Handling/steering.

[Jayco-noslide]

Frustrated with the way our 2003 30 ft. Class C; Ford E-450 chassis drives(65000 miles). We flat tow a Ford Focus. With little wind on a smooth highway I would rate it a C for the steering, handling feel. My Ford Focus and a 2007 Chevy half-ton I had would rate an A or B in comparison. On narrow winding roads or with a wind it would be an F. Dangerous and tiring. The MH wanders, requires constant steering input and feels like there's lots of play(moving the steering wheel with no response). I've tried having some sort of front shock devise added, and found the front wheels were poorly balanced and over inflated by 15 lbs. Seemed better at 1st but not really. Been advised it might be the long overhang behind rear axle. Don't know where to go for a solution. If the steering gear needs replaced, how much$$ ? I'm thinking nothing will do it until the slack/play is removed??
Also wondering how close to "normal" mine is? Must be thousands of these on the road. HELP.

[mgirardo]

Is this a new problem? Did it just start happening?

Our 2009 Jayco Greyhawk Class C (bought April 2009) drove great when we first brought it home. I was very happy with how it handled. Then in late 2016/early 2017, it started to wander a little on the highway. Not bad, but not like it used to be. I took it to a trusted mechanic to replace the tires and asked them to do an alignment. They replaced the tires and told me the ball joints needed to be replaced. I don't remember the exact cost, but it was just under $1000. The parts are cheap, it is mostly labor. After they replaced the ball joints and did an alignment, it drove like new again - maybe even better. Our Greyhawk had just over 30,000 miles when the ball joints were replaced.

If I were you, I would start with an alignment and go from there.

-Michael

[Sam_Spade]

dennyida wrote:
some good people gave me the camber and caster settings for the class c with the 450 chassis.

Excellent post. I forgot about that critical part.
The information should already be ON here in an old message thread......if you can find it.

If not, someone should have it. I don't. My C is gone.

[dennyida]

Good morning, Jayco, I just wanted to let you know that we took our Granite ridge to Jack`s brake and alignment in Davenport Iowa. They work on buses, heavy duty trucks and the like. It might be a shorter drive for you. Ask them if they have the records of working on a 2005 Jayco granite ridge . OWner denny and Ida Giebelstein from clinton Iowa. If you want you can call me at 563 242 7988 Again GOOD LUCK

[PartyOf_Five]

DM and I can suggest a truck shop in Chicago's suburbs that did a great job with ours. We travel heavy in the tail, which certainly impacts performance, but they did a great job fixing the alignment and it rides great. I'm coming due -for upgraded shocks, like others have mentioned though.

[dennyida]

Hi, I know exactly what you are going through. We had a 2005 granite ridge on a 450 chassis.I put new shocks , tires and had the front end aligned at a local shop and it was still a white knuckle experience to drive. I went on this forum and some good people gave me the camber and caster settings for the class c with the 450 chassis.My local shop would not set up the unit with the settings i was given so i found a truck alignment shop and they set the unit up with the new settings. The unit drove like a new car. The shop that did the work said they wish they had these settings before because there were a lot of people with class c units that have the same problem. I cant remember the settings now but i`m sure someone on this forum can tell you. Good luck

[Sam_Spade]

Jennifer Koper wrote:
I need to know about power steering affect with the rack or pinion. if anyone hv knowledge please with me your idea.

thanks in advance.

What exactly are you trying to find out ?
Rack and pinion power steering works good.

[Hank85713]

you dont indicate if you have rear airbags or if ya do what pressure is utilized. I would recommend new shocks, install airbags if not there and then set tire air pressure to maybe 65 front and 70 or so in rears. My unit would do same thing so played with air shock settings (use around 60psi) and tire pressures as noted. Made a big difference. Am going to replace shocks all around with monroe gas-matics and do brake job at same time. Just havent gotten around to doing it since being back home from our trip.

[Jennifer_Koper]

I need to know about power steering affect with the rack or pinion. if anyone hv knowledge please with me your idea.

thanks in advance.

[carringb]

That era Class C tended to be very front-light, because that was just before the motorhome makers started using the 220"+ wheelbases common now on 30' coaches. I recommend getting axle weights (loaded, ready for travel) before doing anything else. Ford requires a minimum of 32% of the coach's weight to be on the front axle, but 35% is even better.

[Sam_Spade]

It seems that the E350/450 chassis comes from the factory with an alignment that is NOT good for a motorhome application.

AND....in my experience, almost NO RV dealerships are equipped to handle the alignment, even though some will claim that they are.

So....before you spend a lot of money on throwing parts at it, find a truck service shop that can do a proper alignment. It did WONDERS for the stability on my C.

NOTE: Even though it had only ~30K miles on it, the first place I went tried to tell me that it needed close to $1000 in new parts in the front end before they could do an alignment. The second and third places I went said no such thing. Be careful of scams.

[opnspaces]

When I read your description it at first sounds like a trailer with too much tail weight. But you are flat towing so that shouldn't be a problem.

However if your coach is extremely tail heavy it might be exaggerated when trying to pull. Have you noticed if the handling feel changes depending on if you are accelerating or coasting? How about the tow bar, is it fairly level, nose up or nose down?

How does the MH handle when not towing? would you put handling back up to an A or a B? I would try an alignment shop as there might be a worn part or parts that is contributing to the wandering feel.

[klutchdust]

Look up topics regarding front axle alignment then shock absorbers. I had both done to my 2009 Cambria and it steers and tracks fine.
I installed Koni's. Basic shocks that come with the coach stink. Mine also has heavy duty stabilizers front and rear.
The shock absorber upgrade will eliminate that banging, teeth chattering slamming that occurs on RR tracks and other road imperfections. You know the sound, you ask yourself are these tires or wooden wagon wheels?
I have towed my JK Wrangler and I did not feel it at all.