f-53 alignment?

[johnnyjoe]

On my f-53 when the steering wheel is striaght the coach will pull to right. If I hold the steering wheel at 10 o'clock with constant pressure the coach goes striaght. If I let go of the wheel coach will pull to right. I noticed with the steering wheel straight when parked that the drivers side tire is striaght ahead, and the passenger side tire is toed out. How can this be fixed if the f-53 only adjust both tires at the same time with the drag link? Any experts?

[John Hilley]

By removing the steering wheel. Ford has a bulletin

Clear vision steering wheel centering

[tncruiser]

check your owners manual on my 2011 it say 1 year warranty on alignment
brianj

[koda59]

WHen the chassi is built they do an aliegment without the body on it. After they build the body they donot do another aliegnment. Best thing to do is take it to someone that does big truck aliegment and have them do an aliegnment. When you leave the wheel go it should not pull but go straight.

[John Mo]

Get the alignment checked. With mine, the caster was wrong. My symptoms were much like yours -- always steering off center to hold a straight line. With Winnebago, they claim they do an alignment at the factory, but I found out all they do is check the toe. Looks like you have a brand new unit. Mine pulled to the right from day one both loaded and unloaded. Don't let anyone put you off about it. Ford and Winnebago played hot potato with me. My dealer finally paid for the corrective work.

[YO-Vista, Ca]

Hi John, make sure a TRUCK place does the alignment for you. I've had the dealership try it on mine and the problem went away slightly, but took it to a TRUCK place and they fixed it with no problem. As an aside, I also experienced the dreaded front end shake several times since I owned this rig and I mentioned it to the TRUCK place and they fixed that for me as well. Currently half way on a 8-10,000 mile trip and have hit some nasty roads and the rig hung in there just fine. Also don't have that BIG truck push when they come along side me anymore.

Good Luck
Ed

[safari1]

They had to put in new bushings to adjust the camber/caster on my ford e350 safari, it was so far out. Like some previous post said, the chassis factory does align but after the coach is put on they do not. Go to a good truck/rv alignment shop they will fix you up.

[johnnyjoe]

Well I decided to align the thing myself, I am pretty mechanically inclined. I found a page on the internet on home alignment, and read through toe-in and toe-out part. The guy who wrote this said something I agree with, you should never have to re-center the steering wheel. If you have too this means something is wrong or wore out with the vehicle. I know for sure that when that Ford left the plant that the steering wheel was straight. After the body was put on it changed the toe-in to a tow-out. I checked this with very careful measurements, and it showed the passenger tire was off .2in. I loosened both sides of tie rod, and adjusted one full turn, or about .1. You would not believe the change, steering wheel is straight, no pull to the right, no having to hold the steering wheel in the 10 o'clock position, no more wandering all over, and If I let go the bus goes straight down the road. It drives like a car, very relaxed hold on the wheel. I made my measurements with the steering wheel showing the blue oval level. I will watch for tire wear, but I think it is fine now.

PS: I had it aligned at a truck shop after I got it, and it was still screwed up.

[YO-Vista, Ca]

John, good for you. Hope that solves your problem.

[colemole]

Hello all. As noted below I have a 35u Adventurer on a F53. I had my front right tire wearing in one spot( cupping out) at 31,000 KM so showed a tire guy my problem. Recommended tire alignment at a truck facility. Truck 4 wheel alignment showed rear axle assembly was not in alignment and minor adjustment for toe in on front. Rear alignment was a challenge as little opportunity for adjustment but was done by elongating the center pin hole in springs and retighten u bolts. Big job but did the trick so far. Comment from Alignment shop was this was not unusual and they have found rear axles significantly out which has your unit pushing a bit kitty corner all the time. Results in poor handling. 4 wheel lazer alignment to find problem.