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Old 03-23-2019, 08:44 PM   #1
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1991 35' Airstream 350
Columbia , Tennessee
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Rebuild suspension

Was ready for a tighter drive after almost 100k on the old stuff.
Super Stear springs and bell cranks.
All new ball joints, tie rods, bell crank arms, sway bar bushings, and new Timken wheel bearings.

Also installed new Bilstein shock all around and steering dampener.
New polyurethane sway bar bushings on the rear.
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While I was at it, decided to help the braking with new Stop Tech rotors!
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With the new springs, no more air bag needed and back up to proper ride height, and no longer a low rider!!
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Chris & Brenda....................cMADMAXman
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1991 350LE "Zephyr"
1982 310 MoHo (Sold! New home, NYC.)
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Old 03-24-2019, 02:39 PM   #2
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
Menomonee Falls , Wisconsin
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Posts: 424
Hey
Looks good, love the blue paint. .25 camber. 4.5 -5.50 degrees in caster, and .08 in inches for total toe. Get a total 4 wheel thrust angle alignment. The configuration of our coaches on a hunter alignment machine, will come up as a tandem axle non alignable rear axle. There is very little we can do with our coaches rear axle wise. But it is nice to know where the axles sit in relation to the front axle readings. If I'm available this summer, I invite you to come up here, and I'll align it for you. I may be gone for a job, but if available I offer that to you. DJ
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Old 03-24-2019, 03:57 PM   #3
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1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign , Illinois
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Welllllllllllll, how does it feel? Was it worth it? I'm almost there, done tie rods, ball joints, bell cranks, air bags, shocks, sway bar bushings, fresh alignment...I think my next job will be the steering gear box at some point. It handles sooooooo much better now.
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Old 03-24-2019, 05:24 PM   #4
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
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Hey,
The cool thing about driving big things, is that you can really feel the difference when something gets replaced. On a car, not so much. Our coaches are big ,top heavy, and long. So everything road wise is working against us. Those new parts will really come in handy driving western roads that are rutty.our front wheels are narrower than the back end,thus the tendency to have to steer it all the time. Your either in the rut or trying to straddle it. My 2 GMCs were really bad for that. Being front wheel drive made it worse. AS are at least rear wheel drive, with duals so that makes it a whole lot better.

On a differant note. When you guys get ready for an alignment, go to your nearest tire shop, ask for the name of their Hunter service rep. If anyone can tell you what's a good shop, or where to go for a good trustworthy alignment, it lol be him he probably trained the guy who will do your coach. And being a 310, it's no differant than doing a one ton daully. Just longer. No tag axle.
If they opt out of doing a 4 wheel thrust angle alignment, just have them do a 2wheel front end alignment. The worst that can happen is a cocked steering wheel.( very likely) they can fix that, but you can too. Remove your steering wheel from it 9 bolt adapter ring, and turn the wheel until it's straight. Probably one bolt hole will do. This will not affect the steering at all, or the centering of the steering gear. You may ask the tech to give you a .25 degree more caster on the right side. That will give the coach an inclination to pull left. Great for crowned roads. You'll hardly notice it on a flat road. It may drift a tad left if you find yourself in the left lane. I also think your to far from me for me to align it . Local may be a better option for you guys. Good luck. DJ
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Old 03-24-2019, 06:37 PM   #5
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1991 35' Airstream 350
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I used the recommended settings supplied by Super Steer. The tech did a great job, but did not like the camber on the right side. Took it back out I think to keep from pulling a little right. He drove it twice or more to make sure it all was tracking like it should. I will be taking it in after our trip down south next week to see how everything settles in. I had a clearance of 3/4" from bump stop to now 2 1/2".

The weight of the front (by our local COOP) was 4800 lbs.. So I got the 5000 to 5300 lbs. springs.

When I took it out after he got done with it, there was about a 15+ wind, and it did buffet a little, but nothing like it was. We have some bridges with bad approaches on them here locally and before would bottom out the front suspension, but not even close now!!

