2009 E-350 alignment recommendations

[barnbridge]

2010 Thor Four Winds 28'(2009 e-350) class C no slideouts. Getting aligned next week and looking for recommendations for caster,camber and toe. Steering is a little squirrely at speeds above 65, but it might be the nature of the beast. I believe factory specs are:
Camber 0.5 +\- 0.75
Caster 3.9 +\- 2.9
Toe 0.06 +\- 0.25

I purchased a Specialty Products Co. adjustable caster/camber sleeve, part 24180 and will have the alignment tech install. I recall reading about increasing the caster to help with steering stability at speed but can't find the info now. Thx, Mike in PA

[j-d]

I carry a weatherproof pocket notebook and the space age "Fisher Pen" that writes every time. On a PNW trip, I visited Hendersons Line Up in Grants Pass OR. Well respected RV Chassis Gurus, also the manufacturer of SuperSteer components.
Spoke to John Henderson who did alignments there over 25 years. Here's what I jotted down in my helpful interview with John:
1. LF Camber +0.25
2. RF Camber 0.0
3. LF CASTER +5.0
4. RF CASTER +5.5
Bushings: Ingalls 59400, Specialty 24180
I believe that if you can attain or exceed the +5.0/+5.5 you should be OK
IF IF IF you have sufficient FRONT Axle Loading. Sometimes a builder will hang a rear queen bedroom, maybe with a slide, onto a shorter (say 26-ft) Class C. Then they have to hide the wheel wells and the wheelbase comes up too short to load the front axle adequately to glue it down to the road.
This is why Weight and Tire Pressure are SO Important!
The FW Coach I'm familiar with in your length is the 28A, and those seem OK.

We talked Toe, and I didn't write it down. The gist was "a little In/Positive."

[barnbridge]

Thanks to all for the info. I thought I remembered caster of +5.5° but can't trust the memory like I used to.

[theoldwizard1]

donn0128 wrote:
Find a good alignment shop that knows how to fix Fords wondering problems. This has been a major Ford problem since the early 80s, so a good mechanic should understand how to fix it.

Concur ! Find a shop that specializes in alignment and tell them your issue.

I agree with the other comments about caster. This is a "non tire wear" adjustment and pushing it to the end of the positive limit will help a lot.

I would also fill your fresh, gray and black tanks to about 1/2 full. Also, if you carry anything heavy in the back or attached to the bumper include that ! You want the unit to be as close to average driving weight as possible.

[Harvard]

Wandering at Highway Speeds


Reply Post by 2kGeorgieBoy says it best....

Re: Wandering at highway speeds
Reply #36 on: March 14, 2018, 09:07:02 PM


START QUOTE:
Jeff..Although we have a 2000 Georgie Boy 31' Maverick "C" on a Ford E450 chassis, I can fully agree on the caster effects, at least for us. When we got the unit in Jan 2014, the dealer had us take into a truck shop for an alignment. It turned out OK....A trip to Moab shortly there after brought out the problems. I then started reading the threads and comments here about the caster settings....esp., from Harvard. I checked the data from the first alignment and found that it was set at about 3 1/2 degrees positive...about in the middle of Ford's recommended range. Shortly before a cross country trip to Maryland in fall of 2016, I returned to the shop where the first alignment was done. I talked to the service manager and he knew of the problems with the E450's and was happy to increase the caster as I asked. The alignment tech was also familiar with it and ended up with settings close to 5.5 degrees positive. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The unit tracked straight down the road, passing semis no longer caused a white knuckle hold on the wheel, and overall it was just a lot more enjoyable. It did however increase steering effort a little but not anything to worry about. But, be sure that the shop you go to is willing to "think outside of the box". Our first alignment was "plain vanilla", right in the middle like it was always done. Second time out, they were very willing to increase settings beyond what normally would be done, and still stay with in Ford's guidelines (0-7 degrees, I believe). I realize that our E450 chassis is an entirely different animal than yours, but I was trying to add support to the caster increase thinking and how it helped us......if you go down that road.
END QUOTE:

ruffingit is another happy camper


ruffingit QUOTE:
I know this is a old thread and I'm a new member but when I recently bought my 2017 Thor Freedom Elite class C, I had a white knuckle ride home from where I bought it in Arizona back to California. The drive was very disappointing, when I returned home I sent Ford a letter about my experience and they actually called me. I was informed that Ford gives each new RV chassis a generic alignment as it rolls off the assembly and stated the RV manufacturer who adds the coach to the chassis should give each unit an alignment, even he admitted that it is rarely done. He suggested that I contact "Thor" of course Thor informed me that they do not do alignments on their new coaches and it is not covered under the purchase of the coach. So if you buy a new coach make sure you get a wheel alignment, it runs a couple hundred dollars. That, and a couple of suspension upgrades eliminated the problem. Hope this helps.
END QUOTE.

[donn0128]

Find a good alignment shop that knows how to fix Firds wondering problems. This has been a major Ford peoblem since the early 80s, so a good mechanic should understand how to fix it.
Before you go to alignment, to get it weighed. If your nose light that will contribute to your problems.

[j-d]

Caster is important. Your numbers are in the middle of the range that goes to 7*+. Chassis is built with 0.5*+ more caster on passenger side. I'm working on ours now and hopefully can get at least 5.5*+ left which would be 6.0*+ right. Camber near Zero both sides AND Toe slightly IN.
Harvard has schooled himself in this and should be around shortly.
I close with a caution. Get your ride height the way you want it before having it aligneed! Load, tire pressure,air bag pressure, etc.