| Steering Problems Fixed [message #263310] |
Fri, 03 October 2014 21:30  |
SThornbg
Messages: 127
Registered: September 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Since we bought our coach 4 years ago, driving has been "thrilling" with lots of WHITE KNUCKLE experiences. I have always had lots of play in the steering wheel and had to constantly make directional adjustments with lots of over steer. Cross winds and passing trucks were just plain scary.
I have had experts tell me the front end is tight and an alignment shop told me it was straight.
At Chippewa Falls I met Alex Ferrera and talked to him about his seminar on "Wobbly Steering". Alex came to our coach and looked at the steering mechanism. He agreed that all the joints were good, but he found the steering box was close to 90 degrees out of phase. He offered to adjust the box on site.
When Alex was done setting the box, he cleaned and relubed the lower shaft and cleaned and lubed the CV joint and installed a new protective boot. Then he indexed the steering wheel by setting the upper joint and shaft in proper relationship.
We took the coach out on the road and I first thought it was not our coach. The steering was smooth and tight and as Alex had promised, it was 2 finger steering. And, now I can drive through curves and along side big trucks with confidence.
The amazing thing about Alex is he spent almost 2 hours working on our coach, made a fantastic improvement in the handling and therefore safety of the coach, and the only thing he wanted in return was reimbursement for the protective boot and a portion of the cost of the can of moly grease he used.
In addition to getting our coach fixed, we had the pleasure of getting to know Alex and what a fine gentleman he is. I am proud to be able to count him as a friend.
If you are having steering problems with your coach, talk to Alex before you give a repair shop a ton of money to throw new parts on your coach. He truly understands the steering system and can most likely get you in good shape with virtually no expense - unless you decide to drive to Alex's shop in Florida.
Put me on the "Happy Camper" list.
Steve Thornburg
South Bend, IN
77 exPB 455 "Tinker Toy"
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| Re: Steering Problems Fixed [message #263348 is a reply to message #263310] |
Sat, 04 October 2014 14:26  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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Yep. Alex fixed ours too. We hadn't thrown money at it with a big name shop and had thought it was pretty good...until Alex told me we were 30 degrees out. Amazing change.
Probably the most telling story I've ever heard was what Dick Paterson said. Everyone knows Dick Paterson. One of the masters of the GMC Universe. During Alex's seminar he said he had driven his GMC for 20 (TWENTY) years and thought it was fine. Until Alex told him his steering box was not centered. Now, according to Dick, it drives amazing.
Alex is truly the man.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Problems Fixed [message #263353 is a reply to message #263348] |
Sat, 04 October 2014 15:02 |
B B
Messages: 13
Registered: July 2013
Location: Mississippi Coast
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Ours was 90 degrees off & Alex fixed ours. He just looked under the hood & said "no wonder it's hard to drive, the steering box is 90 degrees off. I can fix that" And he did. We were amazed at the difference. Even our little dog is not petrified any more. He would just sit up in our lap & watch the road. He would not lay down. He would not go to sleep the 6 or 7 hrs trip. Now he lays down & goes to sleep. Even he appreciates Alex.
Bill & Betty Chimento
Diamondhead, MS
78 Eleganza (Clasco)
Sent from my iPad
On Oct 4, 2014, at 2:26 PM, "Kerry Pinkerton" wrote:
> Yep. Alex fixed ours too. We hadn't thrown money at it with a big name shop and had thought it was pretty good...until Alex told me we were 30
> degrees out. Amazing change.
>
> Probably the most telling story I've ever heard was what Dick Paterson said. Everyone knows Dick Paterson. One of the masters of the GMC Universe.
> During Alex's seminar he said he had driven his GMC for 20 (TWENTY) years and thought it was fine. Until Alex told him his steering box was not
> centered. Now, according to Dick, it drives amazing.
>
> Alex is truly the man.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76 Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Problems Fixed [message #263364 is a reply to message #263353] |
Sat, 04 October 2014 19:06 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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B B wrote on Sat, 04 October 2014 15:02Ours was 90 degrees off & Alex fixed ours. He just looked under the hood & said "no wonder it's hard to drive, the steering box is 90 degrees off. I can fix that" And he did. We were amazed at the difference. Even our little dog is not petrified any more. He would just sit up in our lap & watch the road. He would not lay down. He would not go to sleep the 6 or 7 hrs trip. Now he lays down & goes to sleep. Even he appreciates Alex.
Bill & Betty Chimento
Diamondhead, MS
78 Eleganza (Clasco)
LOL I love this story.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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