Bent A Arms... OUCH!

[Bryan]

hey guys! It's been a while since I've been on the forum. I hope everyone has been doing well and blessed! I now own a 96 Prevost... Can you believe that a year ago a shop jacked up the bus on the A Arms and bent them? My local mechanic just discovered it. We know the shop that did it but there is no way to prove... but that's in the past... now I gotta purchase new ones... I just checked with Prevost... and they are EXPENSIVE!!! WOW!!! Do you guys have any suggestions?

[ol713]

  Hi;
     I would suggest calling Luke at Coach Equipment and see if he has any suggestions . Good guy
     to work with.  Also keep his phone number for future reference.      (856)794-3104
                                                      Good luck,   Merle

[Bryan]

Great idea! I haven't spoke with Luke in a while. He said he couldn't help with this one though.

[Geoff]

Curious.  Does your Prevost have independent front suspension?

[luvrbus]

Prevost is proud of any parts for IFS ,the 1996 has the old style A arms you are going to spend some big bucks on that front end

[Bryan]

Curious.  Does your Prevost have independent front suspension?

I honestly don't know LOL, but I could probably find out... why do you ask?

[luvrbus]

If you looking for A arms I would say you have IFS 

[chessie4905]

As I don't know what they look like, can they be removed and straightened on a press?

[buswarrior]

Lots of mechanics have destroyed those prevost A-arms.

Idiots just stick hoists and jacks any old place...

Every busnut needs to know where the jacking points are, both axle and body, and make damned sure the mechanic follows your directions.

Lovely trade, where the customer pays for their screw-ups...

I'd be making the shop aware, might not mean anything to you, but the tech may get a spanking... er "education"

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Geoff]

I have A arms on my GMC RTS (and IFS), and have jacked up the front of the bus several times and other RTS's and never heard of an A arm bending.  Jacking the bus up using the A arms is no worse than hitting a bump in the road.  I'm not sure you got an accurate analysis of whatever problem you are experiencing.
 

[Jeremy]

Jacking the bus up using the A arms is no worse than hitting a bump in the road.

Not if you jack in the middle of the arm, surely? By 'middle' I mean half way between the wheel and the inboard end of the arm - no amount of pounding bumps with the wheels replicates the bending force that's exerted on the arm by jacking there

Jeremy

[Geoff]

The middle is where the air bag mounting flanges are.  The A arms are very well designed with stress areas reinforced, just like a car or GM pick up truck. 

I would really like a picture of the bent Prevost A arm.

Not if you jack in the middle of the arm, surely? By 'middle' I mean half way between the wheel and the inboard end of the arm - no amount of pounding bumps with the wheels replicates the bending force that's exerted on the arm by jacking there

Jeremy

[luvrbus]

IFS in 1996 was Prevost white elephant those A frames are easy to bend  if you jack on 1 side of the A frame and were $3000.00 ea to replace plus the upper A frame would go bad, they are still around on RV and entertainer buses most operators use the straight axle lol the front of a Prevost probably weighs more than you entire RTS 

[lostagain]

IFS is an option now on late model Prevost cars. Most operators just get them with the solid front axle, which rides like a wheelbarrow BTW. The MCI J is SO much smoother with the ZF front end.

JC

[Geoff]

The IFS on an RTS is rated at 13,400 lbs, and the whole bus tops out at 36,900 lbs on two axles.  The Prevost must be weak construction, and no comparison to the RTS that can withstand New York City potholes.