steering box

[Pete Masterson]

Your idea of having others, with similar old coaches, give it a drive
and give you an opinion is probably a good one. When I was first
considering a coach, I was looking at bus conversions (not just BBs)
and I recall reading a web site that suggested that the Blue Birds
with air suspension were "much preferred" over the metal spring
suspension coaches -- so I'd expect that a somewhat hard ride might
be normal. (Years ago, I drove a few heavy trucks with spring
suspension in the Army -- they rode hard, but we didn't go very fast,
either.) I think one member got an "air ride seat" in his bird... it
might be a more cost effective choice to improve ride comfort. About
all I can say about my coach is that "it rides like a bus...."

You might call the factory and see if you can get some opinions
there... if there's anyone around who remembers the spring-suspension
models. (I suppose that the school busses have the air suspension
these days, so knowledge about spring suspension may be lost by now...)

Over $3000 is quite a price to pay for potentially only a small
incremental improvement....

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Idaho Springs, CO



On Aug 28, 2008, at 12:44 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> Hi Pete, The springs are pretty flat especially the back ones. One
> poster commented about wheel clearance. I have plenty of that. The
> shop thinks that when the engine was switched over to the 3208 the
> springs were modified by adding additional springs leaves which would
> make sense. The bus doesn't porpoise at all, the opposite it bangs
> pretty hard over bumps. The shop feels that the springs would
> function better if they were graduated from top to bottom and matched
> to the weight that the bus is being ask to carry now. So there is
> some reason to speculate that the bus would ride better with new
> springs under it. The question remains HOW MUCH. I can spend the
> money to find out. I might gain a lot I might gain just a little.
> The fellows at the shop didn't think the bus rode too badly. They
> objected to the loose steering more then the ride. I of course became
> some what used to the steering. But it is much better now I will
> grant you that. The shop obviously knews their stuff.
>
> There are other issues as well. Currently the they can buy the
> springs off the shelf. If they become unavailable then they are have
> to be custom made at about twice the cost. I have to factor all that
> in with considerations as to how long I will keep the coach. I think
> I will let a couple of the fellows drive the bus when we get together
> at Hershey and see if there is a consensus of opinion.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>>
>> I would suspect that the shocks, if they show signs of being, worn
>> might offer a modest but cost-effective improvement in handling.
>> (Does the coach bounce excessively or porpoise?) Unless the
> springs
>> and shackles, etc. are clearly displaying out-of-spec sag or other
>> bent components, that you'll get much less benefit from making any
>> changes to them.
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> aeonix1@...
>> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 28, 2008, at 9:16 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>>
>>> <snip>
>>> 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
>>> <snip>
>>
>
>
>
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