| Author | Message | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
My new radius rod bushings will be here this evening. I plan on installing them wed. I'm parked in a field that is pretty solid and level, how big of a job is it and do I need any special tools other than an impact and the proper socket? I plan on taking one end loose at a time and replacing bushing then putting that back together and doing the opposite end. I'm using the harder neoprene 2 peice bushings. If the radius rod has shifted from the worn bushings will it automaticaly go back into it's proper position or alignment with the new bushing? they didn't have the front motor mount so I'll probably have to call Luke for that. also 2 bolts broke off in the front motor mount hope there not too hard to remove. gotta hurry up and get things done, I'm leaving May 8 | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
front-end should be aligned after radius rod instalation... | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A |
Ron, If the rods go back into place "automatically", you will be luckier than I was. You will have to remove each radius rod completely to get the old bushings out. A rolling head pry bar is helpful to get the radius rods off (the old bushings stick to the rod and the pin that they are installed on). I did one rod at a time, but had to remove that rod completely to do the job. I then used a porta-power to re-align the rod with the new bushings. If you are working in sand, be sure to make a large base for the jack and the blocking you use. A small base can allow the jack/ blocking to shift under the weight of the bus. Don't ask me how I know that. Hope this helps, Jack | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
Ron, Like Jack C., I too know about the jack shifting under the bus as the sand/dirt won't support the jack base. I bent a 12 ton hydraulic jack & could have been hurt. If you are not on concrete, you need about 18" square or more with the jack in the center. (Black top will squish too with that much localized weight.) We had our tires sink 1/2" into the blacktop just parked normally at Disney in the summer! Jim-Bob | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
You might want to seriously ask yourself if you really want to tackle that job yourself Ron. A shop full of tools makes it LOTS easier and quicker. | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A |
I'd like to learn something. How often do the bushings wear out and what causes them to wear out. Can you tell by the reaction of the coach to tell whether you need them. I have some wandering and I have corrected most of it with Steer-Safe, and my next move is to go to a size larger on the front tires. I really do hate to replace something unless I get a good positive reaction in the end. | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
Don, I don't have a shop full of tools, but I do have a trailer and bus bay full. and going tomorrow to get a portapower. to add to my collection of 1/4 to 1 inch drive socket sets and impacts. torque wrenches in 1/4 to 1/2 inch, easy outs, tap and die sets, large wrench sets, open and boxed, sold my metal lathe to finance my second tranny, but still got my floor model drill press. And I ain't skeerd of tackeling any job. the only way your gonna learn about these monsters. I put my second tranny in myself in a bar parking lot in michigan faster than the truck company that put the first one in. so I'm gonna tackle it. | ||
| Frank Allen Rating: N/A |
i did mine no big deal did one at a time, used the neopreme bushings , causes the coach to ride harder, next time back to rubber, GM knew what they were doing Frank Allen 4106 | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A |
Hey ,I watched Capt'n Ron's show and any one who can play a guitar, with it draped over a half naked woman, while dancing along a two foot wide bar at four feet elevation and sing his song along with kissing her neck, and never miss a beat or a stanza nor trip over someones beer, shouldn't have ANY trouble with a 'lil 'ol radius rod! ...JJ | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks JJ  | ||
| Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A |
I changed the radius rod bushings in my RTS and had to have a shop press the bushings in and out. I did one rod at a time and used a come-along to get the rod aligned as the rear end would shift with the rod out. The hardest part of the job was pulling the rod off the stud-- I used a three jaw puller and wished I would have had a two jaw for the tight spots. BTW, I stuck with the OEM rubber bushings. Someone asked how do you know the bushings are bad?-- The book calls for a visual test, if the bushings are begining to swell they need replacing. Mine didn't look that bad but my bus wandered even after rebuilding the front end and having it aligned. Replacing the bushings made a big improvement, it hardly wanders now. Before I could hold the steering wheel straight while going down a the freeway and the bus would take off to the right or left by itself. --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
Ron, can you really do what JJ says you can??? I gotta get over there & see your show! Jim-Bob | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
I'm a freak. One guy I work for in Wisconcin says "He just aint right" It rained all night and all morning so I may not get to that job till monday. Hate to start pulling things apart and have to quit in middle of job. I have to work Fri, Sat and Sun. | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A |
Jeezzzze!!! I posted on a few sites that I had a wandering problem and not one person suggested to me to have the bushings replaced. I have a 90 and had one Prevost Technician ( ? ) say they were Okay. Nuts, I think I should have had them changed. What's a job like that worth. I heard you guys telling backyard stories. What would it cost for Prevost to do it? Any idea? | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Lew- I'm no expert, but I think they'd have to be pretty damned bad to cause "wandering". My MC9 bushings are about as bad as they can get without falling out - No wandering. Before you go looking for an empty bank account, why don't you have the alignment set per specs. It'd not only be less expensive, but if there's a serious problem with the bushings, they'll tell you at that time. | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
Don I hate to admit it but you were right. I crawled under her today to get started and I'ts a bigger job than I want to tackle without being on at least a concrete pad but would be nicer in a pit. not that I'm not capable but not that enthousiastic about it. besides I found the real problem I was looking to fix, I had a bolt loose and the wrong spacer in it that bolts my engine cradle to the bulk head alowing my engine cradle to move signifantly when my trailer was hooked up, ordering the bolt and bushing tomorrow along with the front motor mount, may possibly fix vibration problem but will still check bearings. will put the radius rod bushings in at a later date. | ||
| Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A |
Lew-- Like I said before, just visually looking at the bushing may not indicate they are sloppy. Other than changing the radius rod bushings, you should also have a good alignment shop check the alignment of the tag axle in relation to the rear drivers and front wheels. All of these items have to be checked together so the bus will travel straight down the road. The Peterbilt truck shop that did my bus used digital alignment equipment so they could easily check the rear alignment. Also, changing the bushings is not hard for a shop with the proper tools and shouldn't cost that much. If your tag is messed up it could take more time. --Geoff | ||
| Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A |
Make that digital-laser alignment equipment... --Geoff | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A |
I would like to find a good alignment shop. I had it done twice by Prevost at 2 locations and no improvement. Just a thinner wallet. Josam was stumped, which surprizes me. I am in Florida heading north in a few weeks to the CCEA rally in Myrtle Beach and then on to upstate NY. Someone suggested that I go to Quebec (ugh ) to the factory and they should have the solution for the wandering. I have recently installed a Steer-Safe and it really helped. I am overweight by 750 lbs in the front and am soon going to get a size larger tire on the front ( 315's ) | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A |
Lew, Tell everyone at CCEA that we are sorry we can't make it this year. With retirement rapidly approaching, we hope to make it next year. Tell Earl Bonnell, he will have to wait until next year to see the look on Paula's face when she sees that crawdad. LOL Jack & Paula | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A |
Lew, If you are headed north, swing over to Luke's to have your bus looked at. Not that far out of the way to Berlin, NJ. As for radius rods, on the transits at work, it's the in-floor hoist, giant jack stands, 5 foot pry bars and the sledge hammer swinging with all their might!!! Not for the faint of heart! happy coaching! buswarrior |