Forum Discussion
j-d
Jan 30, 2018Explorer II
I read the first post, to think OP has weighed this coach, at least by axle (not corner maybe) since he says he's set Tires to Weight. So I asked what those weights actually were. "More is Good" doesn't apply to Front Tire pressure on a Ford Class C.
My take on Henderson's "S-T-P like going to 5* Caster" is that it's based on a unit with the front end in good condition AND aligned to spec. That said, the Mid Range of the Spec is 3*. Our good friend Harvard came up with the 5* number having found he had Ingalls Adjustable Bushings. Somebody had supposedly done an alignment and probably set to 3* calling it "spec" since it's mid range. Sadly, many shops "align" Ford Twin-I-Beam Axles "Toe and Go" doing only the Toe and ignore Caster and Camber.
So, adding an S-T-P (or an RSS-C) could help apply centering force like more Caster will.
Please note that many application catalogs/web pages do NOT show Adjustable Bushings for RV Chassis and Box Trucks, basically anything with Dual Rear Wheels. They believe that the Adjustable Bushings will not stay in place. Non-adjustable (Fixed) bushings have a Key on them, that engages the Pinch Bolt that holds the Ball Joint in place. Adjustables can't have those, because they have to be turned to various positions to achieve adjustment. Again Henderson... Says They Will Stay if Installed Clean and Properly Torqued. The Pinch bolt isn't all that big but its torque spec is something like 65-ft-lb. I've had alignment shops tell me if they find Adjustables they take them out and use Fixed Bushings.
My take on Henderson's "S-T-P like going to 5* Caster" is that it's based on a unit with the front end in good condition AND aligned to spec. That said, the Mid Range of the Spec is 3*. Our good friend Harvard came up with the 5* number having found he had Ingalls Adjustable Bushings. Somebody had supposedly done an alignment and probably set to 3* calling it "spec" since it's mid range. Sadly, many shops "align" Ford Twin-I-Beam Axles "Toe and Go" doing only the Toe and ignore Caster and Camber.
So, adding an S-T-P (or an RSS-C) could help apply centering force like more Caster will.
Please note that many application catalogs/web pages do NOT show Adjustable Bushings for RV Chassis and Box Trucks, basically anything with Dual Rear Wheels. They believe that the Adjustable Bushings will not stay in place. Non-adjustable (Fixed) bushings have a Key on them, that engages the Pinch Bolt that holds the Ball Joint in place. Adjustables can't have those, because they have to be turned to various positions to achieve adjustment. Again Henderson... Says They Will Stay if Installed Clean and Properly Torqued. The Pinch bolt isn't all that big but its torque spec is something like 65-ft-lb. I've had alignment shops tell me if they find Adjustables they take them out and use Fixed Bushings.
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