Suggestions for making my F53 a little easier to drive

If you have not done the "Cheap Handling Fix" as noted on the Ford Chassis forum in IRV2, you may want to consider it. I made the modification- which one can do at home with just a few tools- in less than an hour on each of the last 2 F-53 motorhome chassis we've owned. It really made all the difference in the world and put us back in control of our wiggle wagons and "tamed the beasts".

Check it out.

To almost stop that on my 99, I put airbags on all four corners. No regrets at all. The added benefits I got was when the winds blows out here, I just air up the other side by 10 lbs or so and I can still move without getting blown all over the road. This is at a reduce speed but we are still moving forward.

Too little front end +caster can manifest itself as "loose steering" (and wandering) at highway speeds.

I have Steer Safe on my V10. Best thing I've done. Google Steer Safe.

americanrascal wrote:
If you have not done the "Cheap Handling Fix" as noted on the Ford Chassis forum in IRV2, you may want to consider it. I made the modification- which one can do at home with just a few tools- in less than an hour on each of the last 2 F-53 motorhome chassis we've owned. It really made all the difference in the world and put us back in control of our wiggle wagons and "tamed the beasts".

Check it out.

I did the "Cheap Handling Fix" to my 2003 F53 and it was night and day! It relocates the sway bar links to reduce the sway. It's a DIY project with a few tools and a good jack or levelers. Took about an hour to do. Also found my rear sway bar bushings were GONE. The "Cheap Handling Fix" is feed if you DIY but the sway bar bushings cost me about 90 bucks.

I'd like to try one of these but the price gives me reason to pause
Blue Ox Steering Stablizer

There's also a link kit for the rear axle that people say helps.

Rear link kit

but the cheap handling was enough for me.

UPDATE: I have a clunk in the front caused by the sway bar links hitting the spring. I will be installing longer adjustable sway bar links in the front.

One of the cheapest things to do is to have your coach weighed to see how your load is distributed. This must be done when you are loaded for travel with all passengers on board.
You may find that you have a weight distribution problem. Most coaches will handle better if the front axle is loaded close to maximum. If the front axle is light, the coach will wander all over the highway.
Until you do this, any other changes may be a waste of time.

Before you do anything, check the sway bar bushings to make sure they aren't worn out. My coach was doing the same thing when I first got it and after someone telling me to check the bushings, I found that the front two were basically gone and the rear had lot's of play in them. Either way, you'd do yourself a good day's work by replacing the existing ones with the poly sway bar bushings. These are the ones I used and I think many on here have too.

Poly Sway Bar Bushings

After you have replaced those, you can start looking for other helpers. Make sure your tires are properly inflated for the weight you are carrying. Although I have not done it yet, the Cheap Handling Fix seems to work for most folks. I just installed air bags on my front end, which made a SIGNIFICANT improvement in handling, and will be installing them on the rear when I get time. The other thing that I found out was my king pins on the front are slightly worn....not to the point of a safety problem, but beginning to get wear to the point where a heavy truck alignment tech says it wouldn't hold the alignment for long so he wouldn't do the job. For now, I'm keeping the grease zerks full and I don't get the wandering feeling that I had before.

Then there are the steering stabilizers and the trac bars that all contribute to better handling and ride. Lots of tools and toys that can take your money and offer varying degrees of improvements. Get the basics of the suspension taken care of first, and you may not need anything else.

The first thing is a front end alignment. That was the best thing I ever did for my Georgetown

Well, you are new to Rving, so, look at the front tires for uneven wear. If so have the aliment checked. Check underneath for sway bar end links and bushings for wear. If you do not have a rear track bar, you should get one, as the long springs and large shackle bushings allow the rear end to shift under the MH, causing the MH to be somewhat hard to handle. The front axel is prone to the same problems as the rear, so a front track bar may be needed also. All tire pressures should be close to the same.

Harvard wrote:
Too little front end +caster can manifest itself as "loose steering" (and wandering) at highway speeds.

X2


Make sure the alignment guy gets the front caster to at least 4 degrees. Four and a half to five is even better. They may resist doing this as it's work for them, but insist.

That made a world of difference with our MH.