Coach Leans to Driver's Side

[10forty2]

So my wife was following me to the campground in the truck last weekend and when we arrive, she mentions that it really looks like the coach is leaning to the driver's side. Sure enough, on level ground without stabilizers deployed, it does lean slightly. Is it worn out leaf springs on that side or potentially something else?

PS....I don't think it's recently happened, but we just recently noticed it as she was following me down the road.

[DSDP_Don]

I do all of my own work, but when it comes to spring suspensions, especially on an older coach, I would take it to a spring shop and let them diagnose your issue. They will tell you if the springs need repair (re arc) or something like a shim. When they're done, your coach should sit perfectly and be repaired properly.

[Fifty4F100]

Fiesta wrote:
Unless it's really causing another problem, DWAI. Don't worry about it. My last RV leaned, then after 18 months I sold it. For a more luxurious "A", I would have wasted more $ for someone else.

I've considered this as well. I plan on trading after this July 4th week vacation. I'll climb under later to check for broken stuff.

[Fiesta]

Unless it's really causing another problem, DWAI. Don't worry about it. My last RV leaned, then after 18 months I sold it. For a more luxurious "A", I would have wasted more $ for someone else.

[turbojimmy]

Fifty4F100 wrote:
A quick measurement tells me there's about a 3" drop from one side to the other.

That's pretty significant. I'd look for something broken or worn.

Mine leans to the left as well, but measuring between the bump stop and the control arm, I have less than an inch difference side-to-side (and the lean is pretty noticeable).

In my case I know it's a combination of worn front springs and misadjusted air ride suspension in the back (leaf springs were removed). On my rig, the fresh water tank, black water tank and generator all sit outside the frame rail on the left side. There's hardly anything on the right side to balance that out (except for the fridge and a couple of storage compartments). I want to get the correct front springs before I adjust the ride height sensor in the back. But I have to have it weighed and haven't had time.

[wolfe10]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Look at your anti-sway bar bushings. I believe that if the end link bushings have failed on one side, and not the other, that it may cause the coach to lean slightly. Not too sure about an F53.

No, the sway bar (aka anti-sway bar) would either be neutral or help correct a lean.

If the springs have the coach sitting level, one could remove the sway bar end links and hold the bar in place with your little finger-- OK, maybe two fingers.

If one side is higher than the other and you loosen the end link on the high side, you would need a strong jack to get it back in place. Its job is to pull down on the high side and raise the low side.

If bushings bad, it would just have less or none of this "correcting" factor.

If you know that the low side is heavier, I would add a leaf. If not much heavier, consider a shim. Very standard solutions on leaf spring suspensions.

Also, be sure to check for worn shackles, extra shims installed at the factory on the high side, etc.

[Fifty4F100]

10forty2 wrote:

Fifty4F100 wrote:
I took my Holiday Rambler off the jacks for the 1st time this year and found I might have this same leaning problem. I'm going to look for some of the issues mentioned here.

Does this create a driving hazard? I have a big trip planned next week!

Haven't noticed any driving problems at all, but it's just concerning to me and as soon as I can find the time to get it to a truck shop, it will be fixed!

A quick measurement tells me there's about a 3" drop from one side to the other.

[rgatijnet1]

Look at your anti-sway bar bushings. I believe that if the end link bushings have failed on one side, and not the other, that it may cause the coach to lean slightly. Not too sure about an F53.

[10forty2]

Fifty4F100 wrote:
I took my Holiday Rambler off the jacks for the 1st time this year and found I might have this same leaning problem. I'm going to look for some of the issues mentioned here.

Does this create a driving hazard? I have a big trip planned next week!

Haven't noticed any driving problems at all, but it's just concerning to me and as soon as I can find the time to get it to a truck shop, it will be fixed!

[Fifty4F100]

I took my Holiday Rambler off the jacks for the 1st time this year and found I might have this same leaning problem. I'm going to look for some of the issues mentioned here.

Does this create a driving hazard? I have a big trip planned next week!

[robertbenita]

Oh my! Eileen! I love that!!! If it came out of the blue and after sitting for a while and after being loaded, I would weigh the corners and front to back. Gradual or after a specific event, springs/spacer. Truck shops are great places to learn with the right mechanics!

[10forty2]

hermy wrote:
Most folks have a name for their rigs. Yours is obvious- "Eileen".

Good one! :B

[hermy]

Most folks have a name for their rigs. Yours is obvious- "Eileen".

[jhatton]

I added leveler air springs to mine, fixed the lean... about $1000 for all the parts including the onboard compressor. it was not a difficult job to put in if you can remove wheels and drill holes.

[Gjac]

10forty2 wrote:
It's the Ford F53 Chassis....sorry I didn't post that earlier.

On visual inspection, from my limited suspension knowledge, there doesn't appear to be any missing spacers or extra spacers on one side or out of place blocks or loose anything under there. No indication that anything has shifted or broken. Nothing looks out of place. I think my spring on that side is just sprung.....looking at the prices, I'm really hating the replacement, but it looks like I have two choices....replace or ride with the driver's side leaning.

I am not familiar with the Ford chassis but there should be someplace to measure the ride height between the spring stops and the frame on both sides front and rear to give you an idea of how much the springs are sagging.