Weird Steering Issue, Any Ideas

[MyPrevost]

I have a 1997 Marathon XL45, and this past week, while heading out on a three-week trip, we encountered a “wobble” in the front end after filling up with gas. Initially, we thought it was just the worn-out ruts in the road. However, after making the turn onto the I-15, it went away, so we continued on. For about 100 miles, everything felt smooth until it happened again while turning onto the I-40. A driver passing by pointed at our front tire, indicating something might be wrong.

We pulled over to investigate, but there were no visible bubbles on the tires or anything else that would explain the issue. Even though we were stopped on the side of the I-40, which isn’t ideal, we felt it was safer to have it looked at. A mobile mechanic came to check things out. He crawled underneath, inspected everything, and saw no issues.

We decided to continue to the next exit for a closer inspection, figuring that being on the road was better than risking a wheel falling off. The mechanic followed us, and the coach drove perfectly. Once we stopped in a parking lot, he lifted the wheels off the ground and examined the undercarriage, finding no play in the wheels, tie rod issues, or visible suspension problems.

After trying to drive again, we experienced the wobble once more after making a turn. This time, two different people pointed at our wheels, with one saying it looked like the wheel had become disconnected from the steering wheel—whatever that means. After driving for a few more minutes and making some turns, the wobble stopped. We called the mechanic again and met with him. He looked everything over and decided it was best to head back to our home base with him following us for safety.

We drove 106 miles back without any issues—it drove perfectly the entire time. The mechanic noted a little play in the driver’s side front wheel and that the hub was very low on oil. While “wobble” may not be the best description, it felt like there was a big bubble on one of the front tires or we were on a really rutted road.

Our next step is to get the coach off the ground again, remove both front wheels, and inspect everything closely. Sorry for being so long-winded, but does anyone have any suggestions or have you experienced anything like this? Thanks for your patience!

[MyPrevost]

You didn’t say if you had the rigid beam frt axle or IFS? 1997 was the transition year.

If you have rigid beam? the “steering damper” may be bad. See pages 985 & 986 of the parts manual.

Don – 96 Liberty XL 40 ” Classic”
ATC Stacker
Bulverde, TX

[MyPrevost]

Thank you for the reply, it is a 96 chassis that was converted by Marathon in 97 so I think I have the solid axle and it has Howard Center Steer so this is something I will have to take a look at, thanks again,

[MyPrevost]

What you’re experiencing could be due to wear in either the drag link or the idler arm. I recommend jacking up the front end and checking for any movement by pushing the tires toward and then away from each other. If you notice any play, you’ll need to inspect the steering components to identify which ones are worn. While these coaches may not have an idler arm, the same principle applies. It sounds like there could be play in the steering linkage, which can lead to what’s often referred to as a “death wobble.”

 

[MyPrevost]

Coach doesn’t like gas

George and Joan
2006 Royale XLII 45
Royale Monaco # 433
Goldsboro NC
Still learning the RV life

[MyPrevost]

Thanks to everyone who replied. After inspecting things and doing some research online, I believe what I experienced was the “death wobble” in our 2021 F-150 toad. Everything fits the pattern: it happened after making turns on bumpy roads and then went away, lasting for over 100 miles without returning. I plan to take a closer look at all the front-end steering and suspension components, including the damper and Howard center steer, to ensure there are no other issues. I had never even heard of the “death wobble” before looking into this issue, and I’ve towed the F-150 for around 10,000 miles without encountering it. Of course, prior to this trip, I had also never had my Blue Ox Patriot braking system mistakenly think it was in a breakaway situation, leading to melted pads and rotors!

 

[MyPrevost]

If it is a death wobble it’s usually a simple fix with a bungee cord

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