|
09-26-2016, 02:55 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Temple City
, California
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
|
Warranty
Who should warranty the wheels and tires on an Airstream Interstate? The AS dealer or MBZ dealer? I'm having a tough time fixing the steering wheel shimmy on my Interstate, dealer aligned and re-balanced the wheels and its still doing it at 65mph and up. The MBZ dealer does not have a road force balancer. I had them torque the wheels at 133ft/lbs and set the tire pressure at 61lbs. The alignment was covered under warranty but the wheel balance was not. I read some Conti tires are hard to balance and others had to have the tires changed out to fix the problem. Anyone experience steering wheel shimmy/shakes at 65mph and up?
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 03:38 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,883
|
I haven't had a problem with shimmy/shacks at any speed. I did have an alignment issue that caused uneven wear on my front tires. I never bothered to get the alignment checked until I had 30,000 miles and added new tires after having a rear tire go flat giving me four bad tires just before a trip to Alaska.
I was unaware that alignment could have been a warranty claim - I was too busy traveling.
Since the Interstates have tires mounted on new Alcoa wheels installed by Airstream I would imagine that balancing would not be covered under the Mercedes warranty. If it had the stock steel wheels installed by Mercedes - then maybe. That said Airstream should be responsible to provide you properly balanced wheels/tires as delivered to you.
You need to find a shop that can get your wheels/tires properly balanced. A lot of Mercedes dealers do not have the proper equipment to balance the wheels on a 3500 Sprinter with dual wheels.
I'd press Airstream to pay for getting a proper balance.
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 03:42 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
|
If you want the wheels speciality balanced I would say it is up to you.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 04:53 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2015 Interstate Ext. Coach
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 666
|
I took mine to a TCI Tire Center and had them roadforce balance the front wheels. Very smooth now.
I believe they are nationwide but by all means take your AI to someone who services commercial and light duty trucks as well as RVs. Should be able to help out.
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 04:54 PM
|
#5
|
3 Rivet Member
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
-
, VT, AZ, CA
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 106
|
On pages 7-2 and 7-3 of the Airstream manual there is a section entitled Component Identification that offers partial lists of who is responsible for what. Amusingly under Sprinter they list "wheels, tires", while under Airstream they list "Alcoa Dura Bright Rims". Typically tires are separately warranted by the manufacturer, and you would likely find literature on this among what you received.
At this point, I would look for a large authorized retailer for the tire manufacturer, one with sophisticated balancing equipment, and ask them to sort it out. The highest probability might well be that you have a defective tire.
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 10:58 PM
|
#6
|
2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Temple City
, California
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron_CA
I took mine to a TCI Tire Center and had them roadforce balance the front wheels. Very smooth now.
I believe they are nationwide but by all means take your AI to someone who services commercial and light duty trucks as well as RVs. Should be able to help out.
|
Looks like there's one in Irvine. I'll let the dealer try one more time, if it's still the same I'll take it down to get it road force balance at TCI. What brand tires are you using?
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 11:03 PM
|
#7
|
2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Temple City
, California
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by don000
On pages 7-2 and 7-3 of the Airstream manual there is a section entitled Component Identification that offers partial lists of who is responsible for what. Amusingly under Sprinter they list "wheels, tires", while under Airstream they list "Alcoa Dura Bright Rims". Typically tires are separately warranted by the manufacturer, and you would likely find literature on this among what you received.
At this point, I would look for a large authorized retailer for the tire manufacturer, one with sophisticated balancing equipment, and ask them to sort it out. The highest probability might well be that you have a defective tire.
|
I'll take a look at my manual. My AS dealer has nothing to service a Sprinter, therefore if it's chassis related I don't bother telling my AS dealer and go straight to the MBZ dealer. I just unsure about the wheel and tire. Thanks!
|
|
|
09-26-2016, 11:05 PM
|
#8
|
2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Temple City
, California
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxster1971
I haven't had a problem with shimmy/shacks at any speed. I did have an alignment issue that caused uneven wear on my front tires. I never bothered to get the alignment checked until I had 30,000 miles and added new tires after having a rear tire go flat giving me four bad tires just before a trip to Alaska.
I was unaware that alignment could have been a warranty claim - I was too busy traveling.
Since the Interstates have tires mounted on new Alcoa wheels installed by Airstream I would imagine that balancing would not be covered under the Mercedes warranty. If it had the stock steel wheels installed by Mercedes - then maybe. That said Airstream should be responsible to provide you properly balanced wheels/tires as delivered to you.
You need to find a shop that can get your wheels/tires properly balanced. A lot of Mercedes dealers do not have the proper equipment to balance the wheels on a 3500 Sprinter with dual wheels.
I'd press Airstream to pay for getting a proper balance.
|
What brand tires are you using?
|
|
|
09-27-2016, 07:24 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
2015 Interstate Ext. Coach
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 666
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dapolrbear
Looks like there's one in Irvine. I'll let the dealer try one more time, if it's still the same I'll take it down to get it road force balance at TCI. What brand tires are you using?
|
I am running the original Continentals. I have a friend who swapped out his fronts to Michelin and the issue was immediately cured so do believe the Contis may be part of the problem.
|
|
|
09-27-2016, 08:28 AM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,883
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dapolrbear
What brand tires are you using?
|
The original tires were Continental, at 30,000 miles I switched to Michelin and now have 76,000 miles with normal wear patterns all around.
- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter
__________________
- - Mike
--------------------------
2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
|
|
|
09-27-2016, 10:13 AM
|
#11
|
3 Rivet Member
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 175
|
I had same issue with mine when purchased. Took it to mercedes who did the front end alignment under warranty and then balanced all wheels. I was reimbursed from Airstream for the realignment. I would first call Airstream to get the approval for the wheel balancing.
|
|
|
10-03-2016, 06:38 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Skydeck 390 SD
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 568
|
I changed my Conti in the front got Michelin big improvement at 30k. Now got 65k and still good front tires but now I need to replace the 4 in the rear.
|
|
|
10-04-2016, 11:19 AM
|
#13
|
2 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Muncie
, Indiana
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 20
|
I also had a shimmy at the same speed. Changed out the Conti tires with new ones and it solved the problem. It seems to be a real wear issue with the brand, so if the issue returns I will change to Michelin.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|