Ducato New member

[rod1947]

Hi all names Rod I have 2006 Fiat Ducato winabargo motor home. I am new to all this so will be following the forum with interest to pick up as many tips as possible.

 

[FreeSpirit]

Hi
Welcome to the forum fellow Aussie if I can be of any help just ask
Cheers

 

[rod1947]

Hi
Welcome to the forum fellow Aussie if I can be of any help just ask
Cheers

Hi thanks for the welcome free spirit.
You may be able to help me.I have the Fiat Ducato Iveco Winabargo motor home 2006. It tends to want to wander in the steering.Is this a common fault with this model , I am putting 65 lbs air pressure in each tyre. It tell me on the door that I should be running 80 PSI. This to me sounds like the tyres would be far to hard.
Thanks Free spirit

 

[ecunotemu]

Wandering is probably wishbone bushings could be toe too though or if the steering doesn't want to center after a turn the strut bearings could binding.

 

[FreeSpirit]

Hi thanks for the welcome free spirit.
You may be able to help me.I have the Fiat Ducato Iveco Winabargo motor home 2006. It tends to want to wander in the steering.Is this a common fault with this model , I am putting 65 lbs air pressure in each tyre. It tell me on the door that I should be running 80 PSI. This to me sounds like the tyres would be far to hard.
Thanks Free spirit

Hi Rod
With the Ducato I have never felt that it wandered on the road, earlier on after about 20Kms I noticed that the inside edge of the tyres were starting to wear especially on the drivers side. At first I thought it was too much negative camber but rotated the tyres & took it to a truck wheel alignment place.
On setting it up on their machine he said as these vehicles are made in Europe the alignment is set up for European roads which are constructed differently to Australia. The tyre wear was too much toe out as well as a little negative camber on the drivers side. The end result was toe & camber adjusted to "specs" (or maybe I should say his "specs"). Although there is no camber adjustment it can be altered with wheel alignment shims or there is a place that makes specific "wedges" that do the same job. On completion I asked what were the specs he set it up to but got a firm "my secret".
Now I don't have a problem with that as it drives beautifully but one thing I did notice after was that it no longer self centers easily when going on either lock, not a problem as far as I am concerned as the tyres no longer show any signs of scrubbing out & it drives straight when on the road. It was done by Bob Gears Truck Alignments in Kunda Park Qld & I would highly recommend them. :slayer: I think they have a shop in North Brisbane as well.
As for the tyre pressures I put 65psi in the front & 70psi in the rears & it works for me but with these pressures it must be fitted with steel valve stems as the rubber ones won't last the distance & I think are only rated to 55psi but if it is a Winnebago it would have the steel stems fitted anyway. The original tyres were Michelin XC Camping & I would have got 70-75 kls out of them bar the alignment problem & tried to get their new replacement for them, the Agilis but none in the country at the time so settled on Pirelli Chrono
The Michelin were rated to 80 psi max but the Chrono is 70. I use those pressures on both the Michelins & the new Pirellis with no problems.
Cheers

 

[rod1947]

Wandering is probably wishbone bushings could be toe too though or if the steering doesn't want to center after a turn the strut bearings could binding.

Hi I have had pretty good look under the front end and all seems to be doing what it should be doing. I am starting to think it is wheel alignment as suggested by both you and free spirit. I will book it into a place at Rocklea and get them to check it.

 

[rod1947]

Hi Free Spirit took the van into a truck wheel alighment place at Rocklea .The guy said the front end was out .He told me the camber was out but there is only a negative kit not a positive kit to put in to make adjustments.The camber cannot be adjusted on the Fiat Ducato. He needed a positive kit lol
He did the toe in and increased the tyre pressure to 74 lbs and it is hell of lot better.I don't have to keep correcting it all the time I can sit back and relax a bit.

 

[ecunotemu]

Hi Free Spirit took the van into a truck wheel alighment place at Rocklea .The guy said the front end was out .He told me the camber was out but there is only a negative kit not a positive kit to put in to make adjustments.The camber cannot be adjusted on the Fiat Ducato. He needed a positive kit lol
He did the toe in and increased the tyre pressure to 74 lbs and it is hell of lot better.I don't have to keep correcting it all the time I can sit back and relax a bit.

Make sure its got valves that can take that pressure.

 

[kanewilsonjr]

Welcome to Fiat Forum & hope you share some tips with us also !

 

[rod1947]

Make sure its got valves that can take that pressure.

Yep all good with the metal valve stems
Thanks for the welcome