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spartan 2000 chassis upgrades?
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Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
posted
Had the chassis checked out on the 93 breakaway and only thing shop said was it needed new shocks and bushings. PO installed a 'steer safe' assembly. It does wonder around a bit on the highway. Any upgrades for this chassis? The dry rotted bushings probably account for a lot of the clunking noise when you hit bumps, but you really have to pay attention while driving. New Goodyear G670 225x70x19.5 on front. 8r19.5 Bridgestones on back.


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of Doug Smiley
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Check out the Spartan center near you....

http://www.spartanchassis.com/.../service_centers.asp


_________________________

The 82 MCC {by Barth}
is not an rv--
it is a Motor Coach!!


 
Posts: 2587 | Location: Nova Scotia | Member Since: 12-08-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 4/08
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check your tire pressure. Over inflated will give a feeling sometimes of skating on ice. But the 28' is even worse than the 30' in the tail wagging the dog


'92 Barth Breakaway - 30'
5.9 Cummins (6B) 300+ HP
2000 Allison
Front entrance
 
Posts: 1185 | Location: Minneapolis/Yuma | Member Since: 08-17-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 1/12
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Jim: Check your entire front linkage, tie rods, etc. This made a 100% improvement on my 92' Breakaway. I didn't add a SteerSafe because it wouldn't correct the wobble, it would be for safety only..............................


Former owner of "THE TOY"
1988 Barth Regal SE 33' Tag
1992 Barth Breakaway 32'
2005 Coachmen Mirada 32' DS

 
Posts: 592 | Location: North Fort Myers, Florida, USA | Member Since: 11-20-2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
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Gary, rear is 85# front 80#. Carl, the guy that aligned it said he didn't feel anything bad re king pins and ball joints but the bushings were toast. There did seem to be a lot of play between the two gear boxes. Guess that's what the PO tried to fix with the Steer Safe


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 4/08
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one of our first fixes was the steering gearbox. Saginaw 710 available at a decent price in the rebuilt catagory.


'92 Barth Breakaway - 30'
5.9 Cummins (6B) 300+ HP
2000 Allison
Front entrance
 
Posts: 1185 | Location: Minneapolis/Yuma | Member Since: 08-17-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
posted Hide Post
gary, which gear box do you mean? There seem to be 2, one sort of at the end of the steering column and then it's connected to another on the solid axle.


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 03/22
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Yes two gear boxes, the first one is nothing more than a 90 degree box to go from the vertical shaft from the steering wheel to the horizontal drive shaft to the axle mounted steering box. The axle mounted box is the one that Gary is referring to. I replaced mine because of a severe oil leak.

Any slop or play in the steering track from the steering wheel to the tires will result in wondering or poor tracking.

One more thing, I replaced the shim plates on the front axle to increase the front wheel castor. That made the biggest improvement on tracking. I went from 3 degrees to 6 degrees. YMMV as I have a Westport axle and not the Dana front axle that most Breakaways have, so your original castor may be different than my original castor.


Ed
94 30' Breakaway #3864
30-BS-6B side entry
New Cummins 5.9L, 375+ HP
Allison 6 speed
Spartan chassis
K9DVC
Tankless water heater
 
Posts: 2177 | Location: Los Gatos, CA | Member Since: 12-08-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
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First order is shocks front and rear. This Breakaway has a 12000# rated rear axle and 6000# front. Would like recommendations of shocks to use for both front and rear. The rears seem to be original. The front are KYB but very small, no bigger than what's on my 240 Volvo. And of course, when I go through bump/swale in the road, the Barth does the boat thing with very large dips in the front and rear. Rather interesting to drive.


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 03/22
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Keep in mind that weight ratio, wheel base front/rear plays a huge role in how the vehicle responds to road condition.

On portions of the Alaska Highway, the front of my Breakaway was airborne in the frost swells that are there. Nothing will change that response. (except driving slower)

I have Bilsteins on my Breakaway. started with Monroe and one of them developed a leak with in 10,000 miles. I think Monroes were OEM on the EC2000 chassis.


Ed
94 30' Breakaway #3864
30-BS-6B side entry
New Cummins 5.9L, 375+ HP
Allison 6 speed
Spartan chassis
K9DVC
Tankless water heater
 
Posts: 2177 | Location: Los Gatos, CA | Member Since: 12-08-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 4/08
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I have Bilsteins all the away around.


'92 Barth Breakaway - 30'
5.9 Cummins (6B) 300+ HP
2000 Allison
Front entrance
 
Posts: 1185 | Location: Minneapolis/Yuma | Member Since: 08-17-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
posted Hide Post
Gary, can you tell me what your Bilstein part numbers are? I looked on their website and they don't show a shock for front or rear of the EC2000 chassis produced earlier than 1994. Mine was produced in Dec 1991. Thanks,
Jim


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3696 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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