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Old 12-03-2014, 10:40 AM   #1
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Rear Sway Bars versus Track Bar...???

I wrote to Brazel's about getting one of their track bars (https://www.brazelsrv.com/ford-f53-2...-rear-trac-bar). I was surprised when I received an email response suggesting I go for the the Roadmaster 1-3/4" rear auxiliary sway bar. It is much more expensive. What do you guys think??? I was surprised since I keep hearing about trac bars, but this is the first I have heard a sway bar recommended....

Thoughts?

Thanks
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Old 12-03-2014, 11:08 AM   #2
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On a Ford chassis you get the most benefit from the rear track bar (Pan hard Bar). Sway bars are neutral when going straight and are only effective in turning but may give a slight firm feeling in the suspension.

Track Bars help with results from tail wag from wind and passing trucks that disturb straight line driving.

Ford added a track bar in the front around 06. You may also try the cheap handling fix by moving the front sway bar links to the shorter position.
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Old 12-03-2014, 11:34 AM   #3
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Brazel's response is correct. The sway bar helps control body roll. The only way a track bar would help is if your rear suspension was worn out. The massive rear springs on the F53 won't let the rear axle go anywhere.
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Old 12-03-2014, 11:34 AM   #4
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I can't comment specifically on what a Ford chassis needs, but can comment on the functionality. There is some side to side movement in the axle compared to the frame. This results in a delayed response to steering input, which causes things to swing around. It has no impact on body roll. (actually it may slightly increase body roll)

A sway bar forces (or strongly encourages) the coach to stay level with the axles. This does reduce body roll, but does not reduce the side to side axle movement.

So which do you need. That depends on which is you worst offending problem. One way to test is while driving slow speed, rock the steering wheel back and forth about 2-3 inches. If the vehicle basically stays straight, its likely you need track bars. If you take a long sweeping turn, and you feel like the coach wants to roll over, then I would be looking at sway bars. Most of the time, most coaches need trac bars. The delayed steering input causes over correction, which just aggravates keeping the coach under control.
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Old 12-03-2014, 01:13 PM   #5
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I have the ultra trak the new one and it made a great difference. Chf and safety plus makes it easy to drive. Ours is a 2014 Georgetown 328. Saving up for koni for the front. Alignment done and 92 lbs on TP.
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Old 12-03-2014, 01:33 PM   #6
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The rear suspension does not need to be "worn out" to benefit from a trac-bar, leaf springs and bushings will deflect under side loads even when new. There are a few Ford medium duty bus applications with factory rear trac-bars, as well as leaf sprung Jeeps with rear factory trac-bars. The question is "what is the main complaint" about the handling of the coach. Sway and body roll are greatly reduced with an auxiliary sway bar, wander and delayed steering response are reduced with trac-bars. JMHPO (just my humble professional opinion
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Old 12-03-2014, 06:28 PM   #7
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Well said Ken.
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Old 12-03-2014, 06:47 PM   #8
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well i have added just about everything i can think of. much better now than before every addition has made improved ,but still looking to get less tail swing and blown around by big rigs.
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Old 12-04-2014, 04:19 PM   #9
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The correct answer to your question is you will get some benefits from better sway control, which can be accomplished with larger diameter anti-sway bars both front and rear (quite expensive). The CHF will basically achieve the same results as new ASB's and it will cost you nothing. It makes sense to do that first and evaluate the results.

Also the ASB's will not only help with sway control but it will also stiffen the coaches response to wind gusts. So it will help with handling. Your coach can sway when you enter a service area with different heights of the road. Cross over un-even ramps etc. That's sway and it is controlled by the ASB's. When a wind gust hits the coach it tries to roll it side to side. The ASB helps to control that as well.

The track bar or TB ties the coaches frame to the suspension. As stated there is some slop/movement of the suspension shackles and attaching bolts and bushings. There is not to much but some. When the coach encounters a large wall of wind from an approaching semi the coach wants to move to the right. Some refer to this as ."The tail wagging the dog." The rear moves to the right and the front moves to the left. A front and rear TB will kind of anchor the suspension to the coaches frame and reduce the effect of the wind gust.

