Bilstein vs Monroe shocks for F-53 chassis

mena661 wrote:

timmac wrote:
OK I just finished my front airbags on my F-53 chassis

Which airbags?

Firestone Air Lift air bags front and back, with air pump/tank and dash controls.

John&Joey wrote:

Mike M2 wrote:
I think what J&J is not realizing is that when you add air to the bags it slightly raises the hieght of the MH and takes some of the weight off the springs. If the bags bring the MH up just an inch that's one more inch the springs need to travel before they are at the point of supporting the chassis on thier own. This alone takes that hard first hit we all feel when we hit a bridge joist away from the springs and puts it onto the softer riding bags.

You do understand that we are talking about Ford leaf's not GM springs.

If you read what I stated I noted that maybe by lifting the rig you gain more range of the shackle that was not fully functional. That then would be a covering up of a problem.

If the leaf does not bottom out, then I can not see the logic of your statements. I do agree if it was a chevy an airbag might help the spring rate though.

Mike M2 Hit the nail on the head, that is what the airbags did for me, just enough air about 30lbs raises the front end about 1 inch, than I am riding on air and not the hard leaf springs, worked great expect for hard bumps, so I installed softer Monroe shocks and now my ride is much softer than stock, it works...

Also note Bilstein shocks are 360psi charged and Monroe's are 60psi charged, the factory just had to hard of shocks and leaf spring for my RV..

Yes of coarse we are talking about leaf spring suspension, as in my case a 1999 F53 with a V10. Not a bad shackle, this would mean every case of improvenment has a bad part in thier front end. I'm not sure what you mean by the leaf bottoming out as this term usually means that the suspension is completely compressed and hits the rubber stop, which obviously isn't the case. I believe the better ride is not from making the leaf work better(which is what i think you are implying) but the slight lift they provide means the bag is the first initial part to give when you hit a bump. After all, if the bag wasn't there the leaf would simply go back to it's original position.
Whether i'm right on it or not, you can't doubt the results most give after installing them...

I had a 96 H.R. endeavor f53 chassis, I had the front springs redone, put new monroes on the front and the firestone bags in the rear and it changed the ride dramatically!

It was something about putting a little more weight on the front that did the trick for me. Now it wasnt a DP ride but a heck of a lot better.

Mike M2 wrote:
I think what J&J is not realizing is that when you add air to the bags it slightly raises the hieght of the MH and takes some of the weight off the springs. If the bags bring the MH up just an inch that's one more inch the springs need to travel before they are at the point of supporting the chassis on thier own. This alone takes that hard first hit we all feel when we hit a bridge joist away from the springs and puts it onto the softer riding bags.

You do understand that we are talking about Ford leaf's not GM springs.

If you read what I stated I noted that maybe by lifting the rig you gain more range of the shackle that was not fully functional. That then would be a covering up of a problem.

If the leaf does not bottom out, then I can not see the logic of your statements. I do agree if it was a chevy an airbag might help the spring rate though.

I think what J&J is not realizing is that when you add air to the bags it slightly raises the hieght of the MH and takes some of the weight off the springs. If the bags bring the MH up just an inch that's one more inch the springs need to travel before they are at the point of supporting the chassis on thier own. This alone takes that hard first hit we all feel when we hit a bridge joist away from the springs and puts it onto the softer riding bags.

John&Joey wrote:

timmac wrote:
...I like my Bounder with the F-53 chassis but it just rode to hard on bumpy roads, no give, it just hammered hard, now its riding more like a car..

I keep reading the prior posts and I do understand that there is a theme here that airbags help, but it makes no sense why. The front end of the older 460 F53 is oversprung, that is the reason the ride is "hammered hard."

I would love if someone would explain to me how airbags that are suppose to increase the load capacity can soften a ride on a leaf spring suspension. If there is no give, then there is no give. Only thing I can come up with is the shackle on the leaf has limited give and the airbags are pushing the shackle to the upper limit when the airbag is charged giving more give to the leaf. If that really is the case the issue is the shackle and the airbags is just helping to cover up the true problem of a bad shackle.

Now as far as control in side winds I can see that very easily why airbags would work, just not in the ride. I can also understand them in the back where there is a load. There just simple is not enough parts in and old F53 front end to work with to make a silky smooth ride with the simple addition of airbags. If real world is saying different, then I would love to understand what is going on. Otherwise it might simple be a placebo effect after spending time and energy for the upgrade.

I just had the Kelderman Air Suspension (front and back) put on my 2011 22,500 lb (220" wb, 34.5'coach) Ford chassis last May. What Kelderman does is replace the OEM front leaf springs with multi-leaf variable rate leaf springs and then adds the Monroe shocks. This combo with the air bags makes for a softer, smoother front end and ride. The softer springs and shocks allows the air bags to work more. As part of the system, they install a heavier duty trac bar. I had them add on the Safe-T-Steer also. On the rear I had them install the Roadmaster heavy duty chrome alloy sway bar, leaving the OEM sway bar in place.

Overall, the sway is reduced noticeably and the ride is improved especially when hitting sharp bumps like at bridges or joints in the road. I am still fiddling with the air pressures in the bags, currently going with 60 psi in front and 70 psi in the rear.

I don't have any problem in side winds or with semis, but the coach handled pretty well in that regard before the suspension upgrade. Since I am still experimenting with air pressures I would be interested in knowing what other guys are running in their Kelderman air bags.

When my F53 motorhome was about 7 years old I put in the Monroes. Did not notice any appreciable difference. And the only slight change is that I think it rides harder. You can never expect a vehicle with 80psi in the tires and solid axles and stiff leaf springs to ride like a limo.

timmac wrote:
.... also heard Bilstein has a newer improved shock for comfort.

Just recently got a new Itasca Sunstar 35F on the F-53 chassis and the Bilstein shocks. Made a short "shake down" over the hump to Pahrump, NV last week and did not find that the ride was at all harsh, far better than the '04 Tiffin we had on a workhorse and the '11 Winnebago on the F-53.

timmac wrote:
OK I just finished my front airbags on my F-53 chassis

Which airbags?