E450 steering/sway

[baraff]

Hi - Recently completed a 2800 miles trip and noticed a slight sway/drift from time to time at 65 mph. This is a used Winnie Aspect with 50,000 on the clock.
The tires are BFG Commercial T/A's and are brand new. Pressures are 65(F)/80(R). Supposedly an alignment was done when we bought it.
There is a steering damper, looks like a shock absorber, on the e450 chassis. I'm wondering if this could be worn. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks,
-Burns

[TXiceman]

The E450 is known for the side to side roll and see-saw steering, especially on the larger units. Load the coach like for a trip, and get it weighed and set your tire pressures accordingly. Next, get the front end set while loaded, by a non-Ford truck front end alignment and suspension shop.

Now for the real work...you need to replace the wimpy anti-roll bars that ford supplied. Look for some by RoadMaster bars with urethane bushings (front and rear). Next, replace all four shocks with Bilstein shocks.

Between these two improvements, it will drive like it was on rails.

Some folks will tell you to add a Safe T Plus to the steering, but this will just mask the real problem.

Ken

[Izzyblueye]

I drive the twin to your coach a 2006 Cambria 26A . I have airbags on the rear springs. I found out quickly the amount of pressure in the air bags makes a big difference on handling. I found 55 lbs to be ideal, I couldn't ask for better handling now. However, there is a big difference in the miles on our respective coaches.
My suggestion would be if you have airbags experiment with pressure with normal load. If no air bags, it is a relatively modest investment for what they add to the coach. Always try the simplest approach first.

[Topflite51]

Replacing the puny sway bars that Ford installed can be expensive, however replacing the 'probably worn out' rubber bushings on the sway bars will help, preferably with urethane bushings.

As previous poster said if you don't have airbags, install them. If you do, increase the pressure. Replacing OEM shocks with new shocks will help also, NO MATTER WHAT BRAND! As your current shocks are probably worn out. The funny thing is all it takes is ONE worn out shock (especially a front one) and your unit will be all over the road.

[baraff]

Good suggestions all, thank you.
I was sort of thinking about replacing the shocks anyway. Our Aspect doesn't have airbags and from everything I've read installing them would be a big help. I will look into them.
What makes Bilstein shocks more preferable to other brands?

[Jack R]

Baraff

As TXiceman said, replace the front sway, also do the rear. I did this on a 2007 I owned and added koni shocks all around. Boy what a difference it made. Could drive it using fingers instead of a firm grip. Wasn't exhausted at the end of the day as before this modification.

Jack

[TXiceman]

Bilstein or Koni shocks have stiffer valving and control the ride better than the mushy shocks. I did add air bars front and rear on mine and they helped a little. I would equate the success of each addition as follows

Air bags...15%
Anti-roll bars 45%
Shocks ........40%

So the place to spend the money is the shocks and anti-roll bars.

Ken