LXi Owners, steering, ball joints, New Part Numbers

[David Brady]

Folks,

I received tie rod ends and the cross bar from Dana
Corp today. There's a change to the part numbers.
The new numbers are:

Cross bar part number: 161TR117-1-90
Left drop socket ball joint part number: 971748
Right drop socket ball joint part number: 971749

Mike Bulriss, can you please make the corresponding
corrections to the file labeled: "LXi (and LX?)-Steering,
Ball Joints Problem.doc" in the Files section of the
home page?

Thanks,
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

----------------------------cut here------------------------

Fellow LXi Owners,

I discovered something on my bus that I'd like you to
be aware of. When I dump the suspension, there's a
portion of the frame that comes into contact with the
steering tie rod, deflecting the tie rod by about a quarter
inch.

The frame component at the front of the bus is the
diagonal bracing that's close to the centerline of the
bus, starts high up at the base of the c-channel frame
rails and diagonally slopes down to a mounting point
at the bottom of the basement. I'm fairly certain that this
diagonal bracing is peculiar only to the LXi. This bracing
attaches to a heavy steel bulkhead at the front end of
the basement ultimately attaching to a framework of
2 x 6 box section frame rails that run under the basement
and the length of the basement.

As I dump the suspension the weight of the front of the
coach just starts to hit the bump stops in the front air bags,
but then the diagonals conflict with the tie rod cross bar
deflecting it about a quarter inch.

The ultimate problem here is that if your driving and you
experience a loss of air pressure in a front air bag, the front
will dump and the frame component conflicting with the steering
tie rod may make steering difficult. Of course, the idea of having
upwards of 14,000lbs bearing down on tie rod end ball joints
doesn't sit very well with me either.

I called Ridewell and Dana Corporation and found a solution for
my front axle. The solution is to use a drop socket tie rod end ball
joint to drop the tie rod cross bar an inch. This provides the room
for the suspension to lower and sit firmly on the air bag bump
stops and it allows the coach to be steered in the event of air loss
at the front air bags.

My front axle is Dana part number: I160WIDE TR and 161BN208-1
My original tie rod ball joints are: 220TR115 (left) and 220TR116 (right)

The new drop socket tie rod ball joints require a new tie rod cross bar.
The new cross bar is part number: 161TR117-1
And the drop socket ball joints are: 161TR115 (left) and 161TR116 (right)

Check your LXi to make sure that your frame is not resting on your
tie rod cross bar.

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

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3:02 PM

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Brady]

Folks,

I had the new tie rod ends and cross bar installed
this past Monday by a Prevost Car service center
in Nasheville, Tn. It works as advertised. The frame
diagonals now clear the cross bar when the susp is
dumped and she now sits firmly on the bump stops.
Prevost Car also did a front end alignment - the
results are spectacular. Turns out one of my original
tie rod ball joints was faulty. The combination of fresh
ball joints and a professional alignment has made a
world of difference in handling and drive-ability.

One last note, there's been a bunch of talk lately
regarding BB service and the need for a nationwide
service center infrastructure. Let's not forget that all
BB's are welcome at any of the five nationwide Prevost
service centers, and let me tell you that the service
is exceptional and the customer care top notch.
I'm going to use them exclusively for all my chassis
needs. As a bonus, they don't stock many BB parts,
so you'll have to bring your own, which means that
you get your parts at your cost, not their markup.

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

David Brady wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> I received tie rod ends and the cross bar from Dana
> Corp today. There's a change to the part numbers.
> The new numbers are:
>
> Cross bar part number: 161TR117-1-90
> Left drop socket ball joint part number: 971748
> Right drop socket ball joint part number: 971749
>
> Mike Bulriss, can you please make the corresponding
> corrections to the file labeled: "LXi (and LX?)-Steering,
> Ball Joints Problem.doc" in the Files section of the
> home page?
>
> Thanks,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>
> ----------------------------cut here------------------------
>
> Fellow LXi Owners,
>
> I discovered something on my bus that I'd like you to
> be aware of. When I dump the suspension, there's a
> portion of the frame that comes into contact with the
> steering tie rod, deflecting the tie rod by about a quarter
> inch.
>
> The frame component at the front of the bus is the
> diagonal bracing that's close to the centerline of the
> bus, starts high up at the base of the c-channel frame
> rails and diagonally slopes down to a mounting point
> at the bottom of the basement. I'm fairly certain that this
> diagonal bracing is peculiar only to the LXi. This bracing
> attaches to a heavy steel bulkhead at the front end of
> the basement ultimately attaching to a framework of
> 2 x 6 box section frame rails that run under the basement
> and the length of the basement.
>
> As I dump the suspension the weight of the front of the
> coach just starts to hit the bump stops in the front air bags,
> but then the diagonals conflict with the tie rod cross bar
> deflecting it about a quarter inch.
>
> The ultimate problem here is that if your driving and you
> experience a loss of air pressure in a front air bag, the front
> will dump and the frame component conflicting with the steering
> tie rod may make steering difficult. Of course, the idea of having
> upwards of 14,000lbs bearing down on tie rod end ball joints
> doesn't sit very well with me either.
>
> I called Ridewell and Dana Corporation and found a solution for
> my front axle. The solution is to use a drop socket tie rod end ball
> joint to drop the tie rod cross bar an inch. This provides the room
> for the suspension to lower and sit firmly on the air bag bump
> stops and it allows the coach to be steered in the event of air loss
> at the front air bags.
>
> My front axle is Dana part number: I160WIDE TR and 161BN208-1
> My original tie rod ball joints are: 220TR115 (left) and 220TR116 (right)
>
> The new drop socket tie rod ball joints require a new tie rod cross bar.
> The new cross bar is part number: 161TR117-1
> And the drop socket ball joints are: 161TR115 (left) and 161TR116 (right)
>
> Check your LXi to make sure that your frame is not resting on your
> tie rod cross bar.
>
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>
> ----------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.0/853 - Release Date: 6/18/2007
> 3:02 PM
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> ----------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.4/898 - Release Date:
> 7/12/2007 4:08 PM
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.4/898 - Release Date: 7/12/2007 4:08
PM
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]