'A good source for information and service on historical suspension
systems used by Safari is Kaiser alignment in Eugene, Oregon,
"
http://www.kaiserbrakealignment.com/".
They've solved suspension problems on my 1999 Magnum that no one else
could solve.
Based on discussions at their shop, they did a lot of special retro
development work for Safari to resolve design flaws related to serious
braking and Velvet suspension problems.
-----Original Message-----
From: John
To: Safarifriends
Sent: Sun, Mar 18, 2012 5:40 am
Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: Velvet Ride - revisited
OK Guys, I'm confused, I have a 2000 Zanzibar with a 4 bag air system,
was this an option? I read about Velvet Ride in coaches before and
after mine was born. Just curious. It does ride good, but a little
soft at times, new shocks installed 2 years ago, Bilsteins, may try
Koni's..
John M
2000 Zanzibar 3886
--- In
Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "andrewsralph42"
wrote:
>
> Art
> You got the wright info.If you need any help give me a call
509-750-0248
brewing.......
> > Â
> > Art
> > 96 Seren, 3750
> >
> > --- On Sat, 3/17/12, byrdmona wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: byrdmona
> > Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: Velvet Ride - revisited
> > To:
Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 11:23 AM
> >
> >
> >
> > Â
> >
> >
> >
> > Art
> > No need to use the jacks at all. Just loosen all four bolts,
but DO NOT TAKE THEM OUT. After loosening the bolts remove the shims as
you want, and then take ONE bolt out and carefully clean all the
threads, lubricate, and place it back in place. Repeat for the
remaining three bolts. Torque all four bolts to specified value, and
you are finished with that connection.
wrote:
> > >
> > > I've read all the posts relating to adjusting the
suspension and have printed Ralph's paper.ÃÂ I'm measuring approx 24
inches on the front.ÃÂ ÃÂ Question.ÃÂ To what extent do you jack
the front endÃÂ to relieve pressure before loosening the shakle bolts?
> > > ÃÂ
> > > Art
> > > 96 Seren, 3750
> > > ÃÂ
> > > ÃÂ
> > > --- On Sat, 2/18/12, pschafersr
wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > From: pschafersr
> > > Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: Velvet Ride
> > > To:
Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 5:57 PM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ÃÂ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Lynn...Good questions, and there are several threads
going about the velvet ride...
> > >
> > > Ours is a 2001 Safari Zanzibar, 38(+) footer with two
slides. The reason we replaced the suspension was the ride height. We
were unable to adjust the ride height any more, and the last adjustment
left no shims on one side of each axle. The shims are used to adjust
the ride height on this type of torsilastic suspension. Take out a
shim, it lowers that side of the axle 1/4 inch. Add a shim, and it
raises that side of the axle 1/4 inch. We were riding on the
bumperstops with very little suspension travel to dampen the beating
from the roads. Other things were being affected as well, such as
steering geometry, body roll, and driveline angle. Ride height is as
much or more important to the chassis as it is to the rest of the
coach.
> > >
> > > The rig has 103,000 miles on it, and I am the second
owner. I didn't know anything about the ride height the first year or
so I woned the coach, and just thought it was the way it was supposed
to be. When I started researching and talking to other Safari owners, I
started trying to tweak things a little. After my foirst ride height
adjustment (which only leveled side to side on each axle, not the front
to back) there was noticeable improvement, but that didn't last for
long, probably because of the difference of height front to rear. We
live in the coach and are too deep in the debt to trade up to a newer
coach. We love the lifestyle and travel about 10,000 miles in a typical
year. Therefore, it is important to us to ride as comfortably and break
as few dishes as possible.
> > >
> > > For a long time we just got used to the rough ride and
other issues and no one I talked to before Redlands RV ever gave me any
hope it could be any better (although there was some experimentation I
heard about with air bags added to the suspension, equally expensive).
> > >
> > > Although we have only driven the coach 200 miles since
the project was completed, I am convinced it was the right decision and
am happy with the results!
wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi Phil. I have a 98 35' Safari, and some
questions: What did you have replaced? What was the cause, i.e, what
led you to replace it? Catastrophic failure, regular maintenance check,
etc? How many miles on your rig, length, etc.?
> > > >
> > > > This would be useful info for me. I am concerned
about being an orphan, since Big Bubba is the last rig I will ever buy,
unless he becomes obsolete.
> > > >
> > > > It might be helpful if Ralph could give us some
ideas about preventive maintenance and troubleshooting. I assume
Redlands RV is in southern CA. My regular shop, Roadrunner RV in
Brentwood (northern CA) only works on a couple of Safaris, so I might
need a shop that has more experience with the torislastic suspension.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks! Lynn Holland,in Big Bubba, the 98 3506
Safari, 300 hp CAT
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Ralph, we've heard a lot about you at Redlands
RV...
> > > > >
> > > > > We drove the coach back to Quartzsite today
after having the torsilastic suspension replaced at Redlands, and I
gotta tell you it has never ridden that well! It was actually a joy to
drive...even the dog noticed the difference!
> > > > >
> > > > > I posted pics of the project. Thanks again...
> > > > >
> > > > > Phil
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In
Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com,
"andrewsralph42" wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi I am Ralph Andrews. I have owened a
1996 Safari with velvet ride and put over 300,000 miles on it since i
bought it new.I have many parts avalible for velvet ride.Yes I do own
Pioneer Metal Works and did purchase the velvet ride inventory from
Navestar.
> > > > > > I welcome calls and Questions any
time.509 750 0248.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
'