Play in steering wheel = nerve wracking!
We took our MH out into the desert with our Liberty in tow last weekend. It is only the 2nd time I have driven it any distance, but it seems to have an excess amount of play in the wheel. I am const...
Forum Discussion
Here is the way I described the problem back in 2010 BEFORE I discovered the effect of applying more +caster"
QUOTE:
Posted By: Harvard on 11/11/10 03:52pm
I am having the same problem with a "new to us" 2004 E450 with 20,000 miles on the odometer. If you do get an alignment be sure to post the alignment report so we can maybe develop a bigger picture. A TOE adjustment helped a lot on ours but not the be all and end all. My biggest complaint is all the "apparent to me" free play in the steering wheel.
END QUOTE:
And this is the same thread after I discovered the effect of adding more +caster.
START QUOTE:
Posted By: Harvard on 08/23/11 08:40am
Hidezertdog1:
Trust me, you have listed all the symptoms of not enough front end +caster. You probably have about + 3.5 degrees caster or less and you need to add at least +2 more degrees to be > 5.0 degrees. Install a set of Ingall 594 alignment bushings and set them at CASTER +2.0 degrees and CAMBER 0.0 degrees then align the TOE and you will have a unit that will drive like an SUV. Been there, done that...
On edit, by setting the Ingalls bushings at +2.0 degrees Caster it adds +2.0 degrees to the neutral +3.5 degrees caster for a grand total of +5.5 degrees caster.
END QUOTE
Link to above thread
QUOTE:
Posted By: Harvard on 11/11/10 03:52pm
I am having the same problem with a "new to us" 2004 E450 with 20,000 miles on the odometer. If you do get an alignment be sure to post the alignment report so we can maybe develop a bigger picture. A TOE adjustment helped a lot on ours but not the be all and end all. My biggest complaint is all the "apparent to me" free play in the steering wheel.
END QUOTE:
And this is the same thread after I discovered the effect of adding more +caster.
START QUOTE:
Posted By: Harvard on 08/23/11 08:40am
Hidezertdog1:
Trust me, you have listed all the symptoms of not enough front end +caster. You probably have about + 3.5 degrees caster or less and you need to add at least +2 more degrees to be > 5.0 degrees. Install a set of Ingall 594 alignment bushings and set them at CASTER +2.0 degrees and CAMBER 0.0 degrees then align the TOE and you will have a unit that will drive like an SUV. Been there, done that...
On edit, by setting the Ingalls bushings at +2.0 degrees Caster it adds +2.0 degrees to the neutral +3.5 degrees caster for a grand total of +5.5 degrees caster.
END QUOTE
Link to above thread
