 chassis, this house-on-wheels still wanders like a drunk tourist in Vegas. I'm pretty sure it needs a caster adjustment, but I'm confused about the actual process.

Do I need cam bolts or shims to adjust the caster on an E-450? And what's the sweet spot for positive caster degrees to keep this beast tracking straight? Also heard something about toe adjustments being important after messing with caster - is that really necessary or just another way for the shop to separate me from my beer money? …more

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General Easy N/A - finding a shop 79 👍 0

Best RV Front End Alignment Shops in Seattle - Class A Motorhome Service Centers

Before backing out of the driveway this morning, I noticed our new Class A Winnebago pulling hard to the right when it was tracking perfectly straight yesterday. Most regular tire shops take one look at this beast and say nope!

Anyone know good spots in the Seattle area that actually have the right equipment for Class A rigs? Getting tired of white-knuckling it down the interstate when a semi passes by. …more

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Engine Hard 3-4 hours per spring 79 👍 0

F53 Chassis Leaf Spring Problems: Signs of Failure and Replacement Guide

Got a 2001 F53 chassis with leaf springs making weird noises and the RV feels unstable—is this dangerous with my grandkids riding along? Specifically for my RV, I want to know what to look for during inspection of the passenger side front spring. I'm considering replacing the stock springs (2750# rating) with new springs rated at 3750#, as my front axle weight when loaded is 6000#. Are there particular areas I should focus on when checking the springs? Also need to understand how urgent replacement is if I find problems. …more

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Engine Easy 30 minutes 79 👍 0

How to Center Your RV Steering Wheel After Wheel Alignment

Replaced the wheel alignment on my 2018 Class A motorhome and now the steering wheel is sitting crooked — should I fix it myself or go back? I have an RV with an F53 chassis, and after getting an alignment, my steering wheel sits crooked when I'm driving straight - it's off by what looks like 30-45 degrees to the right. The RV tracks straight down the road just fine, but having to hold the wheel at an angle is driving me absolutely crazy on long trips.

I know this chassis uses an older steering system similar to what was used in the 1920s, and from what I understand, the drag link isn't adjustable. I've already installed a big steering stabilizer, but I'm concerned about how this offset might affect the steering box's performance. The steering shop seems busy, and I'm worried they'll just brush me off or charge me again. Is there a good way to center the steering wheel without major mechanical intervention? I really need to get this sorted out before our next big trip - any advice would be hugely appreciated! …more

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General Medium 2-4 days for complete installation 75 👍 0

Coachman Euro F53 Chassis Upgrades: Air vs Incremental

Finally hit my budget limit after other RV repairs — is there a way to fix my Coachman Euro 28' F53 Godzilla handling issues for under $500? After 18+ years driving diesel pushers, this thing rides like a covered wagon and steers like a shopping cart at highway speeds. I've gotten quotes for a full air ride suspension conversion at $30K, but that's nearly 20% of the $160K I paid for this RV.

I'm seriously considering the incremental upgrade route instead - maybe $15K spread across Koni shocks, Sumo Springs, sway bars, SuperSteer components, and better tires. Everyone says you can make meaningful improvements this way, but I'm worried I'll still end up disappointed and out the money.

Has anyone actually made their F53 chassis livable with the incremental approach? Can I really get 80% of the benefit for half the cost, or am I just throwing good money after bad? I need this thing to be safe and comfortable for Florida highway driving, but I'm tired of dumping money into what feels like a lost cause. …more

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Engine Medium 2 hours 75 👍 0

How to Replace 1995 Ford F53 Rear Sway Bar Bushings - Complete RV Repair Guide

Staring at my 1995 Ford F53 motorhome's rear sway bar bushings that look perfectly fine, probably a dumb question but why does this thing sway like crazy over every bump? I can hear some clunking back there and the handling feels loose and wallowy.

I'm planning to tackle this myself (because apparently I enjoy spending my weekends cursing at rusty bolts). When replacing these axle bushings, be extremely careful with bolt alignment. The nuts are welded to the bracket, and if you don't align everything precisely, you risk cross-threading, which can turn a simple job into a much longer project - I learned this the hard way and had to chisel off a nut.

I've got some photos documenting my process and can share those if anyone's interested. I did not need to replace the upper sway bar tie rod bushings this time. Should I stick with the original rubber ones or is it worth upgrading to something better? And since I'll already be crawling around under there getting dirty, are there any other components I should check or replace while everything's accessible? …more

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Engine Medium 30 minutes diagnosis 74 👍 0

2021 Ford E-350 I-Beam Axle Pivot Bushing Wear at 36K Miles

Last week my wife casually mentioned our 2021 Ford E-350 makes creaking noises when turning and now I can't stop hearing those worn I-beam axle pivot bushings failing at just 36K miles. The passenger side tire was wearing really badly on the outside edge, and when I took it in, they found that both I-beam axle pivot bushings were worn out and needed replacement.

What's got me worried is that this happened at only 36,000 miles - that seems really early to me for bushings to fail? The RV is a 2021 model and I did have the rear raised 3/4 inch when I first bought it. Could that modification have caused this problem, or is this just normal wear for these Ford chassis? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect more issues like this or if this was just bad luck. …more

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Engine Easy N/A - informational 72 👍 0

Motorhome Steering Stabilizer: Do You Really Need One? | Complete Guide to RV Handling

Replaced the steering stabilizer on my old Class A and it completely fixed the wandering — but my 2017 Coachmen Pursuit 30FW feels totally different and I'm questioning everything. The steering requires constant correction to stay straight, and I'm worried about safety on the highway. I keep reading about steering stabilizers online, but I'm also seeing mentions of something called the "Quick Fix" and basic maintenance checks.

I don't want to spend money on a stabilizer if it's just going to mask a bigger problem, but I'm also concerned about driving without addressing the steering wander. Should I install a steering stabilizer first, or am I potentially making things worse by not fixing the root cause? What's the safest approach here? …more

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Chassis Medium 45 minutes 72 👍 0

Ford F53 Kingpin Wear Limits: Complete 2003 RV Chassis Inspection Guide

Got what started as minor steering looseness in my 2003 F53 last month, but after fixing wheel bearings and brakes I'm now dealing with serious kingpin play that's getting progressively worse. You know that moment when you grab the wheel and wiggle it, and it wiggles back a little too enthusiastically? Yeah, that's where I'm at.

I can find generic "some play is bad" advice all over the internet, but nothing specific to the F53 chassis. Does anyone know the actual wear limits or tolerance specs for kingpin play on a 2003 F53? I'd rather know if I'm dealing with "normal wear" or "time to call the professionals before this thing tries to steer itself" situation. My wallet is hoping for the former, but my survival instincts are preparing for the latter! …more

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Engine Easy 1-2 hours 68 👍 0

Class A Motorhome Wheel Balance Services in Columbus Ohio - Fix RV Steering Shimmy

Despite getting my tools ready and being determined to tackle this steering shimmy hitting my 1997 Class A motorhome at 55 mph — where should I start? Based on my troubleshooting, this appears to be a wheel balance issue, though I suspect there could also be tire wear patterns or front end component problems contributing to the vibration.

I need to locate commercial truck tire facilities in the Columbus, Ohio area that can properly handle motorhome wheel balancing services. Standard automotive shops don't have the equipment for larger RV wheels, so I'm specifically looking for commercial-grade tire service centers that can diagnose whether this is purely a balance issue or if there are additional front end problems requiring attention. …more

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