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03-20-2019, 06:16 PM
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#1
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Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Posts: 70
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How do I know if my 1999 F53 needs new shocks?
Hi all,
I bought my 99 fleetwood flair 2 years ago, so I dont have a history for it. The ride is pretty harsh, but suspect that is the nature ofnthe beast. Bridge transitions are pretty rough. Will new shocks make a marked improvement on the ride?
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03-20-2019, 06:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 248
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dank1945
Hi all,
I bought my 99 fleetwood flair 2 years ago, so I dont have a history for it. The ride is pretty harsh, but suspect that is the nature ofnthe beast. Bridge transitions are pretty rough. Will new shocks make a marked improvement on the ride?
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Does it porpose (bounce up and down) after going over a bump? That what shocks do is stop the bouncing. Checking/changing tire pressure might help with bridge transitions. Also on my 1999 I installed airbags which when inflated correctly help, I still feel them but not as bad.
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1999 Fleetwood Bounder V10 F53
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03-20-2019, 08:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 847
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How did you determine how much air to put in your air bags? I have a 1997 34’ Fleetwood Bounder that has air bags but I’ve not found much difference whatever pressure I use. I also replaced the shocks (used Bilsteins) and can’t tell any improvement.
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Marvin (and Eileen) - 1997 34’ Gas Bounder / 1996 F53 Chassis | Towing 1996 Ford Ranger on Acme Dolly
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03-20-2019, 08:56 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,870
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The F53 chassis is known for a harsh ride, especially front axle. If the front rebounds 2X or more after a dip or large pothole shocks are bad.
This from an(escapee) experienced/full-timer; he found that after a 4-corner weigh the front axle was light, rear was at max, and side-to-side was way-out of balance. He redistributed weight so the front axle was a couple hundred # below max GAWR and rear axle was the same. After a re-weigh he said it rode and handled much better.
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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03-20-2019, 09:52 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NorCal
Posts: 3,000
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If it porposes going over dips you need shocks
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Outbound
2002 Monaco Executive 500 ISM
2004 GMC 2500HD 4X4
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03-21-2019, 09:07 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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It really is tough to test the shocks. Are they OEM. Shocks won't necessarily help with smoothing out the ride. but will help with handling.
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03-21-2019, 11:12 AM
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#7
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outbound
If it porposes going over dips you need shocks
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Yup!  
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Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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03-21-2019, 02:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 248
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvinG
How did you determine how much air to put in your air bags? I have a 1997 34’ Fleetwood Bounder that has air bags but I’ve not found much difference whatever pressure I use. I also replaced the shocks (used Bilsteins) and can’t tell any improvement.
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Trial and error. I can fill the airbag while under way.
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1999 Fleetwood Bounder V10 F53
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03-21-2019, 03:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: What? Like right now? ;-)
Posts: 1,302
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take one loose at the bottom and see how it compresses and rebounds.
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2003 Scepter 40PDBB - Roadmaster RR8S - Cummins ISC350 - purch aug16
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03-21-2019, 06:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 186
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1999 it needs new shocks!!!
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Dirt is for racing asphalt is for getting there!
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03-21-2019, 08:20 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,525
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A new pair of Bilsteins and even better Konis will make a big difference if the RV has the original shocks. The front shocks make the most noticeably difference.
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2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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03-21-2019, 09:31 PM
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#12
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,045
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If they're the original shocks, they were worn out 10 years ago. The gassers seem to do better with Bilsteins, after reading threads here for 15 years.
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Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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03-22-2019, 06:24 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,968
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
If they're the original shocks, they were worn out 10 years ago. The gassers seem to do better with Bilsteins, after reading threads here for 15 years.
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They were probably worn out nearly 20 years ago. We changed out the original shocks on our 2001 F53 chassis in 2003 when the motorhome had 22,000 miles on it. 3 of the 4 had absolutely no resistance in either direction and the 4th was leaking.
We changed them out for Bilsteins. There was a marked improvement in the ride and handling. The Bilsteins were still on it and working fine when we traded in the motorhome 10 years later with over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
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Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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03-22-2019, 06:36 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,937
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I put Konis on the front of mine to get rid of the BANG at the bridges. It worked. Not as harsh any more.
__________________
Larry & Sheree & KD the CAT
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30SFS Lewis County, Wa.
USN 1964-68, USS LEXINGTON CVS-16
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