Winnebaggo Brake issue

Yes on the steering damper, bigger the better.
And of course any loose steering component or kingpin is suspect

Next do a rough check of the toe-in with a tape measure.

If it persists, I think inadequate Caster is suspect, since this sounds like death wobble.

A little 1-3 degree shim between the leaf spring and axle might be all it needs to get back in spec, but check with an alignment specialist about that

homework sign up and do some poking around, lot's of info here because it's chassis specific.

Randy you have plenty of time to get the rig fixed as your probably done for the season, I would do some homework before spending any more money. Most of it depends on how much you're going to drive the motorhome. If your going back and forth to the lake once a month put the cheap stuff in but if you plan to drive it any sort of distance the extra cost for Bilsteins or Konis is worth it.

It's amazing how much more help I've got here on CCF than over on the classic Winnebago site!

Looking at shocks for the front. Summit racing has "pro-comp" ES-1000 for 29.99 ea. I read a lot about Bilstein being the preferred shock... but these are almost 90.00 a piece. Is it really worth three times as much for the Bilsteins or will the Pro-Comp be sufficient. Both are specifically for motorhomes.

Alan- the shop I took it to installed new rotors, pads, callipers, and the caliper supply hoses. I'll look those hoses over again and make sure that the clamps aren't restricting them somehow.

I took the old steering stabilizer off and I'm pretty sure that's what was causing the wobble/shake. I have a new Bilstein steering stabilizer ordered. I think I'll pick up a set of shocks for the front while I'm at it, they look original too and not hard to replace.

The clunking sound that I hear after driving it for awhile has to be in the brake system. Once I get the steering stabilizer installed, I'm going to take it for a ride and then bring it back and jack it up and see if those brakes are dragging.

I looked into that steer safe system, looks like a good thing to have but at over 400 I think I'll hold off on that for now. I don't plan on putting a whole lot of miles on her anyway. Just want it to be safe and drive somewhat respectably.

Definatly about the brake hoses Alan. I would only hope that as cheap as hoses are any half way decent shop would replace along with any caliper replacement unless the hose was known to be new.

I should have stated that all my reccomendations were made with all joints/tie rod ends in known good condition.

Randy I say forget that shop and rely on CCF.com!!! Winnebaggofan.com!

This is what you need.

Guaranteed to fix your problem.

went up to Summit last night to get the stabilizer and they didn't have it in stock! The guy I talked to on the phone told me to bring the old one to match it he didn't mention that they didn't have it! They're shipping it for free and I should have it by Wednesday.

They sold me a Bilstein one. I don't think they had the mud truck version peter

I'm pretty sure that this steering stabilizer is shot, and almost certainly causing the wobble/shaking but I don't think it's causing the clunking sound. That's got to be coming from the brakes. once I get the stabilizer back on it I'll take it for a ride and bring it back and jack it up and see if those things are dragging. I have a feeling I'm going to be buying more brake parts.

I can't believe that shop couldn't figure this out. Seems obvious to me now. Someone used the term "parts hangers" earlier, I think that's what we got here.

I just found another use for my OJ Prop Puller. Just used it along with a 3" 3/8" socket extension to pop the tapered bolt out that held the steering damper to the arm thing that steers (not sure of the name of this) it popped right out! The bolts came off really easy too. I was expecting it to be a lot more of a PITA! I'm on my way to Summit to pick up the new one.

ononewheel wrote: Do you by chance have chrome wheel covers? Those f@#*!% can do some funny noises, especially if it's ever tagged a curb, even slightly. Creates some sort of harmonics, until the brakes are applied, changing harmonics. Take those covers off and take it for a ride, I've delt with many covers that I'd say it is worth a try if you even have them. My last truck had some silicon behind it.

