Community Forums

Renipladlo · 08-08-2015, 09:42 AM

Talk to Engineer Mike, he can help you with that. That is where I got mine.

Owlhh · 12-09-2015, 11:54 PM

Emile how much are your kits?

How can I order one?

Howard 2003 40' alpine

Old Scout · 12-10-2015, 06:22 AM

The aforementioned "upgrade" kit does not apply to 03 and earlier coaches--just those with the newer steering box frame design. Solution for older coaches that show stress fractures or cracks is to re-weld them and or add genric stiffening.....

DrDaveMA · 12-10-2015, 09:56 PM

Old Scout is correct, the postings above (in this thread) discuss the older coaches.

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Dave, Bobbi and Fenway

Ken L. · 12-20-2015, 11:25 AM

This has been interesting. As I was introduced to the Bracket issue by Redlands Truck a few years, I figured I had better inspect my 03 Alpine Sure enough-- cracks. I have a lot of tools so I built and installed a solution. As I see it, the road impact from the front tires is transferred either forward or backward to the steering gear and bracket.
The bracket flexes at the corners and fatigues the metal until it cracks. I built this to STOP the flexing it might be a little "overbuilt" but I think better safe than sorry.
Mike has said that he hopes others might tackle the issue, this is my response. I will try to up load pictures. This might help someone to understand the issue. Ken
Sorry. I can not seem to add the pictures???

Ken L. · 12-20-2015, 11:55 AM

I might have one picture for you. Ken

wolfe10 · 12-20-2015, 04:17 PM

Wow, Ken, ready for the Baja!

Thanks for the picture-- will keep that in the file for future reference.

Brett
2003 Alpine 38FDDS

Ken L. · 01-08-2016, 05:33 PM

I found those Pics. I was looking for. These are for clarity.
I hope this helps someone who will need to deal with this problem. Ken

DrDaveMA · 01-08-2016, 11:00 PM

Now that a BRACKET!!!!

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swprdog · 03-05-2017, 05:26 PM

Ken, I just looked at my 05 and there is nothing, no cracks but also no reinforcement, I think I can build one and, because my wife calls me OK(over kill), yours looks like one to imitate. Would you change the design at all? Why did you choose to weld, and not bolt, the forward part of the bracket to the oem bracket? Thanks for any input before I embark on this project.
Pat

Ken L. · 03-07-2017, 09:44 AM

OK [Pat] There is nothing I would do differently. Since the Pitman Arm exerts the turning and road impacts in a forward & rearward direction, and the cracks seem to develop in the bends of the bracket, I thought I wanted to do this job only once. Bigger is better when welding a reinforcement. There is a piece of metal inside the OEM bracket that would interfere with installing enough bolts to secure my bracket to the OEM bracket. My installation is welded to the OEM bracket thus making it ONE bracket. If you were to remove the OEM bracket my reinforcement would unbolt from the frame and come off with the OEM bracket. I am pretty sure that the metal used in the original OEM bracket was not heavy enough to withstand the forces applied while driving down these crappy roads we have these days. Potholes exert a HUGE force on the steering system. As a wild n crazy kid I had an old ford to kick around in the hills with. I managed to tear the steering box off of the frame late one night out in the hills, that COMPLETLY stopped my control of the car. Believe me, you don't want to have that happen to your Motorhome. Good luck and thanks for asking, Ken

Alpine03 · 05-23-2017, 09:36 AM

Hi Ken
I'm a new owner of a 34' 03.
My coach tends to wander going down the highway. I better check my coach for cracks. Do you have dimensions for your bracket? I'm a mechanical engineer and you did a great job at designing that bracket! Anything else i can do on the steering to solve wandering or is it because of the short size of the coach? My coach only has 35k miles on it.

Old Scout · 05-23-2017, 10:30 AM

In addition to the mounting bracket....here are a few other possibilities for wandering: 1-drag link ends; 2-steering box gear; 3-tie rod ends; 4-shocks; 5-alignment [toe-in and caster] and 6-[my personal favorite] the end bushings on the pan-hard torsion bars [frame to axle].....although these wear issues seem unlikely for a coach with only 35k miles....

EngineerMike · 05-30-2017, 06:11 PM

Whatever you do, don't weld on the frame w/out disconnecting all computerized gizmos first (ECM, TCM, ABS brain, Gauge brain (message center in case of an '03, speedo in case of Actia gauges 2005-2009), Vansco's if so equipped, Silverleaf if so equipped, Trans shift pad on 2006+, and I'm probably missing a couple three other computerized gizzies that escaped into the expanding space left by my progressively atrophying brain.