Community Forums

EJG · 08-03-2020, 11:52 PM

How much longer than the front ones did you extend the rears?

TeJay · 08-04-2020, 06:28 AM

EJG,

I have never swapped front and rear links. WHY? When the CHF is employed on the rear the geometry is different. The link attaching & pivot points are in different locations when compared to the front. The angles change very little so extending the links is not usually necessary. Why add work to a MOD if it isn't necessary?

There are some situations when doing the CHF on the rear causes interference with the SB and the differential (DF). For what ever reason Ford has the SB go over the DF and sometimes it goes under the DF. Ford also locates the E-brake housing just in front of the DF and sometimes it right behind the automatic transmission way up in front of the drive shaft. These changes can cause interference but it seldom occurs.

EJG · 08-04-2020, 10:43 PM

I am going to install an additional rear sway bar and thinking of replacing the front one
Ready to order

Anyone have Any feedback on Roadmaster vs Helwig?

EJG · 08-04-2020, 11:02 PM

I did The front CHF, moving the links to the inner holes, Just before we took a 5 week 3500 mile trip in June and July and it did make a very noticeable improvement

Now I’m ready to invest in and To take it to the next level adding a steering stabilizer and an additional upgraded bar to the rear

chboone · 08-04-2020, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJG

I am going to install an additional rear sway bar and thinking of replacing the front one
Ready to order

Anyone have Any feedback on Roadmaster vs Helwig?

I installed the Roadmaster 1-3/4" auxiliary anti-sway bar several years ago. Really happy with it, vertically eliminated the rear sway. Install wasn't very difficult.
https://www.etrailer.com/Anti-Sway-B...ID=19994015677

RRR · 08-05-2020, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJG

I am going to install an additional rear sway bar and thinking of replacing the front one
Ready to order

Anyone have Any feedback on Roadmaster vs Helwig?

The Hellwig kit includes the replacement U-Bolts upfront and the RM is extra charge. The only difference I found was the mounting bracket and the downlink design. Same steel and size

When I did mine the RM was more $$$, now they are closer to the same.

https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/ I have used them several times. Used to be that if you called them with questions they would give $50 discount if you ordered then.

mvintx · 08-10-2020, 03:25 PM

My coach handled pretty well right off the showroom floor but after reading almost this entire thread, I decided to do the CHF anyway. The rear posed the greatest challenge because of the Z brackets and their serrated bolts. The links could not be repositioned to the aft sway bar hole because of the serrations on the bolt shaft. After a quick consultation with TeJay, a few whacks with a small sledge hammer popped them right out. Polyurethane lube was applied to the front and rear sway bar bushings and boy do they move easier now. Many thanks to the OP, thread participants and especially TeJay for his plate design and patient advice. Can't wait to drive it and feel the difference.

Dennis Dean · 08-13-2020, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJG

I am going to install an additional rear sway bar and thinking of replacing the front one
Ready to order

Anyone have Any feedback on Roadmaster vs Helwig?

I replaced my sway bars immediately after buying my coach with the roadmaster SB and added the roadmaster steering stabilizer. I have no complaints on either. So I have the bigger front SB and two SB in rear. (Stock stays in place and roadmaster is added on rear, front is complete replaced). My coach is 2016 model, so almost 5 years with these SB’s

TeJay · 08-13-2020, 01:49 PM

Don't know if this has come up. According to what I've read in the past. Large U-Bolts used to hold suspensions together should not be reused. Don't know if it's true. Maybe somebody can chime in on that.

That's not the same as head bolts from earlier engines. We should all know what has happened with the torque to yield bolts currently used for a more precise torque. That is needed to hold the aluminum engines together.

94aerbus · 09-19-2020, 12:16 AM

We have recently purchased a 94 Rexhall Aerbus 30 foot on a 94 F53 Chassis with a 460 engine. Other than some suspension issues it's in like new condition.

The ride home was heart in the throat type of ride. Sway bar bushings, steering damper and front shocks were shot.

I just replaced all the Sway bar bushings.

Replaced stock steering damper with a Monroe steering damper

Replaced all 4 stock shocks with Monroe 557001 in the front and Monroe 557002 in the rear.

Took it for a ride and the handling was much better, but it's still got a lot of tail wag and sway when a truck passes and forget about it in the wind even with the air bags at about 60lbs.

So my question is, does anyone know of any upgrades for a 94 F53 like a front and rear Trac bar and sumo springs?

I've found some from Super steer and a few other places, but they only make them to fit 2006 and newer.

