LXi Owners, steering, ball joints

[David Brady]

Feel free Mike. I don't know if the LX is also affected, but
there's a strong possibility.

David
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

mbulriss wrote:
>
> David,
>
> That's a serious enough note that I am going to add that as a file for
> future reference by other LXi Owners if you don't mind. Is it
> probable that it affects LX models also?
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , David Brady
> wrote:
> >
> > 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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