Motorhome Wheel Alignment?

[dirtridr]

Does anyone know where to get the alignment done? The RV places around here don’t do it, the the truck shops can’t do cast and camber on it because their machines are setup for solid front axles. The AS Motorhome has independent front suspension.

My AS is pulling to the left a little.

I have a 1983 310 Motorhome.

[Isuzusweet]

Somebody has to know how to do it.....try here? If not, ask them where they would take your coach.

http://www.bakerauto.com

Specifications for the motorhome chassis are different to other P30 chassis specs, so be careful. Have a shop inspect your front end components for wear BEFORE you attempt to align. I would have a shop replace the lower ball joints if you don't know if they have ever been done; because if they break, it's not going to make your day, and possibly do some body damage. Ball joints are cheap and can be bought at your local NAPA store.

Google airstream, classic motorhome, lower ball joints.

Specs for alignment are below.

http://www.barthmobile.com/eve/forum...1/m/5521028061

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[Mike1997]

Mine has independent suspension and air bags. Its on a Freightliner chassis so when it went in for service they did all the work. I had play in the wheel which turned out to be a bad bell camber. Freightliner says it has to be replaced every 10 years and I made it well past that date.

[Boom Sounds]

http://www.offroadtoybox.com/RV/P-Ch...entProcess.pdf

[davejay]

Hey,
First , anything changed ,as to why you need an alignment?
Like, new tires
Low air pressure on on tire
Damage to a tire ie pothole hit
Worn parts on steering components
Check your bell crank it's that thing bolted to the frame that holds the idler arm on the pass side, and the idler arm on the drivers side.
What's your tire wear look like if it's even across the face of the tire, it could be a caster pull. If you tire wear on the inside or outside of one or both tires, could be a toe or camber problem.
Any Chevy dealership that sells trucks should have a long enough rack for your 310 . It's a P30 chassis. Nothing special about it they made that long arm short arm control arm setup since 1960. Tell them you have a small motor home with independent front suspension like a 3/4 ton truck. They freak out when you tell them it's a motorhome. They're thinking,bus . Remember, your talking to the service rep, not the guy doing the alignment. Our coaches are really easy to align, easy to get at. It's like doing a pickup truck. If they baulked at it because they can't or won't do a4 wheel thrust angle alignment, tell them to do a 2 wheel alignment. The only thing about that alignment,is, if your rear axle is a little off ,as in cocked forward or rearward, you may wind up with a crocked steering wheel. It is a good chance, that will happen. But you can fix that yourself buy removing those 9allen head bolts on the steering wheel, and turn the steering wheel a little. Hope this helps. DJ

[davejay]

Forgot,
They will need to know the wheelbase of your 310

[Isuzusweet]

Wheelbase for a 310 is 217" as Airstream added an 18" frame extension inbetween the front and rear wheels.

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Wheelbase for a 310 is 217" as Airstream added an 18" frame extension in between the front and rear wheels.

Tony - was that only on the 310? I always assumed the Motorhome chassis was the stock lengths per the VIN number and numbers outlined in Chassis Alignment guide (below):

P30832 125” wheelbase
P31132 137” wheelbase
P31432 159” wheelbase
P31832 178” wheelbase
P31932 190” wheelbase (Start-up production in 1991) (19.5” wheels)
P32032 208” wheelbase (Start-up production in 1988) (19.5” wheels)
P32132 228” wheelbase

[Isuzusweet]

Boomer
I don't know where you got your wheelbase numbers from, but the sheet Mehes had at the Cooperstown meetup, showed 198" being the longest stock wheelbase, ( used on 325, 345, and maybe 350's), where as, when Lance measured my beast at 217", we found an 18" section of frame welded in place between the wheels.

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Boomer
I don't know where you got your wheelbase numbers from, but the sheet Mehes had at the Cooperstown meetup, showed 198" being the longest stock wheelbase, ( used on 325, 345, and maybe 350's), where as, when Lance measured my beast at 217", we found an 18" section of frame welded in place between the wheels.

http://www.oemys-performance.com/med...-alignment.pdf
Chevrolet had 7 model numbers for the Motor Home P Chassis, only the ones with '-52' were destined for Class A motorhomes. Class C motorhomes were also built on some of the Commercial truck chassis. Those Class C models would rightfully be referred to as using the 'P-30' Chassis and would use the alignment specs for the truck version.

This is from a different source: 1991 Motorhome chassis guide. There is more context in the text. It's on Airstream.com
Model Number
CP3112C
P31432-52
P31832-52
P31932-52
P32032-52
Wheelbase Length (inches)
137 158.5 178 190*" 208*
*Start-up production 1988 model -year **Start-up production 1991 model year

[Isuzusweet]

My bad....should have typed 199"

[dirtridr]

I got it all fixed up. I had some worn out parts. I replaced both tie rods, all sway bar bushings, drag link, front air bags, and lower ball joints. I then used the string technique, and did my own alignment. I made sure all the tires were pumped up, and inflated the front bags to 60psi on curbside, and 70psi on road side. It drives like a Cadillac. In the near future, I’m going to replace the rear air bags, and front coil springs. They still work, but they are worn.

Link to string alignment:
https://youtu.be/P6EllJTMrZs

[davejay]

Hey,
It's usually something like a ball joint or drag link thing. Your old school, using a string, it works, but keep an eye on it. When you got independent suspension as opposed to a straight axle, it gets a little tricky er. I put in the heavy duty front springs on my 325. Eliminated the need for the airbags in front. Just a thought. DJ

[dirtridr]

What springs did you use on the front? Do you have a link? Did you use different ones for each side due to the weight difference? I hate air bags. They always leak, and it’s one more thing to maintain.

[davejay]

Hey,
I went to my local Napa store, told my guy what I had 1985 AS, based on a P 30 chassis. I asked if they had a heavier spring, so I could eliminate the internal air bags. He said oh yah , the heavier springs are rated at I think 500 Pounds more than stock. Upon comparing old to new, they are the same length, but the new springs are a little thicker. Ride height stayed the same, and I didn't t feel any toughness in ride. They put those airbags inside the springs, I think, because that same spring was used on pickups, vans, and one ton daullys. But when you went to say a cub van set up, they weren't quite strong enough to keep the front end from bottoming out. A quick factory fix. Just my opinion on that. Both springs I bought were interchangeable side to side. dJ

[dirtridr]

DaveJ, do you have a Napa part number? I was in there the other day, and they couldn’t get the front springs.

[dadstoy]

supersteerparts.com

Originally Posted by dirtridr

DaveJ, do you have a Napa part number? I was in there the other day, and they couldn’t get the front springs.

[davejay]

I'm sorry for not getting back to you. No I don't know the part number of the heavier springs. My Napa guy asks me if I wanted stock or the heavy duty springs. I said HD. He had to order them from the main dist. Center. It was no big deal, maybe go to a different Napa store? My guys here have been there forever. Sorry, can't be more help to you. DJ. I'll look for my receipt.