Gasser Handling - Specific Question
I have a specific question regarding improving the handling on my 33' National SeaBreeze. I realize there have been many threads on this topic (I've participated in some of them) but I've not seen th...
Forum Discussion
You have already done the CHF which increases the stiffness of the sway bar by reducing leverage. Replacing that with a thicker sway bar may or may not improve handling.
Two things, first the stiffness of the new thicker sway bar might not be any more than the stock one with CHF, but should be easy to figure it out as its just some math and there are online calculators.
Second stiffer sway bars are a tradeoff as many suspension changes are. As stiffness goes up roll is reduced but so is harshness as now the sway bar is resisting axle articulation more. If solving the problem where just a matter of adding more stiffness we could just have an untwistable sway bar in there or eliminate springs all together. You would have zero roll and and be nice on a perfectly smooth road but horrible in the real world.
I did 3 things that all helps equally in my opinion.
1. Rear track bar
2. CHF
3. Increased toe in
Both CHF and Toe where free and relatively easy to do myself while the trackbar has a cost and was more complicated.
These mods work together and do completely different things.
Surprisingly the toe from the factory was 3/32" out, which while technically in spec you never want toe out, it causes wander and rut following. I did 3/32" in which is at the other end of the spec and made a noticeable difference as big as the CHF. Many even recommend 1/8" toe in but again this is a trade-off, the more toe in the tighter it tracks but the more tire wear you get.
IMO the F53 chassis needs front and rear track bars, they started doing front in 2006 or 2008 I believe and still does not have a stock rear. It also needs stiffer sway bars which can be accomplished with the CHF or new ones and of course proper alignment, toe being easy to do yourself, caster is important as well but requires shims between leaf and axle.
BTW here is the sway bar formula, the CHF reduces A and C while an new thicker sway bar changes D:
Two things, first the stiffness of the new thicker sway bar might not be any more than the stock one with CHF, but should be easy to figure it out as its just some math and there are online calculators.
Second stiffer sway bars are a tradeoff as many suspension changes are. As stiffness goes up roll is reduced but so is harshness as now the sway bar is resisting axle articulation more. If solving the problem where just a matter of adding more stiffness we could just have an untwistable sway bar in there or eliminate springs all together. You would have zero roll and and be nice on a perfectly smooth road but horrible in the real world.
I did 3 things that all helps equally in my opinion.
1. Rear track bar
2. CHF
3. Increased toe in
Both CHF and Toe where free and relatively easy to do myself while the trackbar has a cost and was more complicated.
These mods work together and do completely different things.
Surprisingly the toe from the factory was 3/32" out, which while technically in spec you never want toe out, it causes wander and rut following. I did 3/32" in which is at the other end of the spec and made a noticeable difference as big as the CHF. Many even recommend 1/8" toe in but again this is a trade-off, the more toe in the tighter it tracks but the more tire wear you get.
IMO the F53 chassis needs front and rear track bars, they started doing front in 2006 or 2008 I believe and still does not have a stock rear. It also needs stiffer sway bars which can be accomplished with the CHF or new ones and of course proper alignment, toe being easy to do yourself, caster is important as well but requires shims between leaf and axle.
BTW here is the sway bar formula, the CHF reduces A and C while an new thicker sway bar changes D:
