Suspension Work

[WrigleysBraveWin]

had some suspension Parts installed .... coach handles and rides beautiful

[Rickf1985]

Dual shocks on the rear? That is one I have not seen before. Is that what the blue bracket is for that looks like it goes across the back?

[M & J]

Wow thats purty. 

[MotorPro]

Dual shocks on the rear? That is one I have not seen before. Is that what the blue bracket is for that looks like it goes across the back?

Mine has duel rear shocks. I assumed some one had added them aftermarket bum am not sure

[kennyrodgers]

Wow......that's some investment right there. Every credit !!

[skloon]

ooh shiny bits. this is what I want to do in the spring along with new tires, job search hopefully will be successful

[Oz]

Amazing what a huge difference having a good suspension makes.  Not only in ride and drivability, but in confidence and enjoyment of driving! 

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Dual shocks on the rear? That is one I have not seen before. Is that what the blue bracket is for that looks like it goes across the back?

Yes bar extends across to other side ..... Drove coach down to Flippin thru the Ozark Mountains on two lane 55 mph highways and on I-44 and I-80 and had only very minor push or drift on a couple passing large trucks but nowhere near anything even closely remote to anything really notable and it cornered excellent, well worth the investment.

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Amazing what a huge difference having a good suspension makes.  Not only in ride and drivability, but in confidence and enjoyment of driving!

Absolutely unreal the difference ..... I have no reservations taking this coach cross county - Drove from Vegas to Chicago via I-40 before Work done and when trucks passed and even without with no trucks passing it was hard to handle and push was bad and roll on turns terrible ...... but after work when I got from shop I drove 25 miles on I-39 south and then Il Rt. 30 east and it ran good but taking it on I-44 and I-55 and some twisting/turning mountain roads and I know money was well invested.

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Also changed out leaf springs - Did leaf spring work first before Quad Shocks and just changing our leaf springs made a difference as well ..... The leaf springs was the single most notable improvement.

[RickNC]

Nice!  Did you replace the steering damper also?

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Nice!  Did you replace the steering damper also?

No the damper was by original owner ..... Just took coach thru the Ozark National Riverway and I can without hesitation say it steered beautiful, cornered very well and ran on the highway with very little push or pull from the wind or passing trucks ..... I was so relaxed driving and had just one hand on wheel some of the time .... Before upgrade I would constantly check mirror for oncoming trucks and grip wheel but after upgrades not s much and very very little push BUT I have not been across I-40 thru New Mexico or Arizona yet but will this winter when we go see Cubs Spring Training!

[Rickf1985]

Did you buy all of that through Supersteer? I want to look into the dual shock setup. With the air suspension in the rear of mine I definitely need more shock power. I also need to get the track rod rebushed. I remember back when driving trucks you could watch in your mirror as another truck came by and your trailer would move out and then in towards the other truck as his trailer was doing the same thing. It was even better out on the plains on a windy day. And as those trailers moved they pulled the rear of the tractor with them. You got used to it up to a point. When it got hairy was when you were pulling tandems and that started going on. I never had trailers touch but I saw it happen in front of me. #8 pucker factor!

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Rick, yes got parts from SuperSteer but before I put rear Quad Shocks on I redid the leaf springs which in itself was a notable difference ..... All the RV mechanics told me wait on the springs but I just had to figure with 24 years on same springs they had to be worn and I was correct .... the new leafs helped with the sway / push a lot so I suggest new leafs first then the quads and you’ll notice a HUGE difference.


I also went for Koni Shocks but Bilsten would be fine too.

[Rickf1985]

I don't have rear leaf springs so don't have that to deal with. I have air bags.

[WrigleysBraveWin]

I don't have rear leaf springs so don't have that to deal with. I have air bags.

Had airbags in my front so SuperSteer weighed coach and we put in new coil springs up front and eliminated air bags! Your coils maybe tired as well.

[Rickf1985]

No coils, just air bags. Think large bus or truck. They were blown up pretty high in that pic, that was when I dropped the gas tank.

[CapnDirk]

It's a view I remember well.   

[Rickf1985]

It's a view I think about every time I have to fill that monster of a tank! Replacing those air bags was no treat either!

[CapnDirk]

Wrigley:


You mentions the leaf springs did wonders.  If a person were to do it one thing at a time due to finances, could you suggest a sequence given your experience?


Meaning leaf springs, then coils springs, then shocks.  Hopefully I'm making sense.  W%

[WrigleysBraveWin]

Leaf Springs and I had mine done at Aurora Springs, a leaf spring shop ..... then front coils and then shocks .... In my mind the leaf springs support the darn thing whereas the shocks help soften bumps .....

The minute I drove thru the Aurora Spring parking lot I could feel a huge difference and knew I made right choice doing the leaf springs first ... Yep if nothing else the leafs but they are not the cheapest of the bunch and certainly the most overlooked by most mechanics as they are not setup to do them so they will sell you everything else besides the leaf springs .....

Several RV Shops suggested we do this and that first before replacing the leaf springs but from my roofing business (36 years - we had fleet of 17 trucks, 7 of which were big international trucks) I knew how important leaf springs were so I did them first.