Forum Discussion

goufgators's avatar
goufgators
Explorer
Feb 11, 2019

Where in Tallahassee area...

Is there a alignment shop in the Tallahassee area that will agree to change the 'spec' caster setting to one of 5 to 6 degrees positive? The shop I normally use for alignments is hesitant to set at anything other than factory spec.
  • Check out the places listed in replies to my intro on the Thor forum.

    http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f3/hi-tallahassee-15982.html
  • More caster makes it track better, less wandering. No free lunch though, too much caster can make the wheels shimmy like a shopping cart.

    3 to 4 is about standard. I would be awfully cautious about going to 6.

    Call josams in orlando
  • Have you talked with Sermons alignment (off west tenn st )? They are great at alignments.fyi we also live in crawfordville.
  • Fla Tom wrote:
    Have you talked with Sermons alignment (off west tenn st )? They are great at alignments.fyi we also live in crawfordville.


    Thanks! I did talk to them this a.m. and will be taking the MH to them Friday. He is very familiar with the steering wandering and knowledgeable about the movement of caster more to positive.

    Just wondering, do you have a MH and, if so, have you experienced the steering problem? This our 4th and each has had this same problem.
  • Caster is how the steering axis is tilted, forward/back.

    Think about the front wheels on a working shopping cart (not the one at walmart that wobbles and drives you nuts). The point where the wheel pivots is behind where the center of the wheel is. Very stable, it just wants to go straight.

    A really good explanation of all alignment terms. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=4
  • goufgators wrote:
    Fla Tom wrote:
    Have you talked with Sermons alignment (off west tenn st )? They are great at alignments.fyi we also live in crawfordville.


    Thanks! I did talk to them this a.m. and will be taking the MH to them Friday. He is very familiar with the steering wandering and knowledgeable about the movement of caster more to positive.

    Just wondering, do you have a MH and, if so, have you experienced the steering problem? This our 4th and each has had this same problem.

    we do have a motorhome (also on our 4th also) luckily this coach has not had any steering issues.
  • goufgators wrote:
    Fla Tom wrote:
    Have you talked with Sermons alignment (off west tenn st )? They are great at alignments.fyi we also live in crawfordville.


    Thanks! I did talk to them this a.m. and will be taking the MH to them Friday. He is very familiar with the steering wandering and knowledgeable about the movement of caster more to positive.

    Just wondering, do you have a MH and, if so, have you experienced the steering problem? This our 4th and each has had this same problem.


    Please give us a before and after report and driveability. We know this works on the E Series. Have not had a lot of feedback on the F53.
  • Harvard wrote:
    goufgators wrote:
    Fla Tom wrote:
    Have you talked with Sermons alignment (off west tenn st )? They are great at alignments.fyi we also live in crawfordville.


    Thanks! I did talk to them this a.m. and will be taking the MH to them Friday. He is very familiar with the steering wandering and knowledgeable about the movement of caster more to positive.

    Just wondering, do you have a MH and, if so, have you experienced the steering problem? This our 4th and each has had this same problem.


    Please give us a before and after report and driveability. We know this works on the E Series. Have not had a lot of feedback on the F53.


    Sorry! Should have provided a report as requested. Before: driving was a problem due to constantly moving steering wheel back and forth to keep MH heading reasonably straight. After: major improvement in steering. Although steering in the MH not quite as good as my Tundra, still much improved.
  • On this thread, let me suggest we keep comments to ONLY the F53 chassis.

    Mixing discussions of the E 350/450 may (or may NOT) give good insight on high caster settings on the F53.

    Actually, I would start by calling someone like Robert Henderson (Grants Pass, OR) to see what the experts feel is ideal caster for the F53.