Please don't give up on me...still need help!
I've posted before regarding steering (wandering) problems on my '04 class A, Ford chassis. I've received good advice and have begun to take action on some of the comments. But, the problem continues!...
Forum Discussion
My thinking is in this order, did the machine do this when new? If not then what has changed? What has worn or been damaged? If it's been cheesy from day one then there is some issue with the rv manufacturers build on that chassis.
So this appears to be an F53? It doesn't matter, what it appears to be is a typical beam and king pin front end.
I'm not a Ford chassis class A owner but have worked on heavy trucks and had state certifications. It appears the F53 is leaf springs and king pins. They may have checked the alignment but did anyone check everything? Some will do an alignment and call it good but you still have a problem. I dont know your mileage or vehicle condition but everything has to be tight. If they are a real truck shop they will know this stuff and even be able to bend the beam for the proper camber.
The spring end rubber and shackles have to be tight, the king pins must NOT be worn. The wheel bearings have to be properly adjusted. Some king pin front ends need to be greased religiously or as soon as they are worn a small amount the problems start. If the wheel is lifted off the ground a dial indicator is used to measure the kink pin or knuckle pin wear. If you lift a wheel off the ground and can "rock the wheel from side to side you have wear. They use a dial indicator to do it correctly so if you can feel it or see it, you have serious wear. When the bushings are replaced in the beam they are sometimes reamed and honed to size until the king pin will fit in the hole. It's an old design and sort of crude and simple but when the pin is too loose in the hole you have steering problems. It may not have mattered on an old farm truck but this thing is 20 plus thousand pounds doing 70 miles an hour. The pins must be right. A proper alignment goes all the way to the rear wheels and suspension components.
If there is looseness or slop in the spring ends and hangers or king pins the whole axle will in effect drift from side to side and cause just what you are saying. Picture the knuckle loose on the beam and having it rock from side to side as you attempt to steer. It will be an endless balancing act with you worn out at the end of the day. Tires can be an issue but ad on gizmos will not help if you have looseness in any of the main parts.
Page 6 and 7 in this link talk about proper inspection using a dial indicator.
One example page 6 and 7
Hunter
Wear
So this appears to be an F53? It doesn't matter, what it appears to be is a typical beam and king pin front end.
I'm not a Ford chassis class A owner but have worked on heavy trucks and had state certifications. It appears the F53 is leaf springs and king pins. They may have checked the alignment but did anyone check everything? Some will do an alignment and call it good but you still have a problem. I dont know your mileage or vehicle condition but everything has to be tight. If they are a real truck shop they will know this stuff and even be able to bend the beam for the proper camber.
The spring end rubber and shackles have to be tight, the king pins must NOT be worn. The wheel bearings have to be properly adjusted. Some king pin front ends need to be greased religiously or as soon as they are worn a small amount the problems start. If the wheel is lifted off the ground a dial indicator is used to measure the kink pin or knuckle pin wear. If you lift a wheel off the ground and can "rock the wheel from side to side you have wear. They use a dial indicator to do it correctly so if you can feel it or see it, you have serious wear. When the bushings are replaced in the beam they are sometimes reamed and honed to size until the king pin will fit in the hole. It's an old design and sort of crude and simple but when the pin is too loose in the hole you have steering problems. It may not have mattered on an old farm truck but this thing is 20 plus thousand pounds doing 70 miles an hour. The pins must be right. A proper alignment goes all the way to the rear wheels and suspension components.
If there is looseness or slop in the spring ends and hangers or king pins the whole axle will in effect drift from side to side and cause just what you are saying. Picture the knuckle loose on the beam and having it rock from side to side as you attempt to steer. It will be an endless balancing act with you worn out at the end of the day. Tires can be an issue but ad on gizmos will not help if you have looseness in any of the main parts.
Page 6 and 7 in this link talk about proper inspection using a dial indicator.
One example page 6 and 7
Hunter
Wear
