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Will any of these MODS effect ride quality ?

oregon2
Explorer
Explorer
2014 Ford E350 Chassis 25' Class C

Just had rear Roadmaster sway bar (replacing stock bar), Rear Trac Bar, Koni FSD shocks front and rear, and Safe-T-Plus steering control installed. Moderate potholes now illicit more of a rough response than I had before. Can any of these effect ride quality? ................ I was told "no"........???
Looking 🙂
16 REPLIES 16

tpi
Explorer
Explorer
I had the Roadmaster front and rear sway bars installed on my E450 24' C. I kept the stock shocks. I'd say the bars do add a bit to the impact harshness. They appear to use a polyurethane bushing vs. the stock softer rubber bushing. Maybe 25-30% harshness increase -it is hard to put a number on it. I felt them to be valuable improvement even with the slightly harsher ride. The handling bugged me a lot more than the ride.

At least my opinion is most of the ride harshness in my C comes from the stiff E rated tires. I agree w/ JD to rethink the tire pressures and try to get at least 5 PSI pressure out of the tires.

pauldub
Explorer
Explorer
The new shocks are the main culprit if harshness has increased.

Harvard
Explorer
Explorer
oregon2 wrote:
When questioned about checking the alignment, I was told that seldom is an issue and an alignment check would be $295 :E


Even in Canada we would call that a ripoff. 🙂 Best shop around.

Mich_F
Explorer
Explorer
I believe some motorhome manufacturers will pay for an initial wheel alignment.
2014 Itasca Spirit 31K Class C
2016 Mazda CX5 on Acme tow dolly- 4 trips ~ 5,800 mi
Now 2017 RWD F150 with a drive shaft disconnect

oregon2
Explorer
Explorer
When questioned about checking the alignment, I was told that seldom is an issue and an alignment check would be $295 :E
Looking 🙂

Harvard
Explorer
Explorer
Are there any alignment reports on this unit available for review? Just curious!

j-d
Explorer II
Explorer II
What were your pressures before the work was done?

Michelin's Chart suggests about 5 PSI less for both Front and Rear, using the Chart the way they want you to. Specifically, the "RV" chart I linked here wants CORNER Weights. The "Truck" version is Axle Weights. That's because Michelin believes RV's are more likely to be unevenly loaded side-to-side than cargo trucks are. Michelin wants Corner Weights to make sure an axle that falls within its total rating isn't overloaded on one corner. They recommend inflating both front/all four rear tires according to the heavier corner. You clearly are not overloaded in any Corner, Axle, Side, or Total. Interestingly, if I had weighed YOUR coach the way I weighed ours, on a CAT Scale at a Truck Stop, I probably would have set pressures still lower, about 10 PSI less than Henderson's recommended.

Theorists, thinking of very light, all-out performance track cars, will say that too stiff a sway bar can cause "Under/Oversteer" depending on where the imbalance occurs. Their technical concepts aren't wrong, but a Class C RV operates in an entirely different envelope than a race car. Like an airliner vs. a fighter. Class C's can use all the "roll stiffness" (from Sway Bars) that you can find. I can agree that a stiff Sway Bar will transmit a part of pothole shock to the opposite corner. And I can agree that the Track Bar is an Axle-to-Frame connection that Ford didn't put there. Both add a little "unsprung weight" which those theorists'll say is bad. And is part of the justification for alloy wheels vs. steel. Still, the Track Bar is nearly horizontal. It just isn't going to have much leverage to transmit impact shock from Axle vertically to Frame.

Here's about all I can offer:

1. The FSD's may very well "break in." A country boy friend had a shop and we installed new front struts in a Toyota I had and I said "Wow, they're Stiff!" to which he replied "They'll limber up." and they did.

2. It's possible that the very hard poly bushings in the Sway and Track Bars and possibly the FSD's are sending a little more jolt to the coach in the cause of tighter handling control.

