BCM Community

took the bus for a little drive today, in celebration of Canada Day, and please to report that my three days of flailing about with my steering resulted in a big improvement.  I had found that the upper kingpin joint on the drivers side was not taking grease and the joint was very stiff.  I popped off the tie-rod and drag link (big snap-on pitman arm tool and an impact wrench works wonders) and with a direct connection from  a grease gun filled with thin oil, pumped past the blockage, got grease in, worked the joint back a forth and while it didn't get super loose, it did  loosen up a lot and it was clear that grease had penetrated the joint fully.

Next, checked the steering box to see if it was centered when the wheels are straight ahead.  It was not, it was out a ton.  Note to self: even if one of the biggest independent bus charter companies around who are completely familiar with your bus since they ran them for years replaces a drag link, don't assume they did it right.  The drag link was a solid inch too long.  Undid the pinch strap, soaked it in penetrating oil overnight, gently heated the end of the drag link for five minutes with the torch, and the ball joint came right out (with a 24" wrench, of course).  Cleaned it up, fixed some dented threads, reinstalled and centered the box using the witness line on the worm gear, centered the tires, and adjusted so that the ball joint just slipped into the taper hole.  Not the perfect way to do it, but good enough.  Checked steering stops and they were fine.

Result - bus tracks straight, wander is gone, steering self-centers on slow tight corners, all in all it acts just like a good bus should!

Brian

Job Well Done! Isn't it great when it all falls together?