Motorhome Magazine Article December 19, 2020, 09:46:08 am Found this link on the Lazy Daze Facebook page and thought I would share:Smoother Sailing | MotorHome Magazine 1 Likes
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #1 – December 19, 2020, 11:04:11 am As far as I know, Bilstein no longer makes "comfort" shocks (at least, they're not branded as such) for the E-450; I suggest check the Bilstein website for the appropriate currently-available shock applications (front and rear) for one's particular LD. Koni is another popular brand of shock; ditto the suggestion to check their website for appropriate applications.
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #2 – December 19, 2020, 01:49:56 pm Bilsteins Comfort shocks, if still available, ride the same as the stock Ford shocks, their advantage is a much longer life. They are more appropriate on shorter, lighter rigs. I ran them on our 2003 23.5' FL for 85,000 miles before replacing with regular Bilsteins RV shocks.While the handling will be improved with larger sway bars, the ride will not improve. Sway-bars restrict how well each wheel independently moves in response to dips and bumps, the wheel responded together with stiffer sway-bars.A heavier steering stabilizer should not be noticeable, unless the original stabilizer is totally worn out.Bilstein sells a HD steering stabilizer that is a direct fit. worth doing when replacing the original stabilizer.Hendersons loves selling the rear track-bar kit, something that is normally not used with leaf springs, since they provide their own lateral resistance. It is designed to prevent lateral or sideways movement of the rear axle. Our LD had very limited clearance between the rear tires and the flip-up tire cover. If the axle was moving sideways, it would hit the covers...but they don't, the width of the leaf springs prevent this, as designed by Ford. Track-bars are something usually only used with coil spring suspensions, not leaf springs.A sway-bar, used with leaf springs can add ride harshness.One needs to be cautious with Hendersons, they will sell you a $5000+ package of many items to improve handling but with the shotgun approach, you have no idea what item made a difference and what didn't. I prefer to upgrade one thing at a time so it's effects can be determined.Caveat emptor.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #3 – December 19, 2020, 02:14:59 pm I dealt with Shock Warehouse when I replaced the original Bilsteins with new Bilsteins on my TK a few thousand miles ago for the following reasons:LD installed one of the rear shocks incorrectly; the shaft bent and the boot tore. (Don't ask me how this happened; I have no idea.)The bushings on the front shocks wore to the point of being useless and the driver's side bushing disappeared entirely.The boot tore on the passenger side front shock.I had no luck finding replacement boots for the shocks, and just cut to the chase and decided to replace the whole lot. YMMV.https://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=make&type=MPlug in Ford, the chassis type, and the year; choices appear. The prices are pretty good.NB: If you have Bilstein shocks, be sure to carefully inspect the upper bushings on the front shocks; the driver's side upper shock bushing is very difficult to see. Removing the wheel makes it visible, so this might be a check to be done when the front wheels are rotated. 1 Likes
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #4 – December 19, 2020, 04:17:58 pm Quote from: Joan - December 19, 2020, 02:14:59 pmNB: If you have Bilstein shocks, be sure to carefully inspect the upper bushings on the front shocks; the driver's side upper shock bushing is very difficult to see. Removing the wheel makes it visible, so this might be a check to be done when the front wheels are rotated.It is common for the top, front left Bilstein shock bushings to loosen. They are difficult to access and tighten, the Mothership rarely tightens them enough.The shock body has a six-sided nut built into the top of its body, it needs to be held stationary when tightening. A very thin wrench is needed to grasp the shock.The shock shaft's top nut has varied in size through the years. Once finding the right size wrench that can be maneuvered into position onto the top nut, hold the wrench still and rotate the body of the shock. This is much easier the trying to spin the top nut.Compress the bushings until they just spread larger than the diameter of he big washer, about 20-LB/FT of torque.Shock bushings | FlickrLarry
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #5 – December 19, 2020, 04:25:28 pm What Larry said. Our rig has never had handling problems, no lane drift, etc.I got a laugh hereTo address the Lazy Daze’s worn-out OEM rear shocks, we turned to Bilstein high-pressure gas shocks that are tuned specifically for Class C Ford E-350/E-450 motorhome applications. Bilstein engineers spent a lot of real-world seat time with fully loaded Class C’s to get the high-pressure, gas-charged, single-tube performance shocks properly tuned for a fully laden RV chassis.The Lazy Daze was fitted with Bilstein B6 4600 Performance Series shocks (part No. 33-176840) in the rear, which the company claims are the same shock used under NASCAR Super Trucks. So they spent a lot of real-world seat time in Class C's then used an existing NASCAR Super Trucks shock.Snake Oil
Re: Motorhome Magazine Article Reply #6 – December 19, 2020, 08:44:44 pm Don, that's too funny! Our son was long ago an engineer working for an ex-Indy Car/Formula Ford chassis designer/manufacturer. I gave him my old Nissan Hardbody pickup and he rebuilt or replaced the entire drivetrain; engine, exhaust, clutch, transmission, suspension, wheels and tires. OG Bilstein yellows were what he went with... he had Bilstein engineering contacts.Charles
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