Bilstein steering damper

gotsmart wrote:

Here's the link: http://www.safe-t-plus.com/media/stp_mh_chassis_guide.pdf

Do yourself a favor and get a safetplus as an upgrade over stock. I put one on my e450 and now staying in the lane, and all those white knuckle 18wheeler passings, are a thing of the past. The safetplus is worth every penny at twice the price.

jorn wrote:
Safe-T-Plus doesn't *appear* to offer a unit for a E450-based Class C.

Go to the Safe-T-Plus website, at the top click on "Which unit do I need?", click on the "chassis guide" under the motorhome picture, open the PDF, scroll down to FORD.

Here's the link: http://www.safe-t-plus.com/media/stp_mh_chassis_guide.pdf

Thanks,that was my thinking and the Bilstein was what I hear the most about on here but liked the Roadmaster product also.
Have a good weekend

That sounds like a valid symptom of bad damper. You may want to check for looseness in the steering linkage. Check Amazon I think they have Bilstein, Monroe, and stock Ford part. If I was doing mine I'd consider the Bilstein.

I get some shake like in the front over a rough area on the Interstate and sure the damper is original.we just bought the rv 2 years ago and thought it might improve,it drives good except when you go over a bump in the road.

I think they're all on Amazon. If the Bilstein is bolt on replacement why not give it a try? For sure I wouldn't put anything on mine that wasn't bolt on. The reason is based on my post above. What problems are you trying to address?

So what is the best choice to replace the oem damper on my 2003 KS317 Leprechaun /E450,now I have choices and glad to read your info.

This is one handling part I don't currently seem to need.

I get the caster settings improvement, the heavier sway bars, and the track bar. I can see where shocks can help. But I cannot feel any deficiency caused by the stock steering damper on a newish chassis. There is no harmonic oscillation in the steering linkage at all. I don't feel I need artificial heavyness or artificial return to center in the steering-I feel that is merely reducing feedback.

Maybe as things wear a bit a stronger one would be beneficial. And certainly replace one which has failed.

But what is deficient that replacing a newish one on a newish chassis will improve?

I can't speak for other brands other than Ford OEM and the Safe-T-Plus. OEM was a joke, Safe-T-Plus is great. The only thing that bothers me about the Safe-T-Plus was that is does not offer a lifetime warranty. I hope it outlasts our rig.

gotsmart wrote:

poker5150 wrote:
Since you are going to install a new damper, why dont you go with a coilover system like the Roadmaster Reflex steering stabilizer? It dampens and stabilizes

I went with the Safe-T-Plus, because the spring is enclosed within the casing.

That's funny because I went with the Roadmaster due to the spring NOT being encased. If the spring were to break I would prefer to not have it get bound up with a casing.