joelebo

For Brett: I discussed with you a steering problem with my 1998 Monaco Diplomat some time ago. Since I got resolution to the problem, and since no one else seems to have experienced the same cause, I feel I owe it to you and any others that may have experienced problems with suspension arms the answer to my problem. In short, some rats or squirrels got into my suspension during storage and chewed out the plastic insides of the bushings that attached the suspension arms to the chassis. The mechanic that came to investigate a seized rear brake lining discovered the blue plastic chewings on the ground beneath the bus. It took 12 new bushings to solve the problem. But the steering is better than ever, since the fix included realignment. Thanks for the help. Joe

Brett - thanks for your patience. I'll try to answer your questions and comments - and add some clarity about my experience with the issue. Tire pressures are good. Yesterday I was trying to go to someone knowledgeable to look my coach over so I might be able to drive it to obtain repair. Now I need mobile service (or tow), since the parking brake prevented my attempts to move the coach. Air pressures were over 110 PSI; engine started OK, transmission into gear OK (forward and reverse); unable to move vehicle. When I pushed the parking brake, I heard the hiss I usually expect; it became much louder when I pulled up on the valve (we full-timed in the coach for its first 6-1/2 years, so I was not surprised at any of these parking brake valve responses, except that the coach would not budge.). The "dog-tracked" steering was never experienced on our monthly 25-mile test runs of the coach; the steering offset is brand-new along with the steering shifts problem. Currently I'll seek help among truck/RV road services, as I cannot move the coach. My guess is that all my 4 symptoms are attributable to one sticking or frozen rear wheel brake - (1) the offset steering wheel to maintain straight-ahead tracking, (2) the unexpected steering changes required to maintain track while driving on highway, (3) the knock heard in the right rear end on slow cornering over sharp bump as opposed to smooth cushioning of wheel, (4) tracking of rear wheels to the right of the front wheels when on straight road. Note: Florida is noted for high humidity; my coach was parked for less than a week between our last monthly road run (when we experienced the shifts), and the onset of the inability to make the coach move yesterday. Joe

Brett, A update on my steering issue. Yesterday when I fired up the motorhome to move it to a truck alignment shop, the vehicle WOULD NOT MOVE - the brakes would not release (Since the road run when we saw the steering issue the vehicle had been parked - not started since then til yesterday). By the way, the vehicle has never leaned - only tracked with the right rear wheels running right of the front tires. So no ride height issue, I think. Also on the road, I had to hold the steering wheel about 30 degrees right of center - for straight ahead tracking on the highway. With normal dash gauge pressure indicated, could the air failure be in one wheel only?

I live in south Leesburg, FL, about 12 miles east of the Monaco facility in Wildwood. Is there someone closer that might be helpful? Thanks again, Joe

Thanks Wolfe10 for your response. I did some investigating on my own to better understand what you told me. First, I have one airbag in front and one in rear of each rear wheel for total of 4 air bags in the rear suspension. Second, I looked carefully at the bags, and found the rear one on the right side is tilted on its axis outward, not vertical like the others. Unusual? Also, when my wife followed me driving the car behind RV the other day she noted the rear end of the RV tracked slightly off to one side - not tracking true. And in a test, when I backed up, I had to keep the steering wheel off to the right to keep from going to the left. Does that help to separate the variables? Thanks again. Joe

I own a 1998 Monaco Diplomat, and full-timed it for 6-1/2 years. It has been stored outdoors for the past 6 years, and we have driven it monthly 35 miles to assure continuity of operation. Today it did something unexpected - the steering wheel had a bias towards the right, and it demonstrated unexpected occasional steering shifts during our ride. In our development we have rather deep rain gutters at road edges which have always been traversed smoothly by the bus at low turning speeds as we turned into our normal parking area. But today we experienced only a jarring sensation (the rear end) without the smoothness which we had always experienced before. After reading these experiences by others, I suspect training arms. How can I inspect to confirm? Is the rig safe to drive? What is recommended action?