Community Forums

markarbogast · 05-21-2019, 11:36 AM

Here is what happened...
Decided to stay a couple nights at an RV Park 125 miles from home. Drove there, no issues, didn’t hit anything, steering straight, AOK. Hooked up to leave today and it’s pulling HARD to the right. I made it home but if I let go of the wheel we would be off the road into the grass in 20 feet or less. The only thing I came up with was that I had a hard time getting the coach level on the site we were at. Ended up with the front right of the coach lower and I inadvertently left the wheels turned right just a bit while it was parked. I have a SafeTplus installed. I’m thinking maybe being on the angle and un level for two days and nights moved the SafeTplus off center. Just looking for any observations or help.
Thanks folks,

**Lt Dan** · 05-21-2019, 11:39 AM

That's a good possibility if the clamp on the steering tie rod slipped. I would loosen the bolts on it with the wheels pointed straight ahead and see if it moves back into position.

oscarvan · 05-21-2019, 11:40 AM

Can't comment on what your safety plus is doing, don't care for them. But it should be fairly easy to disconnect to see if it changes anything.

You could, however, have a sticky brake. Feel, or even better point a trigger thermometer at the front brakes and see if the right one is (a lot) warmer than the left.

av8tor2 · 05-21-2019, 11:55 AM

Air pressure in the pax side steer tire?

markarbogast · 05-21-2019, 12:08 PM

Checked that...100psi just like the drivers side.

markarbogast · 05-21-2019, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

That's a good possibility if the clamp on the steering tie rod slipped. I would loosen the bolts on it with the wheels pointed straight ahead and see if it moves back into position.

How do you fix a “sticky brake” if that’s the issue?

Jim18655 · 05-21-2019, 12:21 PM

Jack the right front tire off the ground and see if you can spin the wheel. If not, then caliper is hung-up. Could be a bad caliper or bad brake hose. Sometimes a bad hose will collapse internally and act like a check valve. Inspect the metal lines and look for kinks near the right front wheel. Could you have bumped a brake line setting up?

Ljwt330 · 05-21-2019, 12:24 PM

I will add +1 to the Safety Steer and the first suspect. Loosen the clamp as suggested and let us know the result.

Post above gives good instructions for a brake check. Visual inspection a good idea.

twinboat · 05-21-2019, 12:29 PM

With air brakes, you can go out and pull on the slack adjuster. With a good pull, you should be able pull the rod out of the chamber 1/2 " or so.

If its stuck out and dragging, it won't move. Compare it to the other side.

Have someone lightly apply the brakes while you watch each front brake apply and release.

clifford j · 05-21-2019, 12:33 PM

If you gave a brake hanging up you'd know it pronto by the smell and even smoke,especially when you said it pulls hard in a tiny distance. To my knowledge the 'safety steer' centers the steering ,a dislocated mount can cause you issue. Great suggestions above.

CLIFFORD

texasrs · 05-21-2019, 02:06 PM

The problem may not always the wheel that pulls hard.

Consider looking at the OTHER wheel. I had the same problem and found that I had a leaking seal on the opposite wheel. It had saturated the brake lining. So . .. it wasn't applying any braking, allowing the front to pull to the side that WAS functioning.

Ray

markarbogast · 05-21-2019, 02:09 PM

So many great suggestions and observations p. I can always count on the IRV2 clan to help! Thanks guys, I’ll let you know what I find.

Alan_Hepburn · 05-21-2019, 02:27 PM

He drove it 125 miles home so I don't think it will be a brake issue - if the brake was dragging for that distance it would have ignited, or locked up completely. The most likely culprit is the steering system, as has been noted.

Mudfrog · 05-21-2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

I will add +1 to the Safety Steer and the first suspect. Loosen the clamp as suggested and let us know the result.

Post above gives good instructions for a brake check. Visual inspection a good idea.

It wouldn't be a brake sticking problem since he made it home without anything burning up. Just a few miles down the road and there'd have been smoke and that terrible burnt brake smell coming from that corner.

I'm taking it the safety steer is made to center the tires when you let go of the steering wheel?? If so, I'd look at it first to see if something came loose.

Edited to say,,, Missed reading the last couple of replies the first time around,, see now that this was already covered... Oooops!