I just tightened up the steering box, but did not tear into that.

Problem I have now is the rear springs, or whats left of them after they were cut off for the air bag system. There should be 10" from the frame to the air bag bottom bar. I have 9" and that is after I raised the air valve a little. Of the 3 holes in the system, I'm on the bottom hole, so the back of the springs ride on the frame when all the air is out of the bags!

Have found new springs for around $750 a pair, but only rated for 9k. I'm going to ck with a spring shop in Nashville to see what they might be able to do.

Thanks for the offer Dave, but our trip this summer will not be taking us your way, maybe next year when we retire!!??
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Old 03-24-2019, 07:28 PM   #6
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My Bad, the front weight with me in the coach, was 4980 lbs.!
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AIR Member 12654
1991 350LE "Zephyr"
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Old 03-24-2019, 08:01 PM   #7
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1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign , Illinois
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Awful nice of you to offer your help DJ! Good on ya

Mike

(I also used the spec supplied by Suprsteer after the bell crank install)
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Old 03-24-2019, 08:27 PM   #8
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1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles , Washington
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmadmaxman View Post

Problem I have now is the rear springs, or whats left of them after they were cut off for the air bag system. There should be 10" from the frame to the air bag bottom bar. I have 9" and that is after I raised the air valve a little. Of the 3 holes in the system, I'm on the bottom hole, so the back of the springs ride on the frame when all the air is out of the bags!
When there is no air in the bags the back of the springs do ride on the frame because there is nothing else to stop them. This is why is it so important not to drive with no air in the bags. If you go back to your leveling valve there is a nut on the valve arm a couple of inches from the pivot point. Loosen that nut and there is quite a bit of adjustment in the arm itself.

The leaf springs don't do much as far as carrying the load because of the air bags. If you want to tighten things up replace the bushings at the front leaf spring mounts and also the bushings on the dog bone link between the air bags.
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Old 03-24-2019, 08:42 PM   #9
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That's what I was thinking Dan, but over the years, the springs now are arched up! When these units came from Airstream with the air bag carrier system they were in the center hole. At least that is what my manual says!?

Your right about don't drive it with out air in the bags. They say if you lose air, only 45 mph max! There is hard stops in the proper air bags so keep it from dropping to low.

Looking into it anyway. Would like to do it, if I have to, when I drop the rear end for a rebuild.
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Old 03-25-2019, 07:33 AM   #10
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Very nice!
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Old 03-25-2019, 01:59 PM   #11
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1991 25' Airstream 250
Oxford , Oxfordshire
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http://www.oemys-performance.com/med...-alignment.pdf

'Along the way, you have probably encountered your share of not-so-competent mechanics and/or alignment shops. Matter of fact, many alignment shops simply don't know how to deal with this motorhome version of the P Chassis and wind up treating it like a truck.

