| Steering Issues--Need Suggestions-Long and Boring. [message #97049] |
Tue, 24 August 2010 18:33  |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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I've driven my 1976 Palm Beach more than 70,000 miles in the past eight years and have never been happy with the steering.
Within the past 3 years the following repairs have been completed:
New Relay lever, new kyb shocks, adjust steering box, replaced upper and lower control arms, bushings, and ball joints, front end alignment, rebuilt steering column and replaced all bearings. Reset front ride height to factory specs, Monitor rear ride height and try to keep it at spec, Alcoa Hotshots, new Bridgestones and then new BFG Commercial TA after I wore out the Bridgestones.
All the work has been done by professional GMC shops.
I think we have done everything except replace the steering box and power steering pump.
The coach drives much better now but it still is not right:
It takes more "effort" to turn the wheel than it should,
It seems that I have to keep a constant slight pressure to the left to keep it in the lane.
If I make a slight correction and release the wheel it doesn't seem to self correct back to center.
It still seems to wander back and forth in the lane making it difficult to relax and look at the scenery.
None of these things are noticeable around town on local streets at slower speeds or on rural roads but once you're up to hiway speed and drive for a while the faults become apparent,
By contrast I drove Wayne's new coach 5000+/- miles from California to New York and although his steering wheel has about the same amount of play as mine(not much) It seemed to be easier to control.
It required less effort on the wheel to turn, did not require constant left pressure to keep straight and it seemed to return to center better than mine.
My wife even commented that we didn't seem to wander between the lines as much as in our coach.
All I know about Wayne's steering components is that he has Alcoa Classics and BFG Commercial TA tires inflated to 65 lbs all around.
I would like to be able to relax and enjoy the scenery no have to concentrate so intensely on the driving.
All suggestions will be appreciated
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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