Interesting Wiki on Eagles (especially the suspension part)

[Songman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Bus

I was just reading this page I found on Eagle history and found something interesting that I had never heard before. People always talk about Eagles as the 'best ride on the road' but this page talks about how the drivers complained about the soft suspension...

This is taken from the page:
'The New Eagles had the tag axle located in front of the drive axle which made them very interesting to drive. The front suspension was very soft with a lot of travel and since the tag axle torsion bar was pushing the front end up also, some drivers said it was like driving a diving board. The front end went up and down at the slightest provocation and occasionally the driver had to hang on tight to the steering wheel to stay in his seat. A few New Eagles had air ride seats and some drivers would take the hydraulic jack from the tool kit and set it under the seat to keep it from moving up and down. They said the front end of the bus moved up and down enough on its own!'

It went on to further say that the 'new' Eagles that are being built in Texas have gone back to the drive axle being in the front to get away from the problem.

This is the first I have ever heard about this stuff and want to hear what other Eagles owner think about it. Not so much the people that don't like Eagle but the people with actual Eagle experience.

[tekebird]

LOL thats the problem with Wiki.

the Drive was moved to the 2nd axle not for ride purposes but the fact that Silver Eagle could not get anyone to build them the drop box.

And watch out.....the Eagle cult will tag you as a disbeliver and heratic.

[PP]

I test drove a couple of Eagles, does that count? LOL Actually, I'm curious what you think about the ride in your Eagle. My wife has an inner ear problem (gets seasick on the dock) and when she rode in an Eagle it was almost as bad as flying. Didn't have a problem with an airbag suspension, hence the Prevost. She still loves the body style of the Eagle, especially when they have the visor. So tell us, Songman, how would you describe the ride?
PP

[Songman]

What if I told you that I have never driven my Eagle? That is why I am asking. I bought it and it is still sitting there waiting for me to build it. The only Eagle I have ever spent any amount of time on was Travis Tritt's when I traveled with him some. I never even considered the ride. I can say that it never bothered me. And I never drove it so that wasn't an issue either. Most of my life has been spent on MCIs. I never really thought much about the ride of them either. I guess that is just the music business. Always too much other stuff going on or asleep.

And teke, this wasn't about incorrect info on wiki about why Eagle moved the axles. It was a question about the soft ride that made it a pain to drive.

[tekebird]

I think it was likely more of a matter of worn out and or incorrectly adjusted torsilastics

[David Anderson]

My Eagle 10 was like a diving board before Driving Miss Lazy posted here for me to get new shocks.  Down to Autozone I went and bought 8 new Gabriel shocks and that problem was gone.  I like driving it more than my car.   The ride is really good, and yes like Tekebird mentioned I adjusted my beams back to factory specs, too.  That is very important.

David

[Songman]

Thanks David. That's the kind of real world experience I was hoping for.

[LegalEagle82]

Perhaps the term you see most in trying to identify an Eagle's ride is porpoising, which again refers to the up/down motion of the nose of the bus.  However, those who know Eagles will tell you that properly set of torsion bars and good shocks will give you that smooth glide you will not get on others.   No airbags, and no left/right motion or leans is a nice benefit.   But if the suspension is not set right,and/or the shocks are shot, you better hold on up front.   

Evan
82 Eagle 10...

[luvrbus]

David, if you put the right shocks on the front you will see more improvement in the ride of your bus.The Eagle needs a double action shock on the front.P.S. that was one of the first things Mike changed on Driving Miss Lazy

[cody]

The ride on my eagle is great, before I bought it the previous owner had put new shocks on it and adjusted the torsion bars, it rides perfectly smooth, no side to side motion, and no leaning, if we get on the right road we can get a slight amount of porposing but not much, the key is good shocks and proper adjustment.

[Busted Knuckle]

I have driven all of them! And I will tell you that an Eagle with good shocks and properly set up suspension will ride/drive ALMOST as good as a SETRA! That is one of the reasons Eagles used to be the #1 choice for entertainer coaches! How many people with $ to burn do you know of that would buy/lease something that rode so rough they couldn't sleep on (or party on without their drinks splashing everywhere! LOL!) between gigs while rolling down the highway to the next show?
FWIW   BK 

[belfert]

My Dina also has Torilastic suspension and it rides real nice.  No bouncing up and down or anything like that.  The local bus garage said the shocks are fine.  I thought I would need new shocks just based on the horrible condition of other wear items.

[Busted Knuckle]

Yes I have to admit that as much as I enjoy giving Brian Hell for owning a DINA. That yes in fact they do ride and drive well. But not as good as a SETRA! LOL!
FWIW   BK 

[DrivingMissLazy]

David, if you put the right shocks on the front you will see more improvement in the ride of your bus.The Eagle needs a double action shock on the front.P.S. that was one of the first things Mike changed on Driving Miss Lazy

The gas shocks that were on DML had been recommended by Southern Oregon Diesel and did a great job of eliminating all porpoising. Did they fail or what are the double action shocks improvement?
Richard

[Songman]

I'm gonna have to take the Eagle for a spin one of these days just to see if it tries to throw me out of the seat! haha