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Wheel alignment (and new shocks?)
While at Jeff Rowe’s Eastern Tennessee Luxury Coach a few weeks ago, apprentice motorcoach technician and frequent PC contributor Peter Campbell suggested that I have the wheels aligned. I think Jeff suggested the same thing last May when he zero’d the coach out and put new tires on it. We’re in Florida and are ending our trip at the 24 Hours of Daytona so I made an appointment at Jacksonville Prevost for a wheel alignment. Peter said Mira Loma is best for that, but that is a little out of our way.
Jeff’s crew replaced a ride height valve and now the coach has a squeak whenever we go over a big bump. When I mentioned this to the service person at Jacksonville it was suggested that new dogbones might be in order. I am also wondering about new shocks.
Is Prevost Jacksonville a good place to have the wheels aligned? Anyone have experience pro or con?
If new dogbones are needed, I recall there being some better than others by color. Black ones vs orange or red ones. Which one is better?
Our coach has 72,000 miles and is 16 years old. Could it be time for shocks already? What kind of shocks should I get? Whatever Prevost has in the parts room?
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52 Replies
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I put shocks on about two years ago on my 2005 chassis we bought new in 2009. Roughly 45000 miles. It made a big difference in ride quality. I used OEM Prevost ones and the total cost for my XLII was less than $8000.
I would think you are ready for both the alignment and shocks. I don’t see why any Prevost shop could not do it, unless one has a better set of tooling than all the others for the alignment.
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Prevost told me that shocks are a 35,000 mile item,I like the Koni in the stiffest position.
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“I like the Koni in the stiffest position.”
Jack … you set the race car up the same way?
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Dick Jacksonville will do good job for you I am sure they will look at all the steering parts red bushing are not that good black ones are the best , red ones will look good one time and the next they will have failed , shocks are cheap
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Thanks Peter! I’m glad to finally find something that is “cheap” on a Liberty Prevost.
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You want three axle alignment and have them look at the steering parts they will know what to do
It takes usually a hole shift to get it done
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Three axle is what the service person said they would do. I presume they don’t string the bus like we string the race cars to do around alignment. Probably use a laser thing.
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Dick, like the Koni’s in front at the stiffest setting. All red bushings replaced with black. Prevo OEM shocks in rear(new this fall), Centramics, new air bags and new 365’s steer and tag….rides and steers like a BMW. Life is good ! Geo. GO PACK !!!!
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Just an observation, your hands are perhaps the best way to check alignment.
If you run your hands across and with the tread on all axles occasionally, you will instantly feel the misalignment wear on your tires. When it is allowed to continue you eventually see it in just the right light, but your hands will feel the effect misalignment has on your tires pretty quickly.
I can’t explain it but you will know it and the misalignment will not feel right.
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Jack how long will the Koni go for miles I put new ones on the drive and steer and yellow ones from Prevost on tag
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I only have 25,000 miles on mine but they drive like they are still new,I don’t know how long they should last but they got to be better than the Prevost,at 35,000 miles 3 of my OEM shocks were done.Dick,We set up the race cars on a pull down machine that I purchased 2 years ago and use a laser for squareness,we actually like it very soft and the nose pinned with the shocks.
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Thanks jack so much
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sorry on the Pack, George
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Dick,
Jax will do a good job for you. I use Prevost shocks for the drive and tag and Koni’s on the front. Since you have IFS, they will check the bushings and other components for wear and if the front end is good, you may not even need an alignment.
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What makes the Koni shocks better?? Does your bus ride smoother over the ridges in the highway or are they just as noisy and hard as the Prevost ones too !!
Thanks… Diane
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