Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Bill,

Here is a link to a post that we made a while back... Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

There is another with the tie rod end numbers if you need them also...  drag link ends

Hope this is what you are looking for,

Pamela & Mike

Bill,

Here is a link to a post that we made a while back... Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

There is another with the tie rod end numbers if you need them also...  drag link ends

Hope this is what you are looking for,

Pamela & Mike

will these work for my 2002? going to replace the ball joints
Ball joints (how many)?
 and what else will I need for the steering?

David,

I haven't had a forum member come by that had enough miles/wear on the steering linkage on a '02 to justify replacing the tie rod/ drag link ends. (they are the same).  I haven't measured a '02 but the ones listed in this post should work:    drag link ends  As always you need to check your specific coach as Foretravel made changes from one coach to the next not just at year model change.

If you do change the ball joints out you need 2 lefts and 2 rights as the drag link will take 1 of each and the tie rod will take 1 of each. (that is 1 left hand threaded and 1 right hand threaded)

If it is a bad as you suggest I  would check play in steering gear box, make sure your weight to tire pressure is correct, dial indicate the wheel bearing play, check ride height and front end alignment especially the toe setting, & while checking the front end make sure the rear is tracking the front. I have never seen a U joint in the steering column go bad (yes there are a couple that makes the tilt of your wheel work) on a coach but it is on the list of thing that could effect the steering.

Pamela & Mike

Good info here.  I took several years at various shops checking every piece in the front end and replacing all the dust boots and finally had my old x Foretravel line mechanic look at it as I had a half inch play in the steering.

Rather than the legally defensible dial indicator check of the front wheel bearings he preloaded them a little bit.

No wander.  No play. No dead spot.  No truck deflection. 

Foretravel called back today and I have the ball joint numbers for my coach.. I will post up them when I get back in town..

So how do you preload the bearings?

It's hard to quantify so the legally defensible method is to leave .001-.005 dial indicated play measured at the brake rotors edge.

It's a experience thing.

My x Foretravel long time line mechanic did mine and has done hundreds