FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING August 17, 2013, 02:08:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142044We just purchased a 1995 LD. As I was driving it home on the Fwy. I noticed how it had a very floaty feeling. Also, even when a UPS truck passed me I could feel the movement and felt I didn't have the control I'd like. My husband said we should have a stabilizing bar installed. I read all the information from the FAQ section, but not sure if we need stabilizing bar, sway bar, etc. It's a 350 26.5 rear bath. Great, Great condition. The previous owner took the very best of care, but was surprised that he did not do something about the swaying/floating feeling. Any suggestions? Thx.
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #1 – August 17, 2013, 02:47:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142045i have the same problem with this floating, swaying, rocking from right to left when i drive my multiplan 1991. however it is usually when i am driving between 50 and 60 miles/hour. once i get up to 65 it goes away. but i don't like driving that fast. any suggestions. i was thinking of getting a steer straight put in, a bigger stabilizing bar, sway bar, etc. any suggestions. thanks. pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 11:08:50 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:We just purchased a 1995 LD. As I was driving it home on the Fwy. I noticed how it had a very floaty feeling. Also, even when a UPS truck passed me I could feel the movement and felt I didn't have the control I'd like. My husband said we should have a stabilizing bar installed. I read all the information from the FAQ section, but not sure if we need stabilizing bar, sway bar, etc. It's a 350 26.5 rear bath. Great, Great condition. The previous owner took the very best of care, but was surprised that he did not do something about the swaying/floating feeling. Any suggestions? Thx.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #2 – August 17, 2013, 03:03:45 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142046First thing I'd do is have the shocks checked. Ford engineers aren't exactly amateurs at designing suspension systems for light trucks, and these chassis are engineered to handle well with the kind of loads RVing puts on them--without the need for add-ons. The excessive swaying you describe is not normal, and suggests a problem such as failing shocks. You definitely should have the existing suspension checked before you start gimmicking it up with third-party modifications such as anti-sway bars, air bags, Steer-Safe, Safe-T-Plus and the like.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #3 – August 17, 2013, 03:08:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142047andy, besides checking the shocks do you think i should check to see if the wheels are balanced properly. i just replaced the back 4 tires. but the front two were new from 2011 so i did not change them. do you think this might also be a tire balancing problem as well as shocks. thanks. pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 12:03:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:First thing I'd do is have the shocks checked. Ford engineers aren't exactly amateurs at designing suspension systems for light trucks, and these chassis are engineered to handle well with the kind of loads RVing puts on them--without the need for add-ons. The excessive swaying you describe is not normal, and suggests a problem such as failing shocks. You definitely should have the existing suspension checked before you start gimmicking it up with third-party modifications such as anti-sway bars, air bags, Steer-Safe, Safe-T-Plus and the like.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #4 – August 17, 2013, 03:16:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142048A set of Koni shocks solved my similar issues.
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #5 – August 17, 2013, 03:24:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142049An alignment, front linkage check, new steering stabilizer shock, and 4 new shocks (Koni's not Bilsteins) is where I would start.
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #6 – August 17, 2013, 03:43:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142050where do i buy these koni shocks? does any place sell them?In a message dated 8/17/2013 12:17:04 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:A set of Koni shocks solved my similar issues.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #7 – August 17, 2013, 03:43:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142051thanks i'll do just that. pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 12:24:35 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:An alignment, front linkage check, new steering stabilizer shock, and 4 new shocks (Koni's not Bilsteins) is where I would start.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #8 – August 17, 2013, 04:17:31 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142052"An alignment, front linkage check, new steering stabilizer shock, and 4 new shocks (Koni's not Bilsteins) is where I would start." I'm not a suspension expert by any means--I'm sure the members who really know this stuff will chime in--but I agree that rather than trying to fix the problem piecemeal, a trip to a good alignment shop is warranted. With excess sway, I think shocks are probably the first suspect, but other factors could be involved... so it's better to put it in the hands of experts than to just take it to a shop and say "I want new shocks." With regard to brands of shocks, I disagree with the idea that one particular brand is necessarily superior. Bilstein, for example, makes high-quality products in a number of types, including softer and stiffer grades. Many of us have Bilsteins--they have long been an extra-cost option at the Lazy Daze factory--and don't experience the kind of sway you described. And it's easy to fall into what I call the "new shocks illusion." You'll often read testimonials from RVers who say things like "I replaced my Brand X shocks with Brand Y's, and the difference was like night and day!" Chances are the old shocks were badly worn, and replacing them with *any* brand would have made a big difference in handling. But the improvement gets credited to the brand change, rather than to the most likely reason: new shocks.