steering box

[Chuck Wheeler]

Shocks can make a big improvement if the existing ones are weak. If the shopcould align the front end and there were no obvious problems I would not spend the money on springs etc.

- Chuck Wheeler-

FC 31SB Fort Worth TX

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From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of bubblerboy64
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:17 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Steering box

Got me Ole Girl back on the road again: Basically they replaced the
TieRod Ends and did alignment and adjusted what could be adjusted,
lubrication and inspection. The handling is significantly improved.
Much of the free travel has been eliminated. The result is less
wander in the wonderlodge. The fellows appreciated the input from
the forum and especially Chuck Wheelers comments. I feel like the
shop did an excellent job for me and with the help from my fellow
Bluebirders I made a pretty significant step in the right direction.

There still remains the issue of the springs,shackles and shocks with
respect to ride quality. To replace all of that stuff will set me
back pretty big bucks. Likely about $3500. Now the question is how
much improvement, or how much bang for my buck will I get. At this
point I am going to hold tight until I get to a rally so that some of
you other fellows can drive my bus and see how it compares to
others. I would not mind spending the money if I was going to get
real value. I have nothing to compare to. So plan to head to
Hershey in Oct lets see if some of you guys can take'r out for a spin
to see where I am at and where I should be going.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC

>
> When I had my steering box rebuilt I discovered that there were two
> different boxes used in the FC. The older one has much more "free
play"
> than the newer design. The difference is in the spool valve
design. If the
> steering wheel input shaft moves up and down when you move the
wheel with
> the engine off you have the older design. It's not really
mechanical free
> play but the amount of movement requires for the hydraulic system
to react.
> At the time we had ours rebuilt there were none of the newer design
> available to see if they were interchangeable. With the rebuilt
steering
> box, new tie rod ends, and bushings in the front end suspension
(totally
> gone) our FC handles very well now. There is still the free play,
but not
> slack, in the steering system. Now on a straight road there is
very little
> correction required. You want to be careful adjusting the sector
shaft
> preload, it is done with the box unloaded using a torque wrench on
the input
> shaft. Many people mistake eliminating free play with putting the
steering
> box in a bind which increases wear. The seals were worn out in our
steering
> box, but all other parts were in good condition. We are all used
to rack
> and pinion steering in our cars. Drive a 50s or early 60s vehicle
that have
> steering boxes and they have much the same feeling as our FCs.
>
> - Chuck Wheeler-
> FC 31SB Fort Worth TX
>
>
> _____
>
> From: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"
> [mailto:"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"] On Behalf Of bubblerboy64
> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:11 AM
> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Steering box
>
>
>
> My bus is in the shop as we speak sorting our suspension and
handling
> issues. The fellows have told me that they have things in pretty
> good order but are concerned about some "free travel" which they
have
> traced to the steering box. Now here is the issue. This steering
box
> was a rebuilt box which the previous owner replaced about 20K miles
> ago. (The previous owner said this greatly improved the handling.)
> The guys are telling me that my options are to live with this free
> travel or get another remanufactured steering box. My concern is
> that I might get another only to find its no better then the one I
> have now. My fellows are also not really familiar with BB's and I
> wonder if they are expection the impossible with this old FC? Any
> suggestions or tricks which I might pass on to the shop. They did
> say there was some type of adjustment that they were going to try
to
> make but it was "tricky" if they went just a little too far then
the
> steering would potentially have a tight spot or a hitch in it.( I
may
> not have that exactly right as to their discription but you likely
> get the point. They said what they were going to adjust but that
> didn't stick in the ole knoggin) The shop works on RV's and heavy
> equipment and is very well respected. They don't see a lot of BB'ds
> so if there is any thing I can pass along they are more then
willing
> for my information.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>