Sway control

[jabastian]

My 2012 F53 chassi has a lot of sway at low speed. What products reduce sway the most?

[Real Mccoy]

There is a couple posts about this sway. Some guys have relocated the sway bar links, air bags may help. I just added air bags to the rear of mine and modified the front sway bar link length and position but have not driven it to see if it is better or not

[RodK]

Go to the chassis section. In the ford subsection look for the thread on CHF " cheap handling fix" its a long thread and you don't have to read all of it but it explains what to do.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Descriptions of handling problems vary a lot, so be cautious of simplistic answers. If it is really body sway, you need stiffer anti-roll bars. Sometimes the coach body builder puts too much body on the chassis, e.g. too much weight up high, off-balance, or just plain excessive weight for the GVWR.

What some people all :sway" is a steering issue, better known as "wander", i.e. the coach seems to angle in one direction, then another as the driver over-corrects. This leads to the feeling of a "swaying motion". That can be either a driver skill issue or a need for a panhard rod (Tru_Trak or a SuperSteer Track Bar).

I have written an article on Motorhome Handling Problems in the FILES section of this site - see iRV2 Forums - Files - Motorhome Handling Problems & Solutions

[chasecoffey]

I have a 97 f53 and had the same issue. I got under the coach and noticed the rear sway bar bushing on the axle were gone. Like not even there. You might want to check your rubber. Honestly I don't think the "sway" will ever go away. I feel as if we just get use to it.

[Rich-n-Linda]

Originally Posted by jabastian

...What products reduce sway the most?

A diesel on a Freightliner chassis. ;-)

Sorry...couldn't resist that one.

[Waiter21]

You may want to look on the

RV FORUMS > CHASSIS CLUB > FORD CHASSIS.

for ideas that others have discovered / implemented. Here are a coupe from that forum:

CHF - Cheap handling Fix - Sway bar link adjustment. Move the drag links from the front attach point to the aft attach point, both front and rear sway bars. THis increases the torsion bar stiffness when it corrects for side to side rocking.

Torsion bar bushings - Check that the sway bar (torsion bar) bushing are poly instead of rubber. The rubber bushing usually are worn out, deteriorated, or simply missing.

Torsion bar bolts, plates missing - New Ford F53s (2007) had a problem with rear torsion bar bolts falling out. Check yours for tightness.

Rear Track bar - Many users are installing home made / store bought, rear track bar. This will dramatically improve side to side wagging

These four recommendations will cost little or nothing and will significantly improve the handling.

Good luck with yours.