Shocks

[RIDER FAN]

My 2005 Endeavor has 52,000 miles on it now. A while back i read some interesting info on shock replacement with most stating that installing a good quality shock makes a night and day difference. My neighbor who has a 08 Scepter told me if the shocks are hydraulic and not leaking do not waste the money ; and besides the air bags provide the ride comfort and handling...????
My front end does not overly "porpoise" but I notice on single lane secondary roads that i am bouncing around a bit.........The machine is 11 years old now and I don't think the shocks have ever being changed. Would my factory shocks be punched at 52k ?? Thanks for any input.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Your neighbor is mostly correct, in my opinion. Shocks are there primarily to keep the tires in contact with the road after the suspension hits a pothole or RR track. If your shocks aren't leaking and the coach doesn't bounce uncontrollably (porpoise) after a pothole, you don't need to do anything. Ride comfort is dictated mostly by the suspension (air in your case) and tire pressure, not the shocks.

That is not to say that you might not find a shock that has less bounce or more or stiffness in their response to a bounce, but I think Endeavors had reasonable shocks as factory equipment.

My shocks turned 12 last January. Freightliner factory service looked them over last October when the coach was on their lift for some front end work and saw no reason to replace them.

[cdinatl]

All I can tell you is, our coach had 34k miles and bounced like a ball going down the road. Replaced 8 original Monroe shocks with Bilsteins and immediately got the nite - day experience. We also have air bags and she road like a new caddi. Much easier to handle on the road too!


2008 Holiday Rambler PDQ Ambassador 360 ISC
2015 Jeep Rubicon
Blue Ox tow Patriot brake

[Mr_D]

I went through 5 sets of shocks and two sets of front air bags on our '02 Dutch Star after Newmar had Spartan put the 14,600# front axle under the rig. Some shocks were definitely too weak (FSD for the 12,000# axle), others were closer. Finally settled on either a pair of Koni adjustables set on firm or Bilstein Comfitrack. When we traded the rig in it had the Bilsteins on it.
Just put Koni EVO 99 shocks under the present rig. Made for commercial buses and are like the FSD only heavier. Have yet to drive the rig though due to the DW's health issues.
Shocks can make a huge difference in the ride.

[mhbell]

In my case I only replaced the shocks because they were leaking after 52,000 miles and 10 years old. They were the original factory installed shocks. They were Bilsteins. I replaced them with a Better set of Bilsteins.
Mel

[RSteele]

Replaced the shocks on my 04 Winne Journey with Bilsteins and it made a huge difference. Changed the factory Sachs shocks on my Vectra to Koni's and didn't make much difference. I wish Bilstein made front shocks for my coach. I want the shocks a little stiffer. I have the Koni's as stiff as they will go. What did make a big difference were the Centramatic wheel balancers and tru balance centering sleeves. Didn't help proposing or cornering but smoothed the coach out a lot, no more vibrations (didn't think I had them before). I installed them because of a shake in the steering wheel, cured that but as an added benefit smoothed the ride out significantly. Journey had a straight axel and was lighter. Vectra has IFS and is heavier. Bilsteins have a different set up on their shocks, some people like them some like the Koni's just depends what kind of ride you prefer and what they make for your coach.

[brokenrule]

Our new to us MH has Bilsteins on the front and worn out (no longer compressed) factory on the rear with 67K miles. Installed new Bilsteins on the rear and it was a huge improvement on swaying. Noticed by both driving and the wife following for the before and after.