3. Call Henderson's if you haven't. See what they say. They won't tell you anything they don't believe to be true.

4. When I talked with John about Class C tracking, he said a Safe-T-Plus and rear Track Bar usually solve the problem. When I re-read the list of new parts you added, I started to think you might have gone there. I remain convinced you could not have done any better.
If God's Your Co-Pilot Move Over, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100 218" WB

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Stiffer shocks will mean a rougher ride over sharp bumps, better control on slower movements like dips. The other mods might change handling, but should not have much impact on ride harshness.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

oregon2
Explorer
Explorer
Yes- Henderson's
PSI in tires per their recommendation - 60/70
Weights -
LF -1800
RF- 1900
LR- 3750
RR- 4000
LS- 5550
RS- 5900
total 11450
Looking 🙂

Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Explorer III
oregon2 wrote:
Tire pressure - 60 front 70 rear

Attempting to help: mild degree of wandering, side to side sway, being pushed sideways by passing trucks. Concerned would be worse under windy conditions that might be encountered on vacation.

All four MODS mentioned were recommended plus a new front sway bar was also recommended, but not installed.


Not clear on the side to side wandering. Does your steering wheel require excessive input to maintain a straight line? As far as feeling the bow wave produced by an 18 wheeler (generally 80,000#), nothing is ever going to change that but I have never had one shake/move me enough to be a concern. I too think you have a little more psi than is optimum but as noted above, a trip the scale will clear things up. Please keep us posted.

:C

j-d
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have not installed Koni's and don't know anything about the FSD's. The break-in period comment is interesting. But I DID install Front and Rear Sway Bars plus a Track Bar. Our 31 is on an E450. All the mods did was improve the handling and tracking. Significantly, actually!

Reading your list, your tire pressures sound a little high, but that's based on the size of your coach. The real authority is getting axle weights on a commercial scale. I believe Oregon is one of the states that leaves their truck scales ON and you can get a weight any time the Scales are "Closed." You really need weights.

Also from the list, degree of wandering... That Safe-T-Plus should help the steering stay centered. But... Have you had the Alignment Checked? The Ford's tendency to wander is worse when the CASTER is set to mid-range which is about 3-degrees-positive. We've found that at least FIVE degrees helps tremendously. The alignment shop needs to install offset upper balljoint bushings, which can be fixed or adjustable. The Passenger Side is designed to have about a half-degree more Caster than the Driver side, so if it comes back with Left of +5.0* and Right of +5.5*, that is correct. Camber will work out close to Zero, and Toe should be just slightly IN, say 1/16".

Where in OR? Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass is a hub for RV ride and handling improvement. I had a chance to meet with John Henderson a month or so ago. His company endorses and installs EVERY component you listed. Did they do your work? If they did or didn't you're on the right track.
If God's Your Co-Pilot Move Over, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100 218" WB

oregon2
Explorer
Explorer
Tire pressure - 60 front 70 rear

Attempting to help: mild degree of wandering, side to side sway, being pushed sideways by passing trucks. Concerned would be worse under windy conditions that might be encountered on vacation.

All four MODS mentioned were recommended plus a new front sway bar was also recommended, but not installed.
Looking 🙂

Mich_F
Explorer
Explorer
I'm also curious as to why you would do all those mods (or any of them), for any other reason than to improve ride quality. A 2014 Nexus needed all of that? :?
2014 Itasca Spirit 31K Class C
2016 Mazda CX5 on Acme tow dolly- 4 trips ~ 5,800 mi
Now 2017 RWD F150 with a drive shaft disconnect

Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Explorer III
I am curious what you were trying to fix with all of these mods. :h I have the same C, albeit 2 years older with 23,500 miles 17,500 of which I have logged over the last 11 months. Mine rides and drives just fine, 35 mph wind is still one hand steering and 18 wheelers at any speed hold no terror.

What psi were/are you running? I have found that 55 to 60 in the Michelin M/S 2's provides a smooth quiet ride - my coach weighs 10,050 fully loaded for travel and my psi matches the load rating recommendation from Michelin with a little extra load capability for good measure.

Someday,probably a long way down the road I'll be upgrading the OEM shocks to the best aftermarket model I can find but for now the OEM's are working fine. Just returned from a 7,360 cross country trip and we took a terrible beating from all of the potholes back east. DC, MD, PA, NY, OH, IN and especially MI were atrocious but the ride and handling are still OK. No sign of uneven tire wear, still tracks straight as an arrow and no new rattles.

:?