Question:
Hi Robert,

Recently, I had my nimble 25- foot R-Vision Trail Lite Class A in the shop for tire balance, rotation and alignment.  The mechanic noticed left front tire really worn on inside edge and quickly diagnosed 3 ball joint failure as well as a bad Idler arm —driver side. He said there was a little side-to-side movement.  My first estimate for repairs is a whopping $1,850 for all four joints and the arm alone is $850!  I suspect the chassis was not greased at oil changes (previous owner—-and my fault too!) now at 35K miles.

Is it possible that a 2002 Chevy Workhorse chassis (5.7 L) idler arm be adjusted at some Bell Arm attachment rather than having to buy an $850 part replacement?  What is consequence for alignment afterwards?

Thank you!
Joe M.
Bloomington, Indiana

Answer:
Hello Joe,

Thank you for the excellent question.  I’ll see if I can give you a good answer.  It is rare for us to have to change ball joints on a P32 chassis motorhome, especially all four. Upper A-arm shafts are a much more common problem, as they greatly affect the alignment.  One of my main concerns for your vehicle would be ride height on the front end.  It should have from 1.75 to 2.5 inches from the rubber bump stop to the metal striker plate. When a P series motorhome such as yours loses ride height due to weak springs, blown air bags, and/or is heavily loaded without being realigned, this can cause the vehicle to have negative camber and have toe out alignment condition which will rapidly wear the inside of the driver’s side tire.

Also, the bell cranks (idler supports) tend to be a weak link due to their construction. They use bushings rather than bearings, and these bushings tend to become worn out within 5,000 miles.  This causes play in the steering and potential alignment change.  The SuperSteer design uses tapered roller bearings that can be preloaded to provide precise steering control over the life of the vehicle. 
SuperSteer also features a bell crank arm for the driver’s side, which uses tapered roller bearings for increased precision and durability.  Both of these parts feature a lifetime warranty, and the combined retail price of these parts is $624.39. 
Should your coach also need coil springs due to insufficient ride height, SuperSteer builds coil springs designed to match the weight of your vehicle without requiring airbags, due to their larger wire size.  These springs also provide greater stability and handling because of their higher spring rate. We recommend that your coach be weighed with a normal cruising weight to determine the correct spring.  Finally, be sure to have your vehicle realigned to Henderson’s Line-Up P32 specifications. You can find out more at supersteerparts.com or hendersonslineup.com or feel free to call John Henderson at (888) 898-3281 ext. 313 or e-mail him at john@supersteerparts.com.  I hope this provides you with the information you need.

Best wishes for safer and happier driving,
Robert Henderson


Do you have a question related to alignment, steering, handling, braking, fuel economy, tires, safety and maintenance of your RV? Robert Henderson, the president of Henderson’s Line-Up Brake and RV and SuperSteer/SuperStop products in Grants Pass, Oregon, is available to answer questions from readers. You may send your questions by e-mail to editor@rvlife.com.