Ford chassis steering question

melvonnar · 06-08-2009, 12:16 PM

I have just purchased a 1999 34 foot Coachman catilina on a V10 ford chassis; The steering seems stiff compaired to the 1988 34 foot Southwind that I had that was on a P30 chassis, the tires on the southwind were quite a bit narrower that the ford; I'm not sure if the stiffness is normal for the ford, or if I have a problem. I've lubed the steering but that didn;t change the stiffness.
comments please"

George Z · 06-08-2009, 12:57 PM

Raise both front tires off the ground and try turning the steering by the tire to see if anything is binding up. If binding , try and isolate where. If not have a service center check the power steering operation.

zippo · 06-08-2009, 03:40 PM

Check the underside to see if someone has installed a after market steering stabilizer.

melvonnar · 06-08-2009, 05:31 PM

I raised the front of the motorhome with the jacks; coukdn't get the front clean off the ground; but close; The steering was a lot easer; but still not as easy as the P30 when I could get the tires off the ground; don't believe anything is sticking, just think
the stearig is just a little stiffer. The ford does have a little different stearing geomitry than the P30; the P30 had a little slop (very little)in the stearing; the ford appears a lot tighter.this may account fot the stiffnes, just was wondering what the rest of the ford owners thought. I guess it may be difficult unless you have owned both a P30 and a ford.

**Gary RVRoamer** · 06-09-2009, 07:01 AM

The old P30 was notoriously sloppy in its steering. Stiffer is usually better in a large vehicle. Drive it awhile and see how it goes.

Lt46 · 06-09-2009, 08:41 AM

I know what you mean when comparing Ford v. Chevy steering. I don't believe anything is wrong per se, I think it is something you need to get used to. For example (not apples to apples but...) My 91 2500 chevy suburban steers loosy goosy compared to the F53 chassis in my coach. Both steer fine, just feel totally different.

melvonnar · 06-09-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt46

I know what you mean when comparing Ford v. Chevy steering. I don't believe anything is wrong per se, I think it is something you need to get used to. For example (not apples to apples but...) My 91 2500 chevy suburban steers loosy goosy compared to the F53 chassis in my coach. Both steer fine, just feel totally different.

I believe your right; I've driven the P30 well over 100,000 miles and I just got used to it and the ford just feels different.

JimM68 · 06-09-2009, 09:30 PM

I just got my 99 F53 class A, and yes, the steering is kinda tight. Tighter than my 04 silverado, tho not as tight as my 93 vette.
I like it, and I think it is normal.

melvonnar · 06-10-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM68

I just got my 99 F53 class A, and yes, the steering is kinda tight. Tighter than my 04 silverado, tho not as tight as my 93 vette.
I like it, and I think it is normal.

Glad to here that; I was getting conserned there may have been a problem.

cseidel2 · 06-17-2009, 09:27 PM

Make sure you grease the grease fitting on the stearing box just above the output shaft. Most people do not know this fitting is there and as a result often gets missed.

LVJ58 · 06-17-2009, 10:33 PM

The Ford power steering does require a bit more effort than that on the older GM chassis, I had an 84 Airstream on the P30 chassis and the effort to turn the wheel was significantly less than than that of the Ford F53 chassis.

melvonnar · 06-18-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseidel2

Make sure you grease the grease fitting on the stearing box just above the output shaft. Most people do not know this fitting is there and as a result often gets missed.

Thanks, I did that, it looked like it had never been greased. ( I bought this motorhome used, it had 36000 miles on it )

georgetown350 · 06-19-2009, 10:47 PM

We bought a ford motorhome brand new in 2006 and it had very stiff steering. I took it in for lubes and even convinced Ford to replace the steering box under warranty. Steering remained stiff but I got used to it. There was nothing wrong with the steering, stiff is good as long as you dont have to strain yourself turning the wheel.