Community Forums

quake · 07-19-2010, 01:32 PM

I have a 2007Country Coach Inspire 40' with 5200 miles on it and it wanders out on the open road.It seems to have about 2" of play in the steering wheel left to right. It takes any little groove and follows it. Is this common for the Country Coach? I bought it new with about 1200 miles on it so I am not thinking anything can be worn out but maybe out of line. The dealer I bought it from says that is typicial for these coaches.
Anybody agree?

rdchevelle · 07-19-2010, 05:52 PM

no i don't agree.it sounds to me your toe in and out is towed out too much.are tires s tarting to show any kind of inside wear?

B Bob · 07-19-2010, 09:50 PM

I have what I consider a good steering 2002 Affinity. It does not track like a good car. But it drives well. Your steering sounds to me far far far worse than my wanting mine to drive like a Porsche. Generally speaking when a new coach like yours wanders the Castor is not right. Positive castor generally helps your wheels self center. But your comment about two inches of slop, something is not right. On my previous motor home (A GMC) there was an adjustment in the gearbox that would take out some of the play / slop. I don't know if the box on our coaches can do that. In addition you need to have checked the connections for all the steering arms, pinions, and so on.

But again. IMHO these buses do not track like a Porsche. To have something drive like a Porsche there is no substitute for the real thing. Or for that matter a newer Buick, Toyota, or Ford. All those vehicles do not have the "sail" area of a big box.

Papa_Jim · 07-19-2010, 10:51 PM

Please have someone check to see if your steering box has an adjustment screw to adjust the freeplay in the steering wheel.

I struggled with exactly the same issue that you're having for almost two years. I paid two 'qualified' alignment shops really good money to go through everything, and still, ... it wandered ... exactly like you're talking about.

Finally, one day, I got at it myself, and realized that my steering box had an adjustment screw. By the time I was finished, the play in the steering wheel was gone, and my coach no longer wandered and tracked the ruts!

Then I installed a steering stabilizer and it helped a lot! So, I'm convinced, the most important thing is get rid of any free play in the steering box, and add a steering stabilizer.

I agree, a beast this size cannot be expected to handle like it's on rails. But, you shouldn't have to be constantly fighting with it to keep it between the lines, either.

Good luck!

NALSO · 07-19-2010, 11:48 PM

quake.

I agree with jimkate, adjust the "free play" on the steering box, the best way to do this is to lift the front wheels off the groung so you have no pressure against the wheels. The free play on the steering wheel should than be between 10:00 and 2:00 o clock. If you adjust it too tight your wheel will not return to the straight ahead position after you make a turn.

Make sure that you use jack stands before you crawl under the coach.

Henry.