We will show you that simply telling the alignment shop that it's a “P30 Chassis” will almost guarantee you an incorrect alignment. Your Class A motorhome is NOT built on a “P30 Chassis”. The correct general term is a “Motorhome P Chassis”. The P Chassis was also used for what is referred to as a Commercial (Forward Control) truck. The same chassis series has been used for G10, G20, G30, P20, P30, and Motorhomes under a '32 - 52' designation. What's more, the alignment specs are different for the motorhome chassis because they were made slightly different.'
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Old 03-26-2019, 07:22 PM   #12
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
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Hey,
You are right about the MH being different than a p 30 chassis. They are very close though. The steering assembly is differant,steering gear is more like a step van, they stretched the frame. So it is possible you have differant Ackerman arms on the spindles. Other than that it's pretty much a p30 set up. With our lengths , the caster specs may be differant. If your coach rides almost level, then frame angle is unimportant. You probably wouldn't t notice any change anyway. That's one of those engineer things.
I'm curious, what was the bell rank specs. Did they run negative camber on the right side? That's the road crown thing.. I prefer equal camber, and a little caster offset.
Glad to help may see you on our way to Alabama for thanksgiving.
So far as rear springs are concerned? My coach has 5500 miles on it, and the rear springs are pretty flat. The airbags are the springs. The springs are only holding the axle in place. And p30 chassis didn't have a lot of arch to the springs in the first place. The overloads that were above the main spring pack did the heavy lifting. We don't have that extra spring pack, the bags do that function. Alright, see ya. DJ
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Old 03-26-2019, 07:34 PM   #13
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
Menomonee Falls , Wisconsin
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Hey,
Your right about taking it back in a couple of hundred miles those front springs will settle a little. Your camber will go up a little. From, say .25 to maybe .50 . Not to bad but enough to notice a difference in steering, it may get a little lite feeling. You want to ride on the tire not on the edges.
Boom, your right about alignment techs. I trained at least 300 guys. I wouldn't have trusted my cars to more than 10 of those guys. Take it to an alignment shop. It's what they do, truck shops are the best, they do it all day, and there techs specialize in big truck alignments, and they know stuff like toe out in turns, frame angle vs caster adjustments, axle set back all the stuff you never really have to be concerned about with. Car.
I painted my anti sway bars red. Cause that makes the AS faster... DJ
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Old 03-26-2019, 11:19 PM   #14
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1991 35' Airstream 350
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rear springs

On the right spring, some PO has put in a 5/8" shim to try to bring it up level with the left side. There is a negative arch on the right side and level on the left with no water in the tank. Here is some shots of both sides.

Right side, notice the spacer block under the spring pack.
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Left side, no water in tank.
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I wanted to take it to a truck shop here in town, but the owner passed away and the family did not want to keep it going, and they did great work!
I'll take a shot of what Supersteer suggestions for alignment.
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Old 03-27-2019, 06:54 AM   #15
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
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Hey,
Yah, they got the sags . I think your due for some springs. Shouldn't t need shims, especially on one side. Sorry to hear that.
What was super steers settings, I'm curious. DJ
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Old 03-27-2019, 08:40 AM   #16
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Here is the specifications.
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Old 03-27-2019, 06:04 PM   #17
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
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Hey,
Yah, that's what I thought they would do with the specs. Those are good numbers, my only thing is the large spread in caster. When you get on a flat road, like a three lane interstate, it lol pull left. I like an inclination to the left, not a pull. I'd back it down a half degree. It's really kind of a trial by error thing. My excursion had a pull to the left, turns out it was a dragging left rear caliper. Go figure. You could have a positive thrust angle, meaning the rear axle is cocked a bit. Thus pushing the rear of the coach to the right. Then a degree of offset in caster would actually be a good thing. But on another coach with no thrust angle, or less of one, that kind of caster may induce a pull. You get my drift? So, it's kind of a drive it and see thing. Non of those spec numbers will be bad on tire wear. .15 in toe in inches is a pinch over an 1/8 inch. That's good. If everything is new and tight, zero total toe is good, but a 1/16 of an inch per side is fine too. Your good on the alignment, .
And as the springs settle, you may pick up a little camber on both sides. I wouldn't t let get over .50 . Ultimate tire wear is obtained with close to zero setting when in motion, and tire pressure at mugs recommendation.
Anyway, good luck DJ
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Old 03-27-2019, 11:33 PM   #18
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Thanks DJ. When we get back from our trip and install the new rear springs, I will take it back in and check it again with the info you provided as well.

Great info, for this is only the second front end rebuild I have done. My first one was on my 1965 El Camino that I did over 40 years ago!
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:56 PM   #19
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1987 34.5' Airstream 345
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Hey,
Yah, I've done a few rebuilds to in my 60 years. How time flys . I still feel like I'm 28. Until I look in the mirror, and see an old guy. It's very weird. I'm wiser, more introspective, and more appreciative of everything. That's good. Be good, maybe we'll meet. DJ.
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Old 03-29-2019, 10:26 PM   #20
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Know what you mean DJ. How time flies, can't believe i'm now 65 and on medicare!

Like a roll of toilet paper, closer to the end of the roll, the faster it goes!!
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