We just arrived home a few hours ago and I had to drive about 150 of the 200 mile trip over winding twisting 2-lane mountain roads through southern AR. I've been over the roads several times driving a school bus but never the MH. Several of the corners I did enter to fast because it's been 10 years oir more since I was on them. The coach barely swayed at all. The CHF, and TB's on both front and rear really did the trick. At no time did I feel out of control or in danger. I encountered many, many semi's and at no time did I even notice when they passed by.

I still have two more items to add (maybe): air bags and Koni shocks. If I can achieve even a 5 to 10% improvement in my ride and handling then I'll do it. Every bit I can do is what I'll do. My real wish is that WBGO would have offered an air ride suspension but they didn't. I also doubt that I'll have $1,500 in these improvements so I'm good to go. An air suspension would have cost more.

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Old 12-05-2014, 12:27 AM   #10
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I've installed everything I could to my F53. Everything helped the handling. The rear Roadmaster 1-3/4" sway bar was one of the best improvements. You can order it from etrailer.com for less with free shipping. Call Roadmaster, I did as soon as I told them my length they said use the 1-3/4" auxiliary sway bar.
Anti-Sway Bars by Roadmaster for 2006 F-53 - RM-1139-140

I did all the installations myself, saved the labor. If you don't have the necessary tools or ability to do it, have a truck shop do the work.
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Old 12-05-2014, 02:54 PM   #11
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I'd like to slightly modify my comments in post #9.

Shocks, Anti-Sway bars, leaf springs, Track rods, steering stabilizers, steer-safe, sway bar bushings, Air bags, tires & their pressures ALL and I mean ALL work together to control coach movement, cushion the ride and provide a good feel for road control.

If you either add, or improve any of these items you will affect everything about the ride and handling. Anytime your coach moves in any direction all of these items will add something to the equation. No one item acts independent of the others. Now some of the items mentioned have a greater effect on certain changes of direction but none of them works completely independent of the others.

Lets just look at one situation. A semi approaches from the rear and pushes your coach towards the edge of the road. The spring on the right is compressed. The spring on the left is unloaded. The shock on the right resists the spring compression and the shock on the left resists the spring unloading or rebound. The shocks will also dampen the continued spring movement (compression & rebound of spring). One side of the AS bar twists CW and the other twists CCW. That loads the bar which resists further twisting which reduces coach sway. The track bars both front and rear also resist the coach twist or side to side movement by tying the suspension play to the coaches frame.

When the wall of wind hits the coach it not only tips/pushes the top of the coach to the side it also tries to move the bottom of the coach towards the side of the road. One is a rocking or swaying motion the other is a side to side motion. That is two different movements. The front of the coach will want to twist towards the center of the road. All those parts on the rear that are also on the front now come into play to do their thing on the front of the coach.

I don't need to go on. What is important is each coaches response to movement is dependent on all the variables that there are between coaches. Loading, weight position, chassis weight, chassis springs, tires etc, etc. And it's also dependent on the weakest link of your coach. If you don't have a front or rear track bar you will be missing an important link. If you have lousy or worn out shocks the same thing.

It's really to bad that the chassis builder does not do all they can to give us the best ride and handling coach even if they are offered as options. I know I'd have paid for a better riding coach.

If I bored some, Sorry. I've worked on this stuff for years but I've learned a lot with my efforts trying to explain it here. So thanks.

TeJay
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Old 12-05-2014, 11:50 PM   #12
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Wow, guys, great info here! I should have said that I already did the CHF and added Koni's and new bushings. Definitely did help! I guess like the posters above, I am always looking for improvements. My big complain was cross winds on the last trip. On the way to our destination, there were light (if any) winds and life was good. Coming home, there were relatively strong cross winds and it was white knuckles comparatively.

Thanks again.
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Old 12-08-2014, 09:11 PM   #13
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With a 32' Jayco Precept, I immediately noticed handling problems. A couple of months ago I installed a Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer. This helped with tracking in my lane of travel and seemed to help some with the passing vehicles and wind gusts. But I still had a well defined "tail wagging the dog" even with a pickup passing me...not to mention the semis passing.
Last week I had installed a SuperSteer rear trac bar. I only drove it for 10 miles after the install but I feel I have solved my handling problems. The difference was day and night. I took the interstate so I could experience if there was a change. I am one happy driver.
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Old 12-08-2014, 09:13 PM   #14
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TeJay...........I have learned so much from your posts. Thank you. No bore here.
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