What to check because bus seriously pulls to the right?

[belfert]

My bus has a serious pulling issue to the right.  If I let go of the wheel it will go right so fast I would be off the interstate and riding in the ditch in 200 feet or less.  Any ideas on what to check (other than air pressure which I checked.)?  The bus sat since last fall until Tuesday and was fine last fall.

I took my bus to get serviced earlier this week and it seemed to steer fine then although most of my trip was at under 10 MPH due to rush hour and construction.  I don't know that the shop did anything to cause this.  I took the bus on a four hour shakedown drive this evening and noticed something didn't seem right.  I first noticed that the right tire seemed noisy and I stopped to check things which is when I checked the air pressure.  I thought the pull was from wind, but I realized it wasn't windy.  I doubt it is brakes because I would smell dragging brakes.

If I have a bad tire is there a good reason to put Michelin tires up front, or just buy another set of Roadmaster tires like I have now?

[brmax]

I would jack it up and take a look at that right front tire assembly you mention.  I would ask if you felt the pull in the steering wheel, or possibly from the bus rear.
Also how did it seem to act when brake Was applied.  On a happier note the tire selection ? It doesnt matter, a bad tire is a bad tire : )

Floyd

[Zephod]

It could be wheel alignment, a sticky brake, a poorly balanced tyre, a bad wheel bearing...


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[chessie4905]

Check all tire pressures. Drive short distance and check for uneven brake drum tmps.Jack up front and check for wheel drag. Power steering? Air in system or low fluid. Any steering system adjustments or pieces repaired since last driving? Tightness in a front end joint needing greasing? If nothing conclusive, you could try reversing front tires.

[belfert]

I had to constantly steer to the left to keep the bus going straight and I do have power steering.  The shop I was at Tuesday put the bus on a lift and greased everything on the chassis.

Nothing has been done to the steering since the bus was last driven last fall and it worked fine for over 5,000 miles then.  I'm going to call the shop as soon as they open to see what they have to say.

[richard5933]

If your right front tire sounded noisy, that would be my first area to explore. I agree that switching the front tires might help isolate the problem. If the tire itself isn't problematic, my next check would be to see if the wheel/hub bearings are failing. They can be noisy and create drag.

Richard

[Oonrahnjay]

Check all tire pressures. ...

     That was what I thought should be the first place to start (Brian, you said you immediately checked pressures - what did you find?).  Second, start the bus and drive to an open area and turn the wheel all the way to the stops in one direction as you pull up to a stop.  If you hear clicking or a rattling noise, you've got air in your power steering -- if so, hold the steering over hard until the noise stops.  Then repeat to the other way.  That should prime the air out. Drive your bus and see if it goes straight; if not, go on to the jack up and check bearings and linkage stage, if so, find out why air got into your power steering system.
      (I'm with Richard - if it's not obvious (like low pressure or air in the steering) and you had noise in the direction that it's pulling, there is a problem with something in that direction.  Could be low pressure not showing on your gauge, a bad bearing, loose ball joints or other steering linkage, a tire that coming apart inside, etc.  It is odd that it suddenly started showing up.)

[gumpy]

Must be about time for your trip to NV!

Check tire pressure, brakes, bearings, in that order.

I'd put money on either of the first two.

[lvmci]

Hi Brian, my tag axle seal leaked,  didnt seem like an immediate problem, but it turns out that it leaked onto the brake pad, when it heated up it congealed, and froze the wheel, upon travel,  but Gilbert here in LV figured it out replaced the seal and cleaned the brake pads. It pulled the bus to one side when that was happening, until it heated up so much the wheel dragged, frozen in place, lvmci...

[Branderson]

is there a locking mechanism for the steering wheel?  The only reason i ask is I got my truck serviced recently and they didn't lock the steering wheel correctly when they did the alignment and i had the same problem and had to take it back. 

[brmax]

Lvmci: Thats a great observation and tip from you and that experienced tech.  I would keep Gilbert on the top of the tech list. I know a great guy that taught me to look carefully and test that brake application in these situations. Both for them doing their job each! or not, and like yours in a cool time it very well can pull the otherway as its not doing its fair share.  I found the after apply actions are very important also and really need attention when testing. 
Its sometimes tough to imagine but the same guy explained it also as: like in the grader or the dozer ya feel the machines back actually pullin that front, so being in front of the steers one might feel kinda lite! Heck may have to use some steer braking : )

Floyd

[belfert]

Must be about time for your trip to NV!

Check tire pressure, brakes, bearings, in that order.

I'd put money on either of the first two.

Yes, it is.  I tried to get my bus road ready several weeks ago, but the repair shop was too busy to do my service until this week.  I didn't want to end up with a last minute problem, but it didn't work out  I can change the oil myself (and I have), but I don't have a lift to make it easy to grease the chassis.

Yes, I checked the air pressure and it was within a PSI or two between the two tires. 

[rusty]

You talk about a lift. Did they bend something when using the lift?

Wayne

[luvrbus]

If it drove good going to shop then something has happen because at 10 mph you should have noticed the pull also

[gumpy]

Yes, I checked the air pressure and it was within a PSI or two between the two tires. 

Jack up each axle on the right side and make sure everything spins properly. It's probably either a sticking brake or a bad bearing.