So we took our first mini-trip this past weekend on the coach and had an absolute BLAST!! Everything worked great and we couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more unless someone else paid for everything!BUT.....traveling down the interstate to our destination, I noticed an unnerving amount of top-heavy body roll in a couple of places when entering a curve on some slightly uneven pavement. Other than that, it handled very well at 70MPH and never checked up when a tractor trailer passed me or as I passed another tractor trailer in a straightaway. I was expecting a heavy pull towards them but never experienced that. Maybe it's just me, not being used to driving such a top-heavy vehicle, but should I be looking for another issue? Shocks? Sway bars? Springs? Improper tire pressures? Other?

All of the above should be checked. Shocks are probably worn, sway bar bushings could be worn, tire pressure could be wrong if coach was not weighed as per the load, and the springs could have sagged to the point that your ride height is too low. Not a bad idea to go over everything with the suspension to insure that all is in good shape. It doesn't sound like you have any major problems and it may be just a few minor things need attention.

Carefully check all of the above, as any one could be a culprit on that age rig. Shocks especially. For me, in our second small "A" gasser, some roll is normal. I do find that 70 is a bit fast for it, and stability seems to be a lot less when we pass 65. (speed and age). The important thing is sway that affects your steering, causing swerving side to side. We do have some roll, but it does not effect steering or tracking, such as when being passed. I do get a lot of bother from gusty sidewinds, but have learned what to expect and what to watch out for.

Thanks! I'll get all that checked out by a suspension specialist. I'm pretty good at most things mechanical, but suspensions are not part of my skill set.There didn't seem to be any tracking or handling/swerving issues, even with the roll I experienced, but my wife was in the truck behind me and she noticed the roll enough to mention it. I can foresee it happening bad enough to cause oscillation and eventually cause an accident.

What chassis do you have?I have an F53, Ford, new shocks & tires.It rolls if I'm going to fast on the curves......so I just slow down.

Body Roll | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Camper_Ken
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
Lots of good infohere
I had them install an additional rear sway bar, a heavier front sway bar, rear trac bar, Koni FSD shocks, and a Safe-T-Plus. Now it handles the way it should.

Ken
wildmanbaker
Explorer
Aug 28, 2014
10forty, the torque for the sway bar clamps is 66 ft. pounds, per the 04 workshop F-53 manual.
cdl2
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
Let us know how it handled.
10forty2
Explorer
Aug 26, 2014
Got my rear bushings replaced last night...the OEMs were completely gone...melted away and what remained was gummy. I ran out of daylight before I could replace the front bushings, but they actually "LOOKED" okay. I'll probably go ahead and replace them anyway since I have the new poly bushings for the front too.

I tried to get the sway bar in place for the McKinley Fix, but apparently I'm geometrically challenged, since I couldn't make the end links fit into the second set of holes without risking hitting the differential housing with the sway bar when the rear axle moves. I'll ride around on the coach with just the new bushings and see if that corrects my body roll/sway problem before making further modifications. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to purchase longer end links to make the switch.

To be continued.........
10forty2
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
Effy wrote:
I never torqued mine to any spec. I tightened them to what I thought was good and check periodically.

I used to do that until I wrung off some really expensive bolts on my motorcycle. Now, whenever possible, I use proper torque values. :S
Effy
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2014
I never torqued mine to any spec. I tightened them to what I thought was good and check periodically.
cdl2
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
If you have a torque wrench ......remove the bolts/nuts with it & measure the torque.
10forty2
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
So...in looking around on the magical inter-web, I cannot seem to find the answers for which I seek....

Anybody know the torque values of the bolts/fasteners for the sway bars? I'll be replacing the bushings on both front and rear as well as moving the end links to the second bolt hole for added stability...want to make sure I get everything torqued back properly, especially since the new poly bushings will be thicker than what's coming out of there.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2014
10forty2 wrote:
Quick update, I crawled under the coach and discovered that the rear sway bar bushings are completely missing....no wonder it was swaying..... Soooo, I ordered a complete front and rear set of poly bushings and will do the McKinley fix when they come in. For reference to others who may come across this thread...here is the bushing set I ordered:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-Sway-Bar-Bushings-Ford-F53-Class-A-Motorhome-1999-2011-/281153537365?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AF53&hash=item41760e8555&vxp=mtr

You did it right. Eric makes good stuff. I have some of his very first castings and they still look new.

Richard
J-Rooster
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
Slight side to side roll is normal in high profile vehicles. And if you have roof air it can increase with side winds.