[T2] Loose steering on 73 bus

[Al Brase]

Gee, any good shop should be able to see this in 5 minutes. You can do it
yourself with a helper. Even a 10 year old is fine. just get them to
continuously wag the wheel and take up the slack- only.
Meanwhile, you lay on a rug or cardboard and look at every steering linkage
part with a flashlight and observe if half is moving and half is not
moving. If in doubt, put your fingers around the joint. there should be
virtually no play in the joints.
You have several places to look:
Drag link- steering arm to the center link- a ball socket joint on each end
left tie rod- center link to left steering arm (a joint on each end).
right tie rod- center link to right steering arm (joint on each end)
Ball joints- the entire steering arm might be scooting left to right a
little
AND- the center link: this has a vertical pin with bushings The bushings
wear. The mountings of the pin itself sometimes rust loose from the beam
and it basically WAGS instead of the wheels.(BTW, this pin needs to be
greased every few thousand miles)
These last two things may be a bit harder to see. but the mountings coming
loose is a pretty serious concern. (It can almost always be welded by a
skilled welder.)
Al



On Wed, Jul 18, 2018 at 4:02 PM, Dave Gillingham <dave at coronado-realty.com>
wrote:

> Hi list:
>
> Looking for ideas on how to fix the steering in my bus.  Just got it a few
> weeks ago.  Steering was super stiff.  The PO said the ball joints (and tie
> rod ends, I think) had been replaced.  Took it to a brake and suspension
> shop and they diagnosed a bad steering box.  Got a “new” one and it
> loosened the steering a bit, but it was still very sloppy (at least 6” of
> play) and would not properly center after a turn.  Replaced the very old
> tires with new reinforced sidewall tires in case that was contributing.  No
> help.  Got another “new” box, same symptoms.
>
> What is most alarming is that the bus will suddenly act like there has been
> steering input when there hasn’t!
>
> Third new box (and a different shop) may be marginally better (only about
> 2” of play in the wheel), but at times it feels almost  disconnected from
> the front end.  The new shop thinks the ball joints maybe too tight and
> suggested that they replace them.  I’m not sure I understand how that could
> contribute to the problem even if true.
>
> Anybody have any ideas?
> --
>
> Dave Gillingham, Owner/Broker
>
> License # 01184185
>
> o:  (619) 435-0145
>
> e:  dave at coronado-realty.com <natalie at coronado-realty.com>
>
> a: 1111 9th St #202, Coronado, CA 92118
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