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Old 12-30-2008, 04:22 PM   #1
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Angry Airstream steering problem

I have a 1993 Airstream Legacy 34' deisel pusher with a steering problem. I have new shocks,had the front end checked and all ligned up and put new Good Year tires on it, but the tires seem to help the steering a little but the ride was terrible.The dealer that I got the tires from said that he would like to change the good year tires off and but on toyo tires so I said OK. Well the toyo tires ride great to bad the other tires didn't ride this good but the toyo tires does not steer as good as the good years and they didn't steer the best. The tire size is 8 R 19.5 and the good year tires were 6.5+" wide and the toyo's are only 5.25" wide on the ground. I have a safe-T-steer on the unit to but the thing just doesn't drive like it should it is just all over the road. I have had 4 other motor homes without this problem and I do not know what to do about the problem. I have thought about changing just the front tires to a wider tire again to see if this would help.Maybe like a 225/70/19.5 and maybe adding a track bar to the front ,the back already has one.Does anyone have any ideals?
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Old 12-30-2008, 05:53 PM   #2
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Does your motorhome have front air bags? If you do you need to verify pressure recomendations,wrong pressure or lack of will affect steering. Have you had the alignment checked?
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Old 12-30-2008, 06:07 PM   #3
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You didn't mention if your steering has a lot of play in it. If it does have you ever changed the bell crank bearings? They can correct road wondering.
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Old 12-30-2008, 08:59 PM   #4
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Common Sense , Texas
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If the condition of the front end and steering is good, as in no play, a "wondering" condition on the road is usually a result of too much toe-out. A "darting" condition on the road is usually caused by too much toe-in. If you know the toe-in specs, you can actually check it your self with a helper and a tape measure.
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Old 01-01-2009, 02:55 PM   #5
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lynn View Post
Does your motorhome have front air bags? If you do you need to verify pressure recomendations,wrong pressure or lack of will affect steering. Have you had the alignment checked?
No I do not have air bags only leave springs and I had the front end all checked out and aligned and they could not find any problems with the couch.
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Old 01-01-2009, 03:00 PM   #6
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1993 34' Legacy 34
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You didn't mention if your steering has a lot of play in it. If it does have you ever changed the bell crank bearings? They can correct road wondering.
When I had the alignment done they got all the play out of the steering and checked the front end for any problem. This was done by a big company that works on the big big trucks so they konw what they are doing I hope.
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Old 01-01-2009, 03:03 PM   #7
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If it were mine, I'd take it back and tell them what it's doing. Just because they aligned the front end, doesn't mean they aligned the front end correctly.
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Old 01-01-2009, 03:04 PM   #8
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH View Post
If the condition of the front end and steering is good, as in no play, a "wondering" condition on the road is usually a result of too much toe-out. A "darting" condition on the road is usually caused by too much toe-in. If you know the toe-in specs, you can actually check it your self with a helper and a tape measure.
The alignment was done by a big trucking company here in florida and it is better now than it was but it is still a bear to drive.
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Old 01-01-2009, 05:46 PM   #9
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What Steve says in reply #7 are my thoughts exactly. Even the "best" shops make mistakes.
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Old 01-01-2009, 10:40 PM   #10
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How much pressure in the tires? Is it what Airstream specifies?
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Old 01-21-2009, 03:06 AM   #11
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1992 36' Land Yacht
Oroville , California
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i have just had my rig towed in due to what i call a shimmy-wobble
problem in the steering. It lurches, and seems like it will go totally
out of control. this problem is intermittant. i suspect it is suspension,
steering shock, steering gear, tires or axels or bearings.
several mechanics and technicians at the shop have test driven it
and experienced this shaking, but cannot pin point the cause.

this is a 36' Land yacht 1992

any other similar problems known to any of you?

Laurel
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Old 01-21-2009, 08:25 AM   #12
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I'm not familiar with that coach. What kind of chassis does it sit on?
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Old 01-22-2009, 04:07 PM   #13
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it is new to me...sort of..i have had it several months but only had it out of the shop for a couple of weeks. all the paper work is in it and it is in the shop (again) now.

it has a Chevy engine (454?)

maybe someone else more familiar with these beasts can answer the chassis question.

(cactus hug?! ouch!)
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Old 01-22-2009, 04:52 PM   #14
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I drove a Freightliner once that acted like that and again it had alignments but it wasn't until we replaced the steering box that it was driveable again.
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Old 01-22-2009, 08:09 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLACK FARGO View Post
I drove a Freightliner once that acted like that and again it had alignments but it wasn't until we replaced the steering box that it was driveable again.
I think our friend prolly has a Freightliner chassis.
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Old 01-23-2009, 04:05 PM   #16
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Steering problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by rollin' home View Post
it is new to me...sort of..i have had it several months but only had it out of the shop for a couple of weeks. all the paper work is in it and it is in the shop (again) now.

it has a Chevy engine (454?)

maybe someone else more familiar with these beasts can answer the chassis question.

(cactus hug?! ouch!)
I hope you get your problems worked out soon.
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Old 01-23-2009, 04:08 PM   #17
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Steering Problem

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Originally Posted by Mike Leary View Post
I think our friend prolly has a Freightliner chassis.
My chassis is a Spartan chassis diesel pusher with a Cummings in it.
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Old 01-23-2009, 04:11 PM   #18
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1993 34' Legacy 34
Spring Hill , Florida
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Steering Problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary View Post
I think our friend prolly has a Freightliner chassis.
The steering box has been changed and checked several times and they said it is fine. My chassis is a spartan pusher with a Cummings in it.
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Old 01-23-2009, 04:13 PM   #19
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1993 34' Legacy 34
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The steering box has been changed and checked several times and they said it is fine. My chassis is a spartan pusher with a Cummings in it.
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Old 07-28-2009, 06:38 PM   #20
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1990 36' Land Yacht
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Talking

Quote:
Originally Posted by rollin' home View Post
it is new to me...sort of..i have had it several months but only had it out of the shop for a couple of weeks. all the paper work is in it and it is in the shop (again) now.

it has a Chevy engine (454?)

maybe someone else more familiar with these beasts can answer the chassis question.

(cactus hug?! ouch!)
I believe it should be a Chevrolet P32 Chassis, if i'm not mistaken. I was once!
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