Ye ole steering wander problem...
This question/comments is in regard to a 2017 Thor Freedom Elite 29FE. The problem is the old story of steering wander. I’ve had the wheels balanced and the front end aligned. I tried to get the align...
Forum Discussion
Agreed! Really, MOD should have closed this thread and directed Class A OP's wanting to help, to the Class C thread. The 29FE is a C on Ford E450.
John Henderson at Hendersons' Line Up (Grants Pass OR) was one of the first to notice the need for Rear Track Bars (technical term Panhard Rod) with live axle leaf springs and that led to the SuperSteer line of REAR track bars. Eric Davis (Eric's RV, Sequim WA) developed the Front Track Bar for Live Axle (Single I-Beam) chassis. Front Track Bar NOT needed with any form of Independent Front Suspension (IFS) because the axles, A-Frames, Struts, whatever's used, can't shift sideways with respect to the Chassis.
The E-Series Ford Class C chassis needs 5* Caster. I've met John Henderson and he told me 5* Left, 5.5* Right CASTER. Set Camber close to Zero or a fraction positive, and Toe slightly IN. I asked about 1/8" and he seemed to think OK, but they do it by degrees.
Sway/Stabilizer Bars help a LOT on the Fords, because Sway causes uncommanded Steer. I was going to start out with a Track Bar, but went Sway Bars (Hellwig) first. Huge improvement. Later added a BlueOx Rear Track Bar, slight improvement.
So the two big names in Track Bars are Davis for Front and SuperSteer (owned by Henderson) for Rear. BlueOx and Brazzels also market Rear Track Bars.
I also encountered Ralph Andrews, who used to be BlueOx's steering/handling expert. Before that, he designed most of the Rear Track Bars out there. Said they're the same bars made in the same shop with different Part Numbers, Colors and Marketing outlets. That's how I ended up with Blue Ox. Best price I could find.
Sway Bars? Roadmaster and Hellwig. Same specs, similar mountings, Hellwig price much lower.
John Henderson at Hendersons' Line Up (Grants Pass OR) was one of the first to notice the need for Rear Track Bars (technical term Panhard Rod) with live axle leaf springs and that led to the SuperSteer line of REAR track bars. Eric Davis (Eric's RV, Sequim WA) developed the Front Track Bar for Live Axle (Single I-Beam) chassis. Front Track Bar NOT needed with any form of Independent Front Suspension (IFS) because the axles, A-Frames, Struts, whatever's used, can't shift sideways with respect to the Chassis.
The E-Series Ford Class C chassis needs 5* Caster. I've met John Henderson and he told me 5* Left, 5.5* Right CASTER. Set Camber close to Zero or a fraction positive, and Toe slightly IN. I asked about 1/8" and he seemed to think OK, but they do it by degrees.
Sway/Stabilizer Bars help a LOT on the Fords, because Sway causes uncommanded Steer. I was going to start out with a Track Bar, but went Sway Bars (Hellwig) first. Huge improvement. Later added a BlueOx Rear Track Bar, slight improvement.
So the two big names in Track Bars are Davis for Front and SuperSteer (owned by Henderson) for Rear. BlueOx and Brazzels also market Rear Track Bars.
I also encountered Ralph Andrews, who used to be BlueOx's steering/handling expert. Before that, he designed most of the Rear Track Bars out there. Said they're the same bars made in the same shop with different Part Numbers, Colors and Marketing outlets. That's how I ended up with Blue Ox. Best price I could find.
Sway Bars? Roadmaster and Hellwig. Same specs, similar mountings, Hellwig price much lower.
