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mrcchiefe7's avatar
mrcchiefe7
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013

Steering Wheel not coming back to center

We have a new 2014 Four Winds 31A (Bunkhouse model) on a 2013 Ford E450 chassis. After turning left or right the steering wheel does not come back to center. We have to turn the wheel about 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn to go straight again. We have had the front end alignment checked with 1/8” toe, +4.XX caster (both L & R). We have had unit weight checked finding the front to be 4340#, rear 9200# and total 13540#. (Front GAWR 5000#, Rear GAWR 9600#, GVWR 14500#). We have backed off the gear box as far as we can in an attempt to free up the steering. We have LT225/75R-16 by Michelin tires and the pressures have been checked and rechecked and set based on the unit weight per Michelin. Do we have a bad gear box?
Class C
  • mrcchiefe7's avatar
    mrcchiefe7
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    Thanks for all have the repplies so far. Yes we do have a steering damper installed. How would I check it to see if it bent?
  • rmmpe's avatar
    rmmpe
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    Rcase13,
    You definitely should have a steering damper. It's a shock absorber type cylinder attached to the frame and and 'U' bolted to the center tie rod (slightly off center to the right). If you don't have one, get to Ford because it was missed in the OEM build of the cutaway.

    The purpose of the damper is to reduce the road wheel feedback to the steering column/wheel, not return the wheel to center. Depending on how badly, if it binds, the caster of the wheels may not be enough to allow the steering gear to return to center.

    As for getting one, a stiffer aftermarket damper will also place more load on the steering assembly and power steering pump.
  • mikebo's avatar
    mikebo
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    Get individual wheel weights, My winnebago is significantly heavier on the passenger side and when I had it loaded before I knew to better distribute the weight it seemed to handle as you describe.
  • rcase13's avatar
    rcase13
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    I haven't looked under mine (2013 Jayco Redhawk) but I am pretty sure I don't have a steering damper.My steering does not return to center on it's own. Do you even have a steering damper? It's on my list to get one.
  • rmmpe's avatar
    rmmpe
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    I'd also take a look at the steering damper. If the shaft is even slightly bent at the near center position, it can bind enough to exhibit the symptoms you describe.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    You MAY need to have more +caster. It is the weight of the front end on the +caster angle that provides a return to center force. The E350/E450 Ford specification of +caster is a range from about +1.5 to +7.5. At +4.xx the unit is only a little over half way in the range.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    You say 'we' is that 'do it yourself' or the dealership working on it?

    I'm guessing a 2014 is still under warranty and if it were my MH it would be sitting in the dealership until they figured it out and repaired it. Just saying.

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