Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Road Wonder
| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110795 is a reply to message #110782] |
Tue, 04 January 2011 13:52   |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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On Jan 4, 2011, at 10:22 AM, gene barrow wrote:
>
>
> Emery,
> Thanks for posting that information. I'm hoping to get my coach steering under control without all the trial, error, and expense that you had.
>
> I found a web site http://www.reineggerframeandwheel.com.
> They are in San Jose and the home page shows a picture of a GMC and happy owner/customer. So this must be the place that solved your problem.
>
> Glad to finally find a Nor Cal alignment shop with GMC experience and a positive review from a knowledgable GMC driver.
> --
> Gene Barrow
> Lake Almanor, Ca.
> 1976 Palm Beach
I just looked up my information. It was in Dec. 2002/ Jan 2003 that I had the work done. Marty, the owner, did much of the work himself. They were recommended by Al Singleton, a San Jose resident and long time GMC owner and member of GMC Western States. His wife, Miki, was Treasurer for several years.
Unfortunately Al developed glaucoma and lost his sight and had to sell his GMC.
He told me at the time that many GMCers in the San Jose area used Reinegger.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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| Re: Road Wonder [message #110814 is a reply to message #110792] |
Tue, 04 January 2011 18:13 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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""I looked at the steering gear they installed about 1 year ago, and Spectrac said they adjusted due to it being over tight...""
It's a common mistake that many people make--over tighten the gear in the on-center position. It is actually much better to have a little lash than absolutely none. I just drove a new truck from Michigan to Phoenix and the gear was a bit too tight on center and I fought it for over 2000 miles. Of course by the time I got here it was OK--ready for the next guy 
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110815 is a reply to message #110793] |
Tue, 04 January 2011 18:17 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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""It means you have ragwalls already.
Check ride height first. Some people like the look of the coach with the
rear a bit higher than the front, and set their air bags to make it so, but
the coach steering geometry was designed for the rear to actually look a
little low compared to the front. That's another one of those simple things
that can cause the coach to be more squirrely than it should--things that
alignment shops don't always know to check.
Rick "whose coach has a few 'slack point' but still drives straight" Denney
Rick, I have had a couple of recent exchanges with GMC owners who had ragwalls and replaced them due to wear or age. In both cases they noticed a slight degradation in on-center response and slightly more wander. My guess is that even within the ragwall population, you will see some variation in what we normally consider ragwall benefits.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110816 is a reply to message #110795] |
Tue, 04 January 2011 18:15 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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G'day,
I went to the Reinegger website and zoomed the pictures up to 400% and noted
that the GMC is an AVION and it appears to be in really nice original shape!
It's no wonder the couple is smiling! ;-)
Anyone recognize them?
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Emery Stora
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 6:52 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder
On Jan 4, 2011, at 10:22 AM, gene barrow wrote:
> Emery,
> Thanks for posting that information. I'm hoping to get my coach steering
under control without all the trial, error, and expense that you had.
>
> I found a web site http://www.reineggerframeandwheel.com.
> They are in San Jose and the home page shows a picture of a GMC and happy
owner/customer. So this must be the place that solved your problem.
>
> Glad to finally find a Nor Cal alignment shop with GMC experience and a
positive review from a knowledgable GMC driver.
> --
> Gene Barrow
> Lake Almanor, Ca.
> 1976 Palm Beach
I just looked up my information. It was in Dec. 2002/ Jan 2003 that I had
the work done. Marty, the owner, did much of the work himself. They were
recommended by Al Singleton, a San Jose resident and long time GMC owner and
member of GMC Western States. His wife, Miki, was Treasurer for several
years.
Unfortunately Al developed glaucoma and lost his sight and had to sell his
GMC.
He told me at the time that many GMCers in the San Jose area used Reinegger.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110868 is a reply to message #110853] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 01:31 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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""Bob, that tells me that there are many factors at play, some of which might
undermine the benefits of ragwalls. But we knew that already.
""
So true Rick. This is the case with brakes, vapor lock, wander, etc. Almost all of us can diagnose and fix an issue if there's just one contributor, but when you have just 2 or 3 it becomes drastically more difficult--just like a plane crash.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110872 is a reply to message #110692] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 05:37 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Gene, et all,
The nuetral position is that position in which there is an equal amount of
steering wheel slack in both directions and the front wheels are dead
ahead. This is where component wear is the most evident, in all of the
moving parts including the steering box worm gears. Drive the coach
straight into your shop on onto a rack or wherever it is you work on it,
raise the front, break one end of each tie rod assy loose and using a socket
on the nut, wiggle the tapered shaft back and forth. You will feel a
'slack" area at dead center. Multiply this slack X 4 and you can see where
this can add to the slop in the GMC steering. No one complains about the
steering slack in turns because there is directional pressure against all
the moving parts in the system, hence no slack. All of the complaints I
have heard, including my own, are generated when the operator is trying
maintain steering control while driving straight ahead. Any steering
commands from the operator are responded to after all the slack in the
system is used up. The suspension and steering in any vehicle, especially
ones as old as the GMC, must be treated as a system. Changing any one or
two components is going to make a difference, but not remedy all of the
problems. If you want to drive and handle like new, you must make it like
it was when it was new.
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 3:02 PM, gene barrow <barrowgene@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Rob,
> Thanks for the input. That's why I asked the question.
