Quote:
Originally Posted by feiter
Going to order Roadmaster sway bar, bracket and Steering stabilizer for self installation. Whay new shocks? Really necessary? What about rear sway bar? Needed? Mine is 2018 Intent 26M
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First would like to reply regarding SafeTPlus or Roadmaster. Currently the Roadmaster product for my Intent is not available anywhere nationwide and two distributors advised going back into production and not available for 5-7 weeks...this was after I was told mine was shipped and would arrive in 7-10 days! SafeTPlus provided me with correct part numbers for all their products, links to installation videos, and recommendations for alignment and installation in my area.
Sooooo...before adding anything I decided to take another ride and give a honest evaluation of the current ride. Is it driving the way I want it to? Answer..NO! Even on the most level and straight piece of freeway I could find and center lane I experience hard pull to right with hands off...in some cases, no doubt depending on road conditions, it actually pulled left but not as hard. I also had far too much play in the steering wheel itself and was fighting to keep the vehicle straight.
Decided to get an alignment prior to doing anything. SafeTPlus recommended Alignment Plus in San Marcos CA (
San Diego County, Alignment Plus brake, alignment suspension specialists) so I called. Was able to take coach in immediately and within 2 hours received call with all the current statistics/measurements and a quote of work to be done. The manager, Ray, advised their goal is to assure my RV runs true and straight and they will not only adjust steering but level the coach to frame to assure rear push forward. Next morning we took evaluation ride together and I was AMAZED at results...no more pull, very little steering wheel pull and better, smother ride. Cost was $750 but I did require shims under leaf springs and some other parts. Well worth the cost. Please note Alignment Plus is certified installer of SafeTPlus product as well as Koni Shocks and after 15 years doing RV work they will not install any other products.
So, knowing I have a straight riding vehicle I took on installation of the Roadmaster 1139140 1 3/4" sway bar..weighs in about 60 pounds and noticeably heavier and larger than stock bar. I expected 2 hour job. Took me over 3 hours just to get old bar off. Almost impossible to get any leverage on nuts when laying flat on back on cement. Even using a 20" 1/2" drive breaker bar took forever. After getting 4 of 6 bolts out I had to use torch to heat remaining 2 on Passenger side to FINALLY break them loose.
Installation took about an hour but did make one mistake...because of "cheap fix" moving from outer to the inward hold, I tried to initially install the new bar on the inner..will not work without getting extended length end lengths to attache to. So, what I thought would be 2 hours actually took 5! Also, at 70 I now know I have no business spending any time under my RV let alone 5 hours!!! Just about killed me and I have sore muscles everywhere.
It may just be wishful thinking after all that work but I really do think the efforts yield much improvement...coach used to sway back and forth after going over uneven roads and while the initial sway is still there the movement is limited to first sway and back and forth movement is little if any.
While I was under the coach I did spend about 30 minutes trying to loosen the 1 1/8" nuts on the spring U Bolts that the Steering Stabilizer bracket attaches too...these nuts are supposed to be torqued at 250 ft pounds while the sway bar is only 125...If I could not loosen the smaller nuts I knew I was not going to bet the bolts off for the Stabilizer Installation. Being to the rear of the crossmember/axel and not in front as Sway Bar is, the ability to get at the nuts is less.
I received my SafeTPlus Stabilizer from Amazon yesterday and called Ray back at Alignment Plus and they are installing for me on Monday!!! Will also have them verify Sway Bar is centered correctly and all nuts are at proper torque.
Regarding Shocks...Had not seen Koni mentioned on this board but have checked them out since recommendation by Alignment Plus...wow, they seem to be the only way to go (
KONI NA | Motorhome) as they now have new Frequency Response shocks...this is from their web site: "The first shock absorber that offers superior handling without compromising comfort.
You canīt find a better shock for your motorhome than FSD: KONI frequency selective dampers. We have combined the benefits of performance and comfort into one shock absorber. FSD is firm for control over large bumps and corners, but soft for comfort over expansion joints and rough roads. While KONI is known to reduce bouncing in motorhomes, our FSD shocks include a special valve that filters out annoying vibrations before they enter the coach. The result is an incredibly smooth ride, with plenty of shock left to control pitching and swaying."
Fronts and rears are about $750 for our Intents not including installation.
This is a future investment for me for sure.
Sorry I did not record the installation as promised...just too much video and too many expletives I would need to edit.