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Old 06-19-2015, 04:17 PM   #1
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F53 wanders

I have a 2003 F-53 that wanders in cross winds. It has the Steer Safe installed but still has issues. Relatively new shocks(bilsteins) 20k. HD stabilizer bars front and rear. What can I do to improve the handling, after 300 miles my shoulders are wrecked. DW says I look like a kid who is pretending to drive by twisting a play steering wheel. Only 38k on unit and we love it. Weight is even across all four corners. What am I missing or need to do to help this out.
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Old 06-19-2015, 05:06 PM   #2
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Cheap-Handling-Fix.

I just returned from a 1,000 trip after doing the CHF. World of difference.

Really, This should be the first thing every F53 owner does before they spend any money. If your a DIYer, this will take about an hour to do front and rear, and will cost you zero.

Next would be a track bar, Again, you c an do this yourself, but it does require a plate to mount on the differential.

Visit the Ford chassis Forums for a huge thread on the CHF.

Also, this is a step by step on how I did mine.

http://www.2001mirada.com/cheap-hand...and-then-some/

..
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Old 06-19-2015, 05:33 PM   #3
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Front and rear trac bars.
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Old 06-19-2015, 05:43 PM   #4
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Another vote for the CHF. It made a world of difference in the handling of my Encounter.
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Old 06-19-2015, 08:06 PM   #5
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In this order (lowest cost fix to highest):
1. Verify your tire pressure against coach weight. I over inflated once to see how it effected the ride. Couldn't keep the coach in the lane.
2. CHF if you bars have the second mounting hole. Also replace the OEM bushings with the aftermarket blue poly.
3. Front end inspection.
4. Front end alignment Don't get an alignment without first an inspection.
5. Rear track bar. If you have the skill set and tools there are plans to make one for less than $100.
6. Not sure if your chassis model year has a front track bar if not do the add one.

Do in order and stop once the ride gets comfortable.

Good luck.
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Old 06-19-2015, 08:09 PM   #6
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Before all that, get it aligned. My guess is that you've got something loose. The bar bushings degrade after a while and I've seen the trac-bars back out...
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Old 06-19-2015, 10:18 PM   #7
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When we had our F53 chassis I found the front to be light. I added more weight to where it was close to the max weight. This cured my front wondering.
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Old 06-20-2015, 03:43 AM   #8
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I agree with adding weight to the front. A light front end is common on the F53 because we like to put stuff in the rear on the motorhome, it's seems the natural thing to do.
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Old 06-20-2015, 05:38 AM   #9
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I find the last 2 posts interesting.

You both recommend adding weight.
One of you added enough, to get to max weight.

How did you do that?

Get a front weight and then add bricks?

Have steal plates welded under the front bumper?

Or move some cans of food, forward?

Thats kind of like saying " I had the same problem, but I fixed it"

Just wondering
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Old 06-20-2015, 05:46 AM   #10
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I know a lot of people love their Bilsteins shocks. But at 18,000 miles mine were wore out and I had terrible wander. After replacing the shocks the wander was gone.
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Old 06-21-2015, 04:43 PM   #11
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To add info I moved all heaven stuff to the forward bins inside and outside the coach. I also added air bags tot eh rear to raise it when I put my motorcycle in The garage as I have a Thor Outlaw. My front axel is 8000 lbs I believe and with my changes I have between 5500 and 6000 lbs. I now can drive with one hand like a car and passing trucks are no issue. That's my nickel...
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Old 07-17-2015, 09:58 PM   #12
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Thought I had posted this earlier in week but apparently not. Had front end checked and alignment done. Found caster to be significantly out of spec and corrected same. Did about 100 miles test run and it seems to be better. Also installed rear trac bar but have not tested this out yet. Next week I hope Thanks for the suggestions
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Old 07-17-2015, 11:43 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbriar View Post
In this order (lowest cost fix to highest):
1. Verify your tire pressure against coach weight. I over inflated once to see how it effected the ride. Couldn't keep the coach in the lane.
2. CHF if you bars have the second mounting hole. Also replace the OEM bushings with the aftermarket blue poly.
3. Front end inspection.
4. Front end alignment Don't get an alignment without first an inspection.
5. Rear track bar. If you have the skill set and tools there are plans to make one for less than $100.
6. Not sure if your chassis model year has a front track bar if not do the add one.

Do in order and stop once the ride gets comfortable.

Good luck.
agree, this is a logical progression that will get the best result. This is what I did. I was satisfied after #5.
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Old 07-17-2015, 11:46 PM   #14
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Once front end alignment has been ruled out most wandering is due to too much weight behind the rear axle and not enough on the front or over inflation of the front tires. Over inflation reduces the contact patch a tire has with the road causing it to ride on the very center of the tread.

Many can resolve their wandering issue by moving the canned goods and other heavy stuff they tend to store under the bed to a storage area closer to the front of the coach, having the coach weighed and then inflating the tires to match the load.

Limiting the use of the overhead bins for storing heavy items will also help. Ideal is to put heavy items in the basement.

The other thing is to loosen up and not overreact. I have driven a number of reportedly wandering coaches without issue just by not being hyper sensitive to things and over adjusting. Some create their own pendulum effect by over correcting and then having to continue over correcting to keep driving on the roadway.

My wife over corrects because she perceives that there was a gust of wind and even though it had no real impact on the direction of the coach she then jerks the wheel into the wind veering off to that side of the lane when if she had done nothing most times the coach would not have changed its position in the lane. She arrives tired, sore and late to her destination since she then drives slower to compensate which is all self inflicted while other drivers of the same coach will have no difficulty at all and will still be fresh after a full day behind the wheel.

Others who have driven with me or behind me have asked what I have done to my 2001 Winnebago Adventurer 35U to make it so stable and the answer is basically nothing aside from balancing the load, getting it aligned after its loaded the way I commonly travel with it and keeping the tires properly inflated to match the load that they are carrying without over inflating them.
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