Suspension improvement.

[Canuck1st]

We have a 2001 Holiday Rambler Admiral 36.6' on a Ford F53 chassis. We found it rode very rough. It's on Michelin tires. So I changed out the suspension. I put parabolic leafs on the front and lighter suspension on back. We also installed 'Tembren' rubber blocks and it now rides and handles like a dream. Our cost $2300.00 Cdn. Money well invested to get this ride!

[Pepper2]

Hello neighbor from a Michigander. Thanks for the input. The F53 chassis gets a lot of discussion on this sight about the rough ride.

[aerobert]

Hi, I own an Admiral 2001, 32 PBD, and I experience steering shakes from left to right, the steering column and brake pedal on rough roads. It is really uncomfortable but it remains easy to drive straight. I have air balloons installed on the 4 wheels adjusted to 80 psi in the front and 30 psi on the back. I was wondering if your original problem looked like what I am living right now. I bought this RV 1 year ago and nobody knows what to do with it. I know that we can install a shock absorber on the direction links under the RV but nobody knows if it will resolve something.

[ga traveler]

Originally Posted by aerobert

Hi, I own an Admiral 2001, 32 PBD, and I experience steering shakes from left to right, the steering column and brake pedal on rough roads. It is really uncomfortable but it remains easy to drive straight. I have air balloons installed on the 4 wheels adjusted to 80 psi in the front and 30 psi on the back. I was wondering if your original problem looked like what I am living right now. I bought this RV 1 year ago and nobody knows what to do with it. I know that we can install a shock absorber on the direction links under the RV but nobody knows if it will resolve something.

It sounds like your tower has sheared the bolts that hold it to the firewall. The best way to check is to sit in the drivers seat and pull yourself out of the seat with the steering wheel. If the bolts are broken the steering wheel will move several inches toward you. If it is OK the wheel will move about an inch or less.

[aerobert]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

It sounds like your tower has sheared the bolts that hold it to the firewall. The best way to check is to sit in the drivers seat and pull yourself out of the seat with the steering wheel. If the bolts are broken the steering wheel will move several inches toward you. If it is OK the wheel will move about an inch or less.

Thanks for your answer. I have checked the steering as you described and it does not lift up and down. If I grab it with both hands and try to move left to right, it will move 1/8" to the left when I push it and another 1/8" when I pull it hard. It looks as if the mounting plate of the steering on the firewall is not strong enough to remain still. When the steering covers shake with the steering in the dash panel, it rubs between these parts and create dust all around the steering covers. It could be the complete dash moving left to right with the roughness of the roads but it looks as it is the column. I can see movement in the floor when moving and ear the brake pedal shaking with the steering. The brake pedal is mounted also on the same mounting plate on the firewall.
If I try this movement on my Ford Explorer 2011, or any other car, there is absolutely no movement left to right. I am thinking that this vehicle is badly designed at this point. I am still looking for a solution.