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Newer Prevosts Front Suspension
Down in Houston Prevost yesterday and they had 2 newer prevosts up and were redoing the front suspensions with new parts. Asked the tight lipped techs and they just said they were loose and causing steering problems. Wonder what the problem is. These front suspensions on the newer ones look like Formula 1 Cars just bigger parts. A lot of monkey business under their compared to my dinosaur.
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11 Replies
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I’m a fan of solid fron axles due to the simplicity, but I have spent a lot of time beneath my coach looking at and servicing my IFS. I am very impressed with the quality and based on feedback over a lot of years a lot of other folks are equally satisfied.
Early versions were getting premature repairs because folks thought the bushings were failed, when in fact they were OK. Prevost is aware the visual inspection shows issues, but the real test of the front A arms is if the pins are still secure within the bushing.
As to an owner complaining of handling there is not a better thing to do than to check the alignment. A full coach alignment is less than $1000 and well worth it if handling or tire wear is an issue.
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I had the three axle alignment done on our coach the last week in January at Prevost Jacksonville. No maintenance records when we bought the coach in April, so I don’t know when or even if it was ever aligned in the field (72,000 miles). The coach seemed to “wander”, I thought there was a dead spot in the steering box.
First, it was determined the tie rod ends were worn, so three links were replaced. Then using the laser system, the tech took a stack of shims out of the drive axle on the right side. We speculated that they were put in after the coach left the factory as the tech said he had never seen a Prevost come from the factory that far out of alignment.
Between the alignment and the three links, the coach handles much better.
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Having owned both, my opinion (FWIW) is that the ride is comparable but the IFS is more maintenance intensive. I don’t think new buyers have a choice, but if I were buying a ‘vintage’ coach, I would get a solid axle in a 40′ for dependability and an IFS in a 45′ because of sharper turning radius. The addl maintenance isn’t that bad.
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My IFS in my 01 Liberty cost 45000 to bring it back to spec at 100K, I never paid a dime on any of the straight axle coaches.
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What all did they do for $4,500?
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A arms and bushings.
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Tom;
I had the same work last year on my December 1998 chassis with around 200,000 miles on it. I also had all new airbags all around. The work was performed at Prevost – Ft. Worth. Great facility, excellent work. The Service Manager told me it was inactivity and lack of use that created the problem. If we would put 100,000 or more miles per year on the coach, the Bushings would last longer. He had seen coaches go quite a bit more miles, close to 600,000-750,000 miles, before needing new A-Arms and Bushings. Of course, those were seated coaches.
Just like our tires, the rubber in the bushings last longer if they are exercised more is what I was told.
By the way, you keep mentioning you know where I live. If you and Nancy are ever in my neck of the woods, you are more than welcome to stop by and enjoy my electric only camp site. The 15 amp service will run your coffee pot and a couple of fans.
Michael ’78
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Thanks for the invite Michael, 15 amp is good, my Marathon will run 4 A/C’s, water heater and pumps easily on that amount of juice.
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Ah…the magic non-slide Marathon !
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Our coaches will either wear out, or age out. Sometimes both happen.
It has been widely discussed about a XX year old coach with very few miles. Yet people still place a higher value on a Prevost conversion if it has very low miles for its age.
The tire manufacturers all have stated that there are compounds within the rubber of the tires that are relased when the tire is used. Those compounds resist the sidewall cracking that leads to the need for replacement, or worse, tire failures.
I am sure the same is true of a lot of the components that are made of rubber, or depend on rubber to function.
Our air bags are rubber. The seals in the Norgren valves that keep the suspension system air tight are rubber. The diaphragms in our brake chambers are rubber. I think it is safe to assume all of our coaches will benefit from frequent use.
I know I look for excuses to run the coach.
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Agreed on the looking for a chance to run, Jon. At the current diesel prices makes it even more better. Seems we get our old coach out every 2 to 3 weeks even during winter (which we haven’t had down here in my part of Texas) for short 300 to 500 mile round trips up and down Gulf Coast of Texas. Seems like we have less trouble a running more frequent. Now if I can get that one Cruise Air from leaking be good to go this summer.
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