Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I am having steering problems on my 1979 wonderlodge, the coach wanders
dramaticly from side to side. Had the front end algined and steering
box tightened did not help. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I
could just keep driving this thing and over time have arms like the
Hulk. Bluebird in GA said that a 79 does have a problem of wandering
and that there is no updated steering box conversion. Is there anything
or any suggestion on how to cure this problem.
Matthew

My '73 had a bad wandering problem also. I had the alingment and
steering box tightened, but also had the "Drag Link" (the bar that
connects the steering arm to the steering linkage) adjusted at both
ends, and the 2 steel plates that mount the steering box to the frame
tightened up. That helped a bit.
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "matthewettinger"
<msecoolcal@...> wrote:
>
> I am having steering problems on my 1979 wonderlodge, the coach wanders
> dramaticly from side to side. Had the front end algined and steering
> box tightened did not help. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I
> could just keep driving this thing and over time have arms like the
> Hulk. Bluebird in GA said that a 79 does have a problem of wandering
> and that there is no updated steering box conversion. Is there anything
> or any suggestion on how to cure this problem.
> Matthew
>

Matt, you are sitting forward of the wheels and the
hard thing to overcome is over-correcting steering.
Also, what is the make of front rubber and pressure.
bob janes, 87fc35, greenvie, sc

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "matthewettinger"
<msecoolcal@...> wrote:
>
> I am having steering problems on my 1979 wonderlodge, the coach
wanders
> dramaticly from side to side. Had the front end algined and steering
> box tightened did not help. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I
> could just keep driving this thing and over time have arms like the
> Hulk. Bluebird in GA said that a 79 does have a problem of wandering
> and that there is no updated steering box conversion. Is there
anything
> or any suggestion on how to cure this problem.
> Matthew
>

There are some third-party steering stabilizers -- I don't know how
effective they are. My coach had a Blue Ox True Center installed by
the previous owner -- but I don't know what the steering was like
before it was installed.

It is also the nature of large vehicles to have a bit more wander
than smaller vehicles -- but excessive wander is a problem that needs
to be addressed.

I assume that the front end bushings and steering bearings have all
been checked/replaced.

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Mar 29, 2007, at 7:46 AM, one_dusty_hoot wrote:

> Matt, you are sitting forward of the wheels and the
> hard thing to overcome is over-correcting steering.
> Also, what is the make of front rubber and pressure.
> bob janes, 87fc35, greenvie, sc
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "matthewettinger"
> <msecoolcal@...> wrote:
>>
>> I am having steering problems on my 1979 wonderlodge, the coach
> wanders
>> dramaticly from side to side. Had the front end algined and steering
>> box tightened did not help. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I
>> could just keep driving this thing and over time have arms like the
>> Hulk. Bluebird in GA said that a 79 does have a problem of wandering
>> and that there is no updated steering box conversion. Is there
> anything
>> or any suggestion on how to cure this problem.
>> Matthew
>>
>



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

Does your '79 have air bags suspension? If so, check the "dog bones" both front
and back. That is what I found on our '81FC. The bushings were metal-to-metal.
They are hard to see and may need to be removed to check them. Made a huge
difference on mine. I spent about $4k and 2 years trying to get this fixed.
All the while it was getting worse.

Good luck.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA

----- Original Message -----
From: matthewettinger
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 8:12 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1979 35FC


I am having steering problems on my 1979 wonderlodge, the coach wanders
dramaticly from side to side. Had the front end algined and steering
box tightened did not help. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I
could just keep driving this thing and over time have arms like the
Hulk. Bluebird in GA said that a 79 does have a problem of wandering
and that there is no updated steering box conversion. Is there anything
or any suggestion on how to cure this problem.
Matthew





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

Make sure your king pins are lubed up.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Mt




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