Forum Discussion

myface's avatar
myface
Explorer
Jan 08, 2020

Front suspention

+Hi all.New guy here. I purchase 2001 Winnebago Brave SE 29A. Runs good, but my front of vehicle is low. It have workhorse chassis. There are no airbags in front. Could it be my shock?.

20 Replies

  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Check your ride height first before changing anything. Just measure the gap between the upper A arm and the stop right below it you should have about 1.5 ins or more. If the A Arm is resting on the bumper stop with no space in between I would replace them with new HD springs. If you have some space you may get away with just adding new air bags. How many miles are on the MH? The bags will only add another 500 Lbs capacity when fully inflated. As others have said new shocks won't increase the ride height.
  • dodge guy wrote:
    Hello and welcome.
    Shocks do nothing for ride height. That's in he springs. If it is sitting low, the springs are probably worn out. You will need to find the ride height specs and measure from the frame to the ground.

    No shocks will not but being a 2001 the springs maybe be weak may need to be changed if shocks came with coach need to be changed with them.
  • years back ( around 20) I was mechanic and work with suspensions. I did have to (on occasion) change the springs and was not a pleasant job. I told the guy about the springs and he said that shocks will raise the front. Right now, when I go too fast (5mph) into a dip in road, my tire will rub on body. For last 15 years, I was OTR truck driver and do not mind to go to a cat scale, but driving with the nose down is difficult. I will let them change the shocks and bags. See if this will raise my front a bit.
  • "The springs are fine but we'll put air bags in"?
    That right there is a warning sign.
    BTW, after you get the ride height corrected, you'll want to get it alligned.
  • myface wrote:
    The factory did not put airbags.


    Incorrect if Workhorse P chassis-- at least from Workhorse. No idea what your coach maker did.

    Yes, shocks are unrelated to ride height.
  • While your shocks may be worn out and need replacing, they will not affect the ride height. The ride height is a function of the springs. The shocks just slow the spring down when you hit a bump.

    I would find a public scale to weigh the RV they are more common than you would think. You don't need a certified weight, you just need a weight. You can do a web search for a CAT scale, but they may not be plentiful in your area. Other places to call would be moving and storage companies, the local landfill, a grain silo, heck any place that regularly runs big trucks in and out will probably have a truck scale.

    If you do weigh you want to load the RV as if headed for a trip. Make sure the fresh water tank is full and fill up the fuel tank. Then drive to the scale and take three weights. 1) The front axle. 2) The whole RV. 3) The rear axle.

    Take these wights and have your RV repair shop order and replace the springs and shocks.
  • I have a 2001 Winnebago Brave 30 W. It had air bags in the front springs but always sat slightly low in front. We were on a trip and both front bags failed which let it sit really low. We finished the trip like that and when I got home I ordered new springs from Henderson Steer Safe. I put them in myself, it was a fairly big job, but well worth it. It sits up like it should and rides and drives better than ever. You have to weigh the front end and they will send the proper springs based on the weight. The front end then has to be re-aligned. The cost for the springs was a little over $500 if I remember right and the alignment was somewhere around $100+. I am very satisfied with the new springs. If you are not mechanically inclined with a place to work, the alignment shop could probably install them.
    Edit: I just checked and I think the springs are called super steer not steer safe and they are priced at $360 a pr on Henderson's web site.
    Just google Henderson super steer.
  • I took to the RV repair shop to inspect my front and I was told that my shocks are gone, but the spring is ok. They will put a airbags in springs too. The factory did not put airbags.
  • Hello and welcome.
    Shocks do nothing for ride height. That's in he springs. If it is sitting low, the springs are probably worn out. You will need to find the ride height specs and measure from the frame to the ground.