Is this something I'm going to have to fabricate my self at my friends fab shop? I would rather not do that if I don't have to.

georgelesley · 09-19-2020, 04:28 AM

Tail wag is fixed with a rear track bar,

TeJay · 09-19-2020, 07:42 AM

94aerbus,

What George said above is correct. Adding a front and rear track bar (TB) will add a great degree of driving control.

you can't do the CHF on that early of a Ford chassis so that's out. You've already changed the shocks and bushings as well. I'm also thinking you have 16" tires.

We have some friends who were on the verge of selling their RV because it handled so badly. We built him a rear TB and when he drove to our next outing he told everybody he was driving a NEW RV. The handling improved way more than he thought it was going to.

Here's MHO on Sumo Springs. They will add a lot of sway control but may add some ride harshness. They are not adjustable. However because your RV is a lot older than most and you said you have air bags your springs may be sagging due to age. Air bags will help with that by adding some spring rate to those sagging leaf springs.

You also said you added a steering dampener. That was a good move but a better move would been to add a steering stabilizer shock with a large coil spring to assist in keeping the steering wheel (SW) centered. Yes the shock dampens sudden steering wheel movement but that spring keeps the SW centered. That's a really great addition IMHO!!

I have done several DIY rear TB's. I'm not at all familiar with your chassis. If you wanted to send me some pics of the front and rear of the rear differential used on that chassis maybe I can advise you on what I'd recommend. TB are not that difficult to make. My first one cost me about $50 which is a lot less than commercial ones and this one has been on for about 30,000 miles.

The F-53 chassis comes from the factory with a front TB but adding one in the rear really makes a difference. Still not sure why Ford thought it prudent to add a front TB sometime in the mid 2005 or so but not a rear TB. That's like having a leak in your pool and just adding water to fix it.

If you want some free advice send me a PM and then we can exchange home e-mails then share some pics. I'll send you pics of what I've built and you can send me your DF pics and we can decide how to build your front and rear TB.

You might find some pics on line of Fords front TB or I can also send pics of what Ford did.

TeJay

94aerbus · 09-19-2020, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeJay

94aerbus,

What George said above is correct. Adding a front and rear track bar (TB) will add a great degree of driving control.

you can't do the CHF on that early of a Ford chassis so that's out. You've already changed the shocks and bushings as well. I'm also thinking you have 16" tires.

We have some friends who were on the verge of selling their RV because it handled so badly. We built him a rear TB and when he drove to our next outing he told everybody he was driving a NEW RV. The handling improved way more than he thought it was going to.

Here's MHO on Sumo Springs. They will add a lot of sway control but may add some ride harshness. They are not adjustable. However because your RV is a lot older than most and you said you have air bags your springs may be sagging due to age. Air bags will help with that by adding some spring rate to those sagging leaf springs.

You also said you added a steering dampener. That was a good move but a better move would been to add a steering stabilizer shock with a large coil spring to assist in keeping the steering wheel (SW) centered. Yes the shock dampens sudden steering wheel movement but that spring keeps the SW centered. That's a really great addition IMHO!!

I have done several DIY rear TB's. I'm not at all familiar with your chassis. If you wanted to send me some pics of the front and rear of the rear differential used on that chassis maybe I can advise you on what I'd recommend. TB are not that difficult to make. My first one cost me about $50 which is a lot less than commercial ones and this one has been on for about 30,000 miles.

The F-53 chassis comes from the factory with a front TB but adding one in the rear really makes a difference. Still not sure why Ford thought it prudent to add a front TB sometime in the mid 2005 or so but not a rear TB. That's like having a leak in your pool and just adding water to fix it.

If you want some free advice send me a PM and then we can exchange home e-mails then share some pics. I'll send you pics of what I've built and you can send me your DF pics and we can decide how to build your front and rear TB.

You might find some pics on line of Fords front TB or I can also send pics of what Ford did.

TeJay

The leaf springs on the front are getting replaced next, they’re obviously sagged, I just took it to a spring shop I used to use when I was a heavy wheel mechanic, they’re getting rebuilt.

I thought about the steering stabilizer, but I wanted to start with the Monroe replacement damper first and see how it handled. It was only $40 and it made a huge difference. I’m pretty happy with front end handling now. I can drive with one hand no worries or stress. There is no front TB on this year model. I believe it would help even more with body roll if it did have one.

The rear springs have no sag at all and are still at original factory settings as far as shape and strength.

I’ll send you a PM because I have been tossing around making my own based on the super steer design.

I have also looked at the secondary sway bar that some others have mentioned.

TeJay · 09-19-2020, 07:50 PM

Sounds like you've got the mechanical experience and shop to do these DIY things. That's always a plus. There's almost nothing that I won't tackle if I can save some $$$ and make a product that I also usually improve from the stock design. That's even more fun!!!!

I just responded to your PM!!

TeJay