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #9 – August 17, 2013, 04:56:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142053andy, thanks for the information. i do just what you suggested. thanks. pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 1:18:53 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:"An alignment, front linkage check, new steering stabilizer shock, and 4 new shocks (Koni's not Bilsteins) is where I would start." I'm not a suspension expert by any means--I'm sure the members who really know this stuff will chime in--but I agree that rather than trying to fix the problem piecemeal, a trip to a good alignment shop is warranted. With excess sway, I think shocks are probably the first suspect, but other factors could be involved... so it's better to put it in the hands of experts than to just take it to a shop and say "I want new shocks."With regard to brands of shocks, I disagree with the idea that one particular brand is necessarily superior. Bilstein, for example, makes high-quality products in a number of types, including softer and stiffer grades. Many of us have Bilsteins--they have long been an extra-cost option at the Lazy Daze factory--and don't experience the kind of sway you described. And it's easy to fall into what I call the "new shocks illusion." You'll often read testimonials from RVers who say things like "I replaced my Brand X shocks with Brand Y's, and the difference was like night and day!" Chances are the old shocks were badly worn, and replacing them with *any* brand would have made a big difference in handling. But the improvement gets credited to the brand change, rather than to the most likely reason: new shocks.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #10 – August 17, 2013, 05:24:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142054"We just purchased a 1995 LD. As I was driving it home on the Fwy. I noticed how it had a very floaty feeling."Marijo Before you change or add ANYTHING, have the entire suspension and steering checked out by a competent mechanic to see if all parts are tight and properly aligned. Trying to have us troubleshoot your LD's problems remotely is an impossible task and any suggestions are shots in the dark. With an 18 year old LD, most any part could be worn, no matter how "good" the RV appears. We always recommend a pre-purchase inspection to discover hidden faults and suggest keeping several thousand dollars in reserve to cover unknown problems plus replacement of normal wear and age related items such as tires and batteries.Good luck and happy RVing.Larry
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #11 – August 17, 2013, 05:33:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142055The first thing I would look at is tire pressure. Most here seem to use Michelins. For such, the recommended pressures are about 65 front and 75 back. The max tire pressure is 80. The lower pressure gives a softer ride, but allows more sway. If the tires are any lower than those numbers, that is probably the issue. If the tires are uneven side to side, that could do it. Try taking all tires up to 80 and see if the swaying goes away. If so, the issue is not in the suspension. You will need to find a balance between softness of ride and amount of sway. If the sway is still there with 80 PSI in the tires, look at the shocks. Andy said it well - the Ford engineers are experts and we are decidedly amateurs at designing suspension stuff. Last, look at stuff like alignment, front AND BACK. Check for worn steering and suspension parts. You need a good front end or alignment shop to do that. I would not simply throw money at the problem by replacing stuff until you have had a really good alignment, steering and suspension health check. You might wind up hiding a failing part, leading to a catastrophic problem down the road. If, and only if, all checks out as ok and the sway remains, should you begin after-market modifications - IMHO.Ken F in NM
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #12 – August 17, 2013, 05:57:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142058"Larry" wrote: Before you change or add ANYTHING, have the entire suspension and steering checked out by a competent mechanic to see if all parts are tight and properly aligned. Trying to have us troubleshoot your LD's problems remotely is an impossible task and any suggestions are shots in the dark. With an 18 year old LD, most any part could be worn, no matter how "good" the RV appears. --- Ditto on this advice. I suggest that you seek out a Ford *truck* center or a suspension/alignment shop that has experience with the particular chassis. Without an accurate diagnosis of the underlying causes (and, as Larry said, these could be multiple) of the perceived "floaty" problem(s), speculating and throwing parts at it just costs $$$ and frustration and may well avoid a solution to the real problem altogether. When you do have the problem diagnosed and corrected, please post the outcome; thanks.As ever, YMMV.Joan
