I don't know much about Motor homes, but my automotive experience tells me if you are doing anything to the steering system that will require alignment, you should have the alignment done after the work is completed.
Since a Steer-Safe doesn't change any alignment angle or in any way affect the alignment, I'd have the alignment done before installing the Steer-Safe.
I've done many alignments, but never on a vehicle with a Steer-Safe because we didn't have them back then. But, since I had a Steer-Safe installed on our DP and spent a considerable amount of time detailing the adjustment of it I'm very familiar with it. If I was going to do an alignment on a vehicle with a Steer-Safe, I would remove it before doing the alignment.
(a) the Steer-Safe may easily affect toe-in adjustment during the alignment, and
(b) I want to make sure my alignment is correct and a Steer-Safe adds a spring load to the steering which would mask or alter the feel of my alignment.
Once, I was done with the alignment, I'd reinstall the Steer-Safe.
Now, the question is would I re-adjust the Steer-Safe as a part of the alignment? That would depend. If you were paying for a basic alignment, why would the tech be expected to do extra work for free because you have option stuff on steering?
In other words, if I felt I needed an alignment, I'd have it aligned first and verify that the alignment was correct and the coach drove properly. Then, I'd install the Steer-Safe and go make the adjustments needed to its position on the tie rod until I was happy once again with how it drove.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
The vehicles alignment is not the problem I am trying to correct. I am trying to provide a little better control in the case of a blow out and hopefully a little side benefit of better handling in gusting winds.
So to get back to the question;"Would the advice be the same for the "horizontal shock absorber" type of steering controls? "
The steer-safe should accomplish what your stated desires are. It is also the least cost solution. It will not fix or hurt your alignment.
If you have not had an alignment then you should get one in the same condition you operate under (the same loads, weights) and it would be better before adding the steer-safe to have the alignment because the alignment would require some dis-assemble and re-assemble of the steer-safe. You really should give the folks in Deming a call as they are straight talking and can really explain the answer you are looking for.
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