TECHNICAL TIPS

Motorhome Steering Vibration

Application: 71-87 Dodge Motorhomes and some HD trucks

Background: Some of these older chassis develop a strange-heavy steering vibration at speed.

By: Jim Berry, Director of Training

Bulletin:
Some of the older Dodge motorhomes and other trucks were equipped with a long hollow tie rod center tube. This long tie rod sets total toe.

After these vehicles have some age and miles on them, a vibration sometimes occurs after hitting a slight bump or making a turn. The vibration is sometimes so severe that the driver must hit the brakes and slow down to maintain control.

Problem: The center tube will get weaker after aging and some miles causing the tube to flex. When the tube flexes it causes the wheels to move in and out after hitting a bump or rough marking on the highway. The wheels shaking in and out (toe change)
Is transmitted to the steering wheel and can cause loss of control.

Solution: Check the tie rod ends and other front end parts. Replace worn parts as necessary. Replace the center tube with a new one or reinforce the old one. Use a piece of channel iron that just fits around the tube to reinforce it. It can be welded in place by a qualified welder. The channel iron will now stiffen the old center tube to keep it from flexing and fix this shaking/vibration problem.

RDTSB/02/003
Issue Date:
October 15, 2002