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #13 – August 17, 2013, 06:54:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142059thanks for the advise ken. perhaps the problem is that i have michelins on the back 4 tires and firestone on the front 2 tires. do you think that could be a problem? ? ? ? pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 2:33:30 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:The first thing I would look at is tire pressure. Most here seem to use Michelins. For such, the recommended pressures are about 65 front and 75 back. The max tire pressure is 80. The lower pressure gives a softer ride, but allows more sway. If the tires are any lower than those numbers, that is probably the issue. If the tires are uneven side to side, that could do it. Try taking all tires up to 80 and see if the swaying goes away. If so, the issue is not in the suspension. You will need to find a balance between softness of ride and amount of sway. If the sway is still there with 80 PSI in the tires, look at the shocks. Andy said it well - the Ford engineers are experts and we are decidedly amateurs at designing suspension stuff.Last, look at stuff like alignment, front AND BACK. Check for worn steering and suspension parts. You need a good front end or alignment shop to do that. I would not simply throw money at the problem by replacing stuff until you have had a really good alignment, steering and suspension health check. You might wind up hiding a failing part, leading to a catastrophic problem down the road. If, and only if, all checks out as ok and the sway remains, should you begin after-market modifications - IMHO.Ken F in NM[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #14 – August 17, 2013, 06:59:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142060my rv is a chevy not a ford. will that make any different? ? ? ? pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 2:57:11 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:"Larry" wrote: Before you change or add ANYTHING, have the entire suspension and steering checked out by a competent mechanic to see if all parts are tight and properly aligned. Trying to have us troubleshoot your LD's problems remotely is an impossible task and any suggestions are shots in the dark. With an 18 year old LD, most any part could be worn, no matter how "good" the RV appears. --- Ditto on this advice. I suggest that you seek out a Ford *truck* center or a suspension/alignment shop that has experience with the particular chassis. Without an accurate diagnosis of the underlying causes (and, as Larry said, these could be multiple) of the perceived "floaty" problem(s), speculating and throwing parts at it just costs $$$ and frustration and may well avoid a solution to the real problem altogether. When you do have the problem diagnosed and corrected, please post the outcome; thanks.As ever, YMMV.Joan[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: float feeling in steering Reply #15 – August 17, 2013, 07:06:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142061"my rv is a chevy not a ford. will that make any different?" Well, it'll mean you need to find a mechanic who's comfortable with older Chevy trucks, rather than a Ford mechanic. Other than that, the general advice you've gotten is still on target. "i have michelins on the back 4 tires and firestone on the front 2 tires. do you think that could be a problem?" Not by itself, no. If the tires are the right ones for your rig (load rating, size, etc.) and are properly inflated, then having different brands on the front and back axles shouldn't be a problem. As long as all the tires on a given axle are of the same brand, type and preferably age, you're OK.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: float feeling in steering Reply #16 – August 17, 2013, 07:15:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142062the 2 front tires are from 2011 and the back 4 are from July, 2013. so not the same age. maybe i should replace them as well. what do you think?In a message dated 8/17/2013 4:06:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:"my rv is a chevy not a ford. will that make any different?" Well, it'll mean you need to find a mechanic who's comfortable with older Chevy trucks, rather than a Ford mechanic. Other than that, the general advice you've gotten is still on target. "i have michelins on the back 4 tires and firestone on the front 2 tires. do you think that could be a problem?" Not by itself, no. If the tires are the right ones for your rig (load rating, size, etc.) and are properly inflated, then having different brands on the front and back axles shouldn't be a problem. As long as all the tires on a given axle are of the same brand, type and preferably age, you're OK.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: float feeling in steering Reply #17 – August 17, 2013, 07:23:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142064"the 2 front tires are from 2011 and the back 4 are from July, 2013. so not the same age. maybe i should replace them as well." There's no need. As I said, as long as all the tires *on a given axle* are of the same brand, type and preferably age, you're OK. You don't have to match back tires with front tires.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Float feeling in steering Reply #18 – August 17, 2013, 08:49:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142068Both Andy and Larry have given you better advice than I. First and foremost a competent alignment/suspension expert is needed to assess your particular condition.Here is one in San Marcos, CA that I went to: http://alignment-plus.com/ They saved me a lot of money by starting out simply replacing worn out parts.
Re: float feeling in steering Reply #19 – August 17, 2013, 09:53:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142072ok i am glad to hear that because i truly did not want to replace them as yet. thanks. pennyIn a message dated 8/17/2013 4:23:39 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:"the 2 front tires are from 2011 and the back 4 are from July, 2013. so not the same age. maybe i should replace them as well." There's no need. As I said, as long as all the tires *on a given axle* are of the same brand, type and preferably age, you're OK. You don't have to match back tires with front tires.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: FLOAT FEELING IN STEERING Reply #20 – August 21, 2013, 09:16:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142148THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE. WE DID ORDER THE STEER SAFE BUT WE WILL HAVE THE SUSPENS8ION AND STEERING CHECKED BEFORE WE HAVE IT INSTALLED.
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