>
> Based on Steve's and Jim's past comments I thought there must be something
> more to inspecting the tie rod ends than just checking for play while they
> are still connected.
>
> Mine are tight without play. I want to know what to look for before I
> disconnect them.
>
> Maybe Steve will chime in with details; if he's not too busy entertaining
> the Weidners.
>
> Any one else out there with some steering/suspension experience please feel
> free to jump in with suggestions.
> --
> Gene Barrow
> Lake Almanor, Ca.
> 1976 Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
Sierra Vista, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110901 is a reply to message #110872] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 08:55 |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Steve,
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Now I understand the issue better.
I will check out the rod ends in the near future and report back.
I have mentioned before that I have rebuilt or replaced all other steering/suspension components except tie rods and sterring box.
Are the tie rod ends a "special" GMC item or are the same as Toronado and available at Napa or AutozZone?
I hope this solves the problem and we don't have to dig into the rear components which "appear" to be ok so far.
This has been a verry looong thread but I think some of us (and it seems there are many) who have steering issues may finally get our coaches to steer properly. Thanks to the resources on the GMCnet.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #110950 is a reply to message #110868] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 18:23 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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When I bought the X-PB in TN with the COMPLETELY rebuilt front clip
uninstalled, I learned about the weirdness of GMC steering: I took
that "New" front clip to GA and installed it in the X-Birchaven. Then
took the X-Birch's old clip to TN and installed it in the X-PB. We
also mounted the Alcoas from the X-Birch on the X-PB, without regard
to where they'd been mounted previously, and didn't even check the
tire pressures.
The X-Birch had driven well, but not "great". The X-PB, with the
X-Birch's old clip, completely un-aligned, and with random tire
pressures, drove almost "hands free" from TN to GA, 300+ miles. Go
figure. :-)
It took two complete alignments of the X-Birch with the "new" front
clip to get steering performance almost as good as that mongrel X-PB
(which hasn't been aligned in the subsequent 15,000+ miles 'cause it
stll drives good).
Ken H.
On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 2:31 AM, Bob de Kruyff <NEXT2POOL@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> ""Bob, that tells me that there are many factors at play, some of which might
> undermine the benefits of ragwalls. But we knew that already.
>
> ""
> So true Rick. This is the case with brakes, vapor lock, wander, etc. Almost all of us can diagnose and fix an issue if there's just one contributor, but when you have just 2 or 3 it becomes drastically more difficult--just like a plane crash.
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #111163 is a reply to message #110950] |
Thu, 06 January 2011 22:04 |
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Stuff happens.
Byron
Ken Henderson wrote:
> When I bought the X-PB in TN with the COMPLETELY rebuilt front clip
> uninstalled, I learned about the weirdness of GMC steering: I took
> that "New" front clip to GA and installed it in the X-Birchaven. Then
> took the X-Birch's old clip to TN and installed it in the X-PB. We
> also mounted the Alcoas from the X-Birch on the X-PB, without regard
> to where they'd been mounted previously, and didn't even check the
> tire pressures.
>
> The X-Birch had driven well, but not "great". The X-PB, with the
> X-Birch's old clip, completely un-aligned, and with random tire
> pressures, drove almost "hands free" from TN to GA, 300+ miles. Go
> figure. :-)
>
> It took two complete alignments of the X-Birch with the "new" front
> clip to get steering performance almost as good as that mongrel X-PB
> (which hasn't been aligned in the subsequent 15,000+ miles 'cause it
> stll drives good).
>
> Ken H.
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder [message #113929 is a reply to message #110782] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 06:52 |
kincaid76royale
Messages: 71
Registered: February 2005
Karma: 0
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Member |
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Hi All:
The folks at Reinegger are really friendly and insist that they are so
knowledgeable about GMC that they will not listen to you or tell you what
they have done. I took our coach to to them in July 2010 to have a brand new
(Cinnabar) gear box installed and the wheels aligned to Lenzi spec's. They
said that the gear box was not needed, but some other parts were, and called
Cinnabar to arrange it's return. The coach was all-over-the-road after their
alignment and even worse after their re-alignment. They (Marty) said that
the 1/2" of play at the box was normal and that was what they allowed when
they rebuilt boxes themselves. Cost: $2,200. We then drove the coach to the
Oregon rally and it was the scariest drive of my life. (PS: another local
GMC'r had Reinegger "fix" his brakes and they did a bad job for $10,000)
Reinegger took my picture too and probably posted it as another happy
customer - not!
On the recommendation of another GMC'r we took our coach to East Bay Frame
in San Leandro, Ca. (510-569-4285)They knew GMC's and worked with us every
step of the way, including calling Dave Lenzi for the latest advice. The
steering is the best that it has ever been. They completely disassembled
the front end, removed the Cinnabar parts, installed the Lenzi parts,
reinstalled the offset bushings in the correct orientation, had the gear box
rebuilt and aligned coach to Lenzi spec's. Cost $1,400.
Jack Kincaid, Castro Valley, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: gene barrow
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 9:22 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Road Wonder
Emery,
Thanks for posting that information. I'm hoping to get my coach steering
under control without all the trial, error, and expense that you had.
I found a web site http://www.reineggerframeandwheel.com.
They are in San Jose and the home page shows a picture of a GMC and happy
owner/customer. So this must be the place that solved your problem.
Glad to finally find a Nor Cal alignment shop with GMC experience and a
positive review from a knowledgable GMC driver.
--
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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