New shocks- Koni or Bilstein?

Air Lift 1000 Series front air bags.



When I installed the 2012 front axle, I wanted to install Super Springs


but they seemed to be back ordered everywhere. The coach has always sat a little low in the front. It takes a leveling board to be level on a level site. Front axle weight is about 4500.

Super Springs unavailable, I went with Air Lift hoping to pick up a little more front end ride height. Maybe half an inch, but they have improved the ride. Better over dips in the road, and a little more stable. The suspension seems quieter than before. But... it now has the 2008 and newer Radius Arms with a different bushing design.

Summary: There are other products that do more for ride height. Some day I may try Super Springs.

John ... what's that red balloon/bag inside of the coil spring?

It looks like an air bag .... but in the front?? Aftermarket item ... if so, who makes it and why is it necessary?

The E-Series "Mobile Home Prep" package isn't carpeted. That's up to the coach "up-fitter." Phoenix no doubt does a better job than many, but I believe the masses of RV builders glue the cockpit carpet down. Might make accessing anything under there pretty messy.

Ron, I looked a the Forum you linked, but couldn't find the thread about this. Can you link it in detail?

Nearly all the shocks used in these Fords, have the customary nut on top, but they also have a hex surface as part of the very top of the rod. It's very easy to get a wrench into the fender well area and onto the top of that shock. Here's the Driver Side of our E450:
, on Flickr width=400[/img]
Here it is with a wrench barely visible inside the fender well. It's on the top nut of the Shock:
, on Flickr width=400[/img]
The open end wrench is below the shock mount/spring pad. The Spring has been removed. Notice now, how you have lots of throw for the open end wrench. There's nearly none with the Spring in place.
Here are the Older and Newer Shock Types:
, on Flickr width=400[/img]
New is on top. The Lower and Upper "Insulators" are now one piece each. For example, the Top Bushing, Washer and Nut come assembled. I think the Upper was 17mm and Lower was 19mm on Old, New is different and I forget what those sizes were. If you gotta have them I can work that into my busy schedule... Notice how short the stud is on the Old. Both shock shafts broke off, at about the same point. On passenger side, pieces went flying and I never found my Wrench or the Top Nut... So tie a string to your wrench!
What I hope to show you, is how you CAN get a "holding" wrench on the TOP nut, then work the Lower with an open end wrench. And, the working room you get by dropping the Spring out. It also gives you more room to remove/connect the lower shock mount.
Driver side is worst case. On passenger, I could probably get a flex ratchet and a socket in there, or a Gear Wrench with a floppy head. Much more room over there.

ron.dittmer wrote:
Someone on the Phoenix Cruiser forum just shared with me that the E350/E450 driver/front shock absorber top nut is easy to access from above by popping off a rubber boot behind the carpet. I wonder how many years that boot has been installed by Ford and nobody knows about it because nobody here has ever mentioned it.

Ron ... wow - I hope that's true and I'll bet that it is!

I use a very competent commercial truck shop for maintenance on our E450. When I have them install Koni FSD shocks on the front (they're on only the rear at present) I'll tell them about the access ports, but they're probably well aware of the ports if they exist.

I can't imagine that Ford did not make provision for a more convenient way to replace front shocks on their E Series than the struggle that the variouus DIY mechanics describe. It even seems like that folks trying to replace the front shocks would be looking up and then naturally see a round port-like area right above the top nut that they were struggling to get a wrench on - if the port is there. :h

Ron, I was just explaining Jayco's JRide, JRidePlus, & JRidePremium. The JRide is on the lower priced Redhawk, JRidePlus on Greyhawk, and the Premium in the Seneca. You have mentioned that most manufacturers don't offer these extra suspension add ons and all I'm saying is that Jayco RV does as part of the standard package. That's all! Chuck.

bagman wrote:
Ron, the Jayco Seneca Super C has JRide Premium which also included full air brakes and air suspension (bags).

Super C chassis's are in a category all their own. I refer only to the standard B+/C industry.

Ron, the Jayco Seneca Super C has JRide Premium which also included full air brakes and air suspension (bags).

bagman wrote:
JRide Plus = 1. Hellwig Helper Springs. 2. Rubber Isolation Mounts, 3. Computer-Balanced Drive Shaft, 4. Bilstein Shocks, 5. Standard Front Stabilizer Bar, & 6. Heavy-Duty rear Stabilizer Bar. The question is, how many other manufacturers of Class C motor homes add all these extra suspension upgrades? Does Fleetwood, Thor, & Forest River do this? I don't know! Bags.

Bagman,

Many years ago, I think one high end motor home manufacture did, maybe it was Dynamax. They added a heavy duty rear stabilizer bar to their E350s because back then the E350 didn't have a rear stabilizer bar of any kind. My 2007 E350 didn't.

Today I don't think anyone upgrades the chassis in any fashion. It's an added expense that most people wouldn't understand, at least not until after their purchase.

I feel the upgrades should be done at Ford on the assembly line and added into the purchase price to the RV outfitters. If it were up to me, it would be a federal mandate for general safety. The RV industry is so far behind the auto industry with regards to safety. If they followed the same regulations, there wouldn't be any motor homes on the road. But having appropriate stabilizer bars, shock absorbers, steering stabilizer and a rear trac bar, are all very simple to incorporate, and affordably so if done on the Ford assembly line.

Ron Dittmer

JRide Plus = 1. Hellwig Helper Springs. 2. Rubber Isolation Mounts, 3. Computer-Balanced Drive Shaft, 4. Bilstein Shocks, 5. Standard Front Stabilizer Bar, & 6. Heavy-Duty rear Stabilizer Bar. The question is, how many other manufacturers of Class C motor homes add all these extra suspension upgrades? Does Fleetwood, Thor, & Forest River do this? I don't know! Bags.

Someone on the Phoenix Cruiser forum just shared with me that the E350/E450 driver/front shock absorber top nut is easy to access from above by popping off a rubber boot behind the carpet. I wonder how many years that boot has been installed by Ford and nobody knows about it because nobody here has ever mentioned it.