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Advice on improving handling [message #349024] Mon, 07 October 2019 16:44 Go to previous message
MikeB is currently offline  MikeB   United States
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2018
Location: South Bama
Karma:
Senior Member
Hi All,
We are still trying to get home on our maiden voyage. I'm hoping to have the towed back from shop tomorrow so we can head east out of Colorado. However while I'm on this odyssey I'm looking for some advice and understanding of maybe what's going on with my coach. I read once that these coaches "were designed more for the driving experience than the camping experience" well I dread the driving and have been loving the camping. I've been getting a boot camp lesson with this vehicle. Drivers side upper ball joint popped out during my trip from Missoula to Hungry Horse outside of Glacier NP. Spun tires halfway up a steep wet road on the cliff side of Flat Head lake that took years off my life. Once I had the upper and lower ball joints replaced and drove to Bute and had the front end aligned I no longer felt as if I was going to die at any second. Moving along into Wyoming and eastward I was relieved to be finally Off the Montana rutted roads only to enjoy the Wyoming red flag wind gusts of I80.

Here's are the characteristics of the steering that are absolutely killing the mood of this new romance.

- Great up to 45 then it has to be corrected from going left,right,left,right. That's exhausting after 4 hours.
- going around curves it never seems to want to stay in curve but rather seems to want to plow throw requiring slight over correction into the curve.
- Drives decent from 45-60 if on flat dry highway still requiring a little left,right,left,right..albeit sometimes I can use one hand to do it while I wipe the sweat of the other.
- Over 60 it starts to wiggle a bit too much creating a sense of impending doom into my soul.
- How anyone can drive one of these over 65 is not even something I can fathom.

Here's what I have:
35k miles on new bogie pins and bushing with the upgraded grease fittings wit OP greasing at every oil change
Firestone Transforce with bead balancing and about 60% tread
Brand new upper/lower ball joints
Two shops inspected other steering components and said they were good
Front end alignment 0 Camber, +3 Caster, 0 Toe
60 psi front (4190 weight) 55 back tires (6260 rear axle weight. )
Ride height to top of oval Front 12-1/2" rear 10-5/8" that's measured with sidekick attached.
Front anti sway bar bushings look new
I have the sway-a-way torsion bars
Front wheel spacers


We've driven about 1000 miles in the Mountain West area and my wife has enjoyed seeing the beautiful scenery....I have just seen pavement.

If I can't improve the driving experience of this coach I'm afraid I'll be putting it up for sale when I get home. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS. I don't not receive emails from this forum

Thanks
Mike

M Beam 75’ Avion TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff Zuki Sidekick, Dozier Al

[Updated on: Mon, 07 October 2019 16:53]

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