Suspension Improvements - Best Order
So what is the consensus best order of suspension improvements on a E450 motorhome? My guess: Proper tire pressure Front end alignment Rear Sway Front Sway Shocks Steering Stabilizer Rear Tr...
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The first two are undoubtedly correct. Tire pressure also has the advantage of costing nothing (or close enough to nothing) to do.
Replacing shocks may fall under general maintenance if they're worn, in which case I'd bump that up the list pretty high. The same for replacing the steering damper (but not necessarily substituting a steering stabilizer system with centering springs). Of course, on a 2018 I would not expect either to be worn yet in most cases!
Helper springs, or stiffer springs for the front, be they pneumatic (such as Ride-Rite air bags) or steel possibly should be on the list if you're riding low. I don't know if it's still the case (I think it is), but at least for several years the rear leaf springs on the E-450 by design are more or less flat, which makes them look like they're sagging even when unloaded. It's also worth noting that the ride height in the front affects the alignment to some degree; the camber changes, due to the suspension design, and the angle of the chassis as a whole front to back does affect the (effective) caster angle a little.
Before doing anything heroic, I would drive for a bit, at least sufficient to determine if anything is really needed. I've never felt my class C handled poorly, though I didn't expect or get subcompact car like handling. It's a big, sometimes cumbersome vehicle, and behaves as such...but it does behave.
Replacing shocks may fall under general maintenance if they're worn, in which case I'd bump that up the list pretty high. The same for replacing the steering damper (but not necessarily substituting a steering stabilizer system with centering springs). Of course, on a 2018 I would not expect either to be worn yet in most cases!
Helper springs, or stiffer springs for the front, be they pneumatic (such as Ride-Rite air bags) or steel possibly should be on the list if you're riding low. I don't know if it's still the case (I think it is), but at least for several years the rear leaf springs on the E-450 by design are more or less flat, which makes them look like they're sagging even when unloaded. It's also worth noting that the ride height in the front affects the alignment to some degree; the camber changes, due to the suspension design, and the angle of the chassis as a whole front to back does affect the (effective) caster angle a little.
Before doing anything heroic, I would drive for a bit, at least sufficient to determine if anything is really needed. I've never felt my class C handled poorly, though I didn't expect or get subcompact car like handling. It's a big, sometimes cumbersome vehicle, and behaves as such...but it does behave.