I do have Chrome Wheel covers. I had the original aluminium ones but I lost one on the way home from that shop because they dodn't put it on right. I went back and found it on the side of the highway but it was too bent up to use. I ended up buying a new set of chrome ones because I couldn't find a replacement anywhere. The new ones attach a lot better than the old style. I don't think that is where this clunking is coming from, but I will drive it without them anyway just to rule it out. The clunking was happening before the new wheel covers and while I had the old wheel covers. I heard a clicking sound when I first drove it and the PO said it was the one wheel cover, which I believe he was right, but that was more of a clicking sound, this clunking sound is different.

Got to jack it up on i beam to check the king pins. Use pry bar to move wheel, have partner watch king pin area.    Doesn't sound like your last shop was capable, or wanted to, to check them.

They ride in brass bushings, require grease too. 1984 huh? Your going to have play.

You are going to hate the bill for doing that job.

I'd find a cheaper fix to improve the wobble issue, like the stabaalizer. It is likely you have many parts with wear and combined, it's unlikely you are going to find ONE part to cure the issue.
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My friend down the road came down while I was soaking the stabilizer bolts with Kroil. He said I don't have king pins on this, I have ball joints. I'll post some pics.

I called Summit Racing and I think they have a steering stabilizer in stock that will work. It's for a P30 chassis. I'm going to remove the old one and take it to Summit with me. Summit has the shocks in stock too, they don't look too hard to replace as long as the bolts move. I've had them soaking in Kroil all day. That stabilizer definitely looks original.

Check the tie rod ends. I've had trucks do the shaky thing and that was the problem especially on Ford

Tim, I think if it was a king pin making the clunking it would do it all the time, not only after being driven for a while. And the clunking sound will go away when you apply the brake.

Now the wobble/shaking, I'm going to replace that steering damper and see if that helps. Probably needs to be replaced anyway if it's original.

Randy_in_Ohio wrote: peter1234 wrote: it sounds like brakes still but in my one ton the death wobble occurs every time my steering stabilizer wears out bumps seem to contribute to it I think I'm going to replace that steering damper next, could this make a clunking sound if it was bad? It's tight, you can't move it around.

Once you take it off you will know if it is good or bad, no way to tell otherwise.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/kingpin.pdf

ononewheel wrote:    I know a fair bit about large Fords, Internationals, etc.   But not sure of your exact set up. A pic of the front disc, king pin area would help. Do you have any wheel play while traveling down road? Do you feel the need to "heard" or constantly correct steering while at highway speeds? Since the last episode of a "siezed caliper" were the rotors checked? Does the coach have an early ABS system?

I do have a bit of play in the wheel and do feel the need to correct it at highway speeds. I figured this was typical of these vehicles... This is the only RV I've ever drove, the largest vehicle besides this that I ever drove was our old GMC Suburban, so I'm not really sure what to expect.

The rotors were replaced along with the callipers, supply hoses, and pads. Should I remove the rotors and take them to a machine shop and have them look at them?I don't know if the shop pulled them off and put them on a machine that would tell them if they were warped or if they just assumed since they were new they must be fine.

No ABS system

ononewheel wrote: Things I'd check, Wear at king pins Bellcranks for play Wear in steering. Not from steering wheel to steering box, but from steering box, in the drag arm area, and pitman arm and linkage. Rotor runout. Bearings. Wonder if it got hed hot?

I'm not sure how to check for wear at the king pins, but the shop said everything on the front end was tight. They said they took a pry bar to everything looking for play and found nothing.

This last time they said that their was some play in this arm that comes down from the pedal(sorry don't know what this part is called, they said they didn't even know what it was called(red flag?)) I had the service manager show me what he was talking about, we crawled under it and he pointed to the place where he said the play was, but it hardly moved at all, maybe 1/32" He didn't even seem to convinced that it was a problem but assured me that the part wouldn't be available anyway and would need to be manufactured by a machine shop and would cost a lot of $$.

They checked the bearings, said they are fine. I also had it jacked up and they appeared fine to me and my buddy who helped me. the wheels spun fine no worn bearing sounds...

Randy-- It's Jimmy Hoffa rolling around in your frame rails