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Old 07-26-2009, 05:25 PM   #1
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Twitchy Steering

Hey Guys,

I need help. I just picked up my newly converted Quigley E 350 Four Winds RV. It's a 2006 chassis. Anyway I'm a bit surprised by the handling. It doesn't seem to wander, if you let go of the wheel it goes straight as an arrow. When it hits a big pot hole it holds straight. My problem is that the steering is very twitchy, if you hold the wheel with more than finger pressure you immediately over correct. It's a bit scary when a tractor trailer goes by. The problem isn't noticeable below 50 but over 50 at highway speed the unit is a handful that takes full attention. What do you think? Oh, it's got 16" steel wheels with 235 85R 16's BFG All Terrain TA's on it.

Jim Grant
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Old 07-26-2009, 09:16 PM   #2
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by capnjim
Hey Guys,

I need help. I just picked up my newly converted Quigley E 350 Four Winds RV. It's a 2006 chassis. Anyway I'm a bit surprised by the handling. It doesn't seem to wander, if you let go of the wheel it goes straight as an arrow. When it hits a big pot hole it holds straight. My problem is that the steering is very twitchy, if you hold the wheel with more than finger pressure you immediately over correct. It's a bit scary when a tractor trailer goes by. The problem isn't noticeable below 50 but over 50 at highway speed the unit is a handful that takes full attention. What do you think? Oh, it's got 16" steel wheels with 235 85R 16's BFG All Terrain TA's on it.

Jim Grant
That sounds exactly how I'd describe my SMB. Minor steering inputs are noticed immediately and it requires full attention at highway speeds. But it tracks perfectly straight and does not wander at all. It took some getting used to, but now I'm calibrated and it is no problem. Congrats on the new rig.
R
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Old 07-26-2009, 10:07 PM   #3
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Do you have spacers on the rear? Quigley doesn't provide them automatically although they are part of the SMB conversion. I noticed a HUGE improvement after we installed rear spacers on our Quigley conversion but it was so long ago that I don't remember how it handled before but I do recall that it required two hands on the steering wheel at all time pre-spacers and not post-spacers.
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Old 07-27-2009, 05:26 AM   #4
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Jack,

I'm not sure which spacers you are referring to but Quigley did lift the rear 3 inches. Is this what you are talking about. I'll post a picture of the rear latter.

emrider,

I'm sure I can get used to it, I picked the unit up and drove it 500 miles straight away. By the end of the trip I was holding the wheel with one hand and two fingers giving very small inputs to keep straight. It's strange, it's almost like the steering box adjustment is too tight, I don't know. It doesn't feel natural.
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Old 07-27-2009, 07:53 AM   #5
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Spacers are wheel spacers that go between the rim and the hub to move the rear tires out, increasing the track width and putting them in line with the front tires.
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Old 07-27-2009, 10:17 AM   #6
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Re: Twitchy Steering

He has duallies on the rear, so spacers wouldn't be needed.

Brent
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Old 07-27-2009, 10:43 AM   #7
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Re: Twitchy Steering

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Originally Posted by vwteleman
He has duallies on the rear, so spacers wouldn't be needed.

Brent
Good eye.


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Old 07-27-2009, 11:52 AM   #8
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Re: Twitchy Steering

You nailed the description of the handling characteristics of the Quigley conversion. I think it feels worse than it is. Not that there isn't room for improvement.

I installed a sway bar in the rear which helped a lot. It mitigated the feeling that any sudden moves at highway speeds could be disastrous. Your dually probably already has one. The stock shocks on the Quigley van are not up to speed. Bilstein shocks or Rancho 9000x are your best bet and value. Quigley will give you the actual part numbers you need to buy them.

After those basic improvements there is still infinite things to do. Hence the existence of this site.

You'll notice there's no "Cost of Ownership" section in the forum.
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Old 07-27-2009, 07:53 PM   #9
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by j.whitbread
You'll notice there's no "Cost of Ownership" section in the forum.
We couldn't afford to have it!
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Old 07-28-2009, 07:15 PM   #10
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Re: Twitchy Steering

Sounds like a castor issue. Contact Quigley, they can tell you more. I've heard of some guys getting new lower control arms to solve the problem.
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