NHTSA Complaint #10126325 — 2004 FREIGHTLINER XC MOTORHOME CHASSIS

LOUD BANGING NOISE BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL MAY BE COMING OFF AXLE. STEERING WONDERS AND HAS TOO MUCH FREE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. BELIEVED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. TOOK TO NEWMAR TO HAVE IT ROAD TESTED. NEWMAR SENT TO FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER IN SOUTH BEND. 5/06/05 SOUTH BEND FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER STATED SWAY BAR HITTING RF SPRING AND FRONT LOWER SHOCK BOLTS LOOSE. ADJUSTED RIDE HEIGHT 1/4 INCH AND INFLATED BACK TIRES FOR 80 TO 110 PSI. ADJUSTED FRONT BRAKES. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPT WOULD NOT STATE IF RV WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. 5/12/05 TOOK RV TO MY SERVICE COMPANY TO BE CHECKED FOR SAME COMPLAINT. BECAUSE FREIGHTLINER SERVICE PERSON WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT GIVE WARRANTY AUTHORIZATION, THEY SHIMMED STABILIZER BUSHINGS WITH TWO WASHERS ON TOP AND TWO ON BOTTOM OF BUSHING WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A MORE SAFE RIDE TO THE FREIGHTLINER FACTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. MASTER FLEET STATED BAD STEERING WANDERING PROBLEM, POSSIBLE PLAY IN STEERING BOX. TIGHTENED LOOSE BOLTS. POUNDING NOISE STILL IN FRONT END. 6/09/05 APPOINTMENT WITH FREIGHTLINER SET FOR TWO DAYS. PLAY IN STEERING CHECKED DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS AND SHOCKS - MECHANIC STATED OK. FRONT END BANGING NOISE - MECHANIC STATED TIGHTENED RIGHT FRONT SPRING BOLT -BUSHINGS OK. REQUESTED UNIT TO BE ALIGNED. MECHANIC STATED ALIGNMENT OK. THIS TOOK 21/2 HOURS. OF A TWO DAY SCHEDULE. WENT BACK IN THE NEXT DAY. BOLTS WHICH WERE TIGHTEN WERE ON THE AXLE SUPPORT WHICH WERE TO BE TORQED AT 600 FT LBS. RV WAS PUT ON LAZER ALIGNMENT -RV WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LEFT SIDE AXLE SUPPORT NUT OVER TORQUED. BOTH NUTS WERE REPLACED. BOLTS WERE NOT REPLACED. STILL BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE RV HAS ONLY BEEN TRAVELING A FEW MILES THE STEERING IS BETTER THAN WHEN IT HAS WARMED UP. IF TWO CURVES ARE BACK TO BACK THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE NEXT CURVE. WIND AND LARGE TRUCKS REQUIRES FOR OVER COMPENSATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL.