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[GMCnet] Steering Box Centering [message #263547]

Mon, 06 October 2014 09:53

Ken Henderson

Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Despite all the discussions about the importance of properly centering
the GMC's steering box, I suspect there are those we really haven't
convinced. The email below, sent to Alex Ferrara, who's aligned about
40 boxes in the past year or so, may help convince everyone. I
forward it with the permission of those directly involved:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex---thanks for taking the time to check out and adjust the steering
on my 76 coach –and also my brother Bob’s 75 (the one used in your
seminar).

We drove 900 miles home, on a variety of road surfaces and weather
conditions--- including heavy rains with lots of water in the truck
grooves -high cross winds -- badly rutted asphalt - old and new
asphalt –---concrete with lap joints every 50 feet etc. and roads with
a level crown and uneven edges/shoulder,- in all--- a very typical
test bed for the gmc. The coach used to 'dive' for the shoulder as it
dipped, but not any more!!

As a bit of trivia history-- I worked for GM until 1975 and was
familiar with our GMC offering-- but never drove one ---just lusted
for their style and appeal –I bought my coach in 1984 in Louisiana
with 54000 miles on the od.--and driving it home the 1400 miles - it
was a physical torture test- a real work out---I questioned my
rational of buying such a loose goose. My shoulders and arms ached all
day and I white knuckled the entire trip. I replaced all of the
steering components other than the box (and it was center adjusted at
a GMC shop in MI.)----thereafter I had alignments done twice at 2
different facilities who had racks large enough to accept the whole
coach. The steering improved and was--- I thought now acceptable(in
comparison to how it was before ).

My usual drive was with my right hand firmly gripping the wheel
--while occasionally resting my arm in my lap –I have a fold down arm
rest on the right side of the seat and would alternate using it in the
fold up or down position to rest my arm –for a change of arm/shoulder
position -switching to my left hand for the major work while relaxing
-the right one –always clutching tight with both hands when trucks
passed either direction -or the road surface got wonky.

Of interest since I don’t drive the gmc frequently –.-on each trip I
found after the first day -my wrists ached and I was conscious of a
stiff right elbow-and neck muscles.

The 900 mile trip home from Chippewa Falls was a real eye
opener-----right hand resting in lap -light touch on the wheel ---I
never once put the right arm rest down –to rest my arm -- drove often
with just the left hand in my lap-no wrist and shoulder issues – much
less woosh pushing from big trucks passing -with the steering now far
more ‘predictable’ --much like your daily driver.-

In both coaches our opinion was--- amazing ---first time in 30 years
without 110% concentration full time on just steering the thing – a
pleasant relaxed drive just cruising along looking at the fall scenery
.

If I had one caution for those folks-whom you correct their steering
---be aware that now it is quite possible for you to ‘fall asleep at
the wheel’.

Thanks again Alex ---you are my hero , a saint . -----regards (Dick
and Bob) Paterson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach