 |
|
04-24-2012, 09:39 AM
|
#1
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 5
|
F 53 Steering wanders
I am a newbie RV owner. We have only one trip under our belts and we're hooked! I bought a 1998 FourWinds Hurricane 30Q. It has the Ford F53 chassis. The steering wheel wasn't straight when the wheels point forward so I asked the dealer to get an alignment before I made the purchase.
The wheel is straight but it tends to wander while driving requiring two hands and constant attention. Has anybody else experience this issue? What's the fix? 
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
04-24-2012, 09:49 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Nashville NC
Posts: 637
|
Does it feel like the tail end of the M/H is wandering back & forth & you have to correct with the steering wheel to stay in your lane ?.
If that is what it feels like, go to the Ford Chassis forum & read the "Cheap Handling Fix", you'll be amazed at the change it will make in that F53s handling.
Neil
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2012, 09:54 AM
|
#3
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 525
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by C-Leigh Racing
Does it feel like the tail end of the M/H is wandering back & forth & you have to correct with the steering wheel to stay in your lane ?.
If that is what it feels like, go to the Ford Chassis forum & read the "Cheap Handling Fix", you'll be amazed at the change it will make in that F53s handling.
Neil
|
+1 
We moved the sway bars back to the closest hole and added a Brazels RV rear trac-bar. The difference was amazing to say the least.
__________________
R & E
No RV at the moment 
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2012, 09:57 AM
|
#4
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 5
|
I have to constantly correct the steering to stay in my lane. I'll check out the cheap handling fix post. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2012, 05:46 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fredericksburg, TX
Posts: 289
|
Make sure your tire pressures are correct for your weight and check those rear and front sway bar bushings. If yours are original they are undoubtedly shot.
__________________
Jim
2019 Lance 975
2019 Ford F350
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 05:11 AM
|
#6
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 525
|
If your sway bar bushings are shot, check out this web site: energysuspension.com or they can be obtained at NAPA, Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, ect. I will install them when ours wear out. They are a better quality than what the factory puts in.
__________________
R & E
No RV at the moment
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 08:25 AM
|
#7
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hogtown, Va.
Posts: 93
|
My 99 Winnebago 37G wandered too. I had it aligned and the toe was off, not enough to wear the tires badly. That made a huge difference once corrected. The caster was off too, but the truck shop that did the work could not correct that. Just in the past several weeks I replaced the worn out rear sway bar bushing. I purchased the new ones from ebay for $45.00 and $5.00 shipping. That made it even better. I could not locate the new bushings at the stores mentioned above, so I went with ebay. I plan to replace the front sway bar bushings too, once the ebay seller has them in stock.
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 08:45 AM
|
#8
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 85
|
swaying
My 2008 32h itasca swayed when I purchased it. Mechanic suggested a Safe-T bar on front. It stopped the swaying and kept the motorhome straigt when a front tire exploded.
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 09:37 AM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 226
|
It doesn't drive like a car, so you'll have to get used to it.
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 10:33 AM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Golden Village Palms, CA
Posts: 1,988
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rayzorhka
I am a newbie RV owner. We have only one trip under our belts and we're hooked! I bought a 1998 FourWinds Hurricane 30Q. It has the Ford F53 chassis. The steering wheel wasn't straight when the wheels point forward so I asked the dealer to get an alignment before I made the purchase.
The wheel is straight but it tends to wander while driving requiring two hands and constant attention. Has anybody else experience this issue? What's the fix? |
If it's a '97 F-53 chassis with the 460 V-8, the steering wheel is centered by removing the coupler on the steering gear box and re-centering it.
You may not have actually received an alignment.
The first place to start for steering wander is the alignment and tire pressure.
__________________
John
'98 Gulf Stream Sunsport 325, 7.5L Banks Power Pack, Koni FSD's, Air Bags, ReadyBrute Elite,
2000 Honda Accord
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 10:42 AM
|
#11
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cambridge Ohio
Posts: 60
|
I had wandering problem on 96 Coachman. Would juist wear you out in less than 300 miles. Took to Ford dealer and happened to get a tech who did a lot of work on the school busses and was aware of a steering box recall. Replaced and was day and night for the better. He also said the ford handled better with front axle loaded close to max
|
|
|
|
|
04-25-2012, 10:19 PM
|
#12
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 5
|
I think I found the issue.... The rear stabilizer bar bushing are totally gone! I am buying new bushing all around.
|
|
|
|
|
04-26-2012, 09:11 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,489
|
I recently sold my 1996 Holiday Rambler Endeavor LE on the F53 chassis. Mine had a Davis Tru-Trac bar installed as well as a steering stabilizer. It drove like an absolute dream.
__________________
Mark Anderson - FMCA 351514 - NRVIA Certified Level 2 Inspector
Louisville, KY
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH
2006 Jeep Commander
|
|
|
|
|
04-26-2012, 01:54 PM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vaughn, WA
Posts: 1,460
|
Hi Rayzorhka,
If you have the earlier chassis with the 460 V-8, you'll find the front bar bushings locally, but the rear bar bushings are almost unavailable if you want the better polyurethane ones. Seems the only place folks can find them is from this one guy on eBay.
Ford F53 Class A rear POLY sway bar bushings 1990-1997 | eBay
He also sells the rear poly bushings for the V10 models too - if that is what you have.
__________________
Nick
1995 Coachmen Santara 360MB 36' w/slide.
Ford F53/460 chassis, 2020 Chev Equinox "toad"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
