Straight axle front ends

wildmanbaker wrote:

Gjac wrote:

TropicalRV wrote:
My last MH, a 2001 Tropical 36 ft was 15 years old when I traded it. The front suspension worked just fine. Too many folks wind up their underwear in a knot over nothing.

Did you have any gap between the rubber and frame or was the rubber resting on the frame?

Ford used soft riding springs in the F53 chassis, because that is what the manufactures buying them wanted, a soft ride. New and empty, they had about 4" between the bump stops and springs, and rode great. Alas, adding things quickly causes the free board to disappear quickly. This is what causes the "jarring" ride the F53 is famous for. Replacing the bump stops with either Sumos or Tembren will cure the jarring and give an increase in ride height, back to near normal height. This also cures the lean, to the right most F53s get with time. You can also install air bags, but that cost will be about 3 times the cost of the other 2 mention. The fix for the F53 chassis is: Rear track bar, either purchased or DIY. CHF, spring help. Front track, if it does not have one. The last item should be a "steering stabilizer" if needed. This will not make it ride and drive like a DP, but it will make it more comfortable to ride in and easer to drive.