Make it steer!

[Papa_Jim]

Having steering problems with my 1995 Monaco Dynasty. The steering feels vague at the wheel (what it feels like holding the wheel has nothing to do with what's happening on the road). It cannot find center, it hunts right and left constantly. I've had alignment and ride height work done, checked every suspension and steering component. Changed tie rods simply because the rubbers were getting cracked. Changed one Bilstein shock because it looked like it was beginning to leak,and changed its mate, too. Put new tires on it. All to no avail. The coach rides firm, does not lean in the wind. As far as the suspension is concerned, it wants to get out and go. But as far as the steering is concerned, 55 mph is absolute tops, usually in any amount of wind, its 45 mph, and that's white knuckle steering all day long. We're on a 4000 mile road trip right now, and we're not covering the ground very well. We're driving 45mph, and the other coaches are passing us at highway speed. And... just the other day, we pulled up to a red light, and the steering wheel seized. I had to shift into neutral, rev the engine full throttle, yank on the steering wheel and it 'broke' free and then steered again. It hasn't seized up since. Does anybody have any ideas at all?? I've had one comment that it could be the steering gear control valve. What is that??, and does it require specialized people to fix???

[Mikes-RV]

Hi jimkate, I have some steering problem myself it is some slight play in one of the steering transfer boxes.

Yours seem very serious and I would not drive it before having the entire steering checked.

You probably have a Spartan chassis and the steering transfers back to your front axle where the main steering box is mounted. Please have it expertly checked befor driving your home. Take care

[EJVO]

Hi Jim
If when you have done what Mike suggested you still problems, You may want to check the Blue Ox Tru-Center.

Good luck
Gene
Blue Ox Steering Controls

[DAN L]

moderators:
which moho had the problem with the mounting behind the steering box cracking?
i hope that this is not jimkate's problem.
was it the box itself or the mount or something else cracking? i remember that the pictures of the cracks were impressive. i can not find this issue in the archives.

[RickO]

Please be very careful and get it checked out. It sounds scary.

[Papa_Jim]

What can you tell me about the Blue Ox Steering Controls?

[EJVO]

Click on this link and look at the tru-center,
There are a lot of reviews from about the Tru-Center,
I had one installed not too long ago and I am very pleased with it.

Blue Ox Steering Controls

[Fred Cooper]

Jimkate wrote
And... just the other day, we pulled up to a red light, and the steering wheel seized. I had to shift into neutral, rev the engine full throttle, yank on the steering wheel and it 'broke' free and then steered again.

Sounds like you have some serious safety issues. Something is binding in the steering assembly. Freightliner bell cranks do this sometimes, but I know that is not your chassis.

Please get it checked again and don't give up until it's fixed.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Re the "freeze": You may have lost hydraulic pressure for a moment.

[Papa_Jim]

Yeh. I wonder about whether I lost hydraulic pressure or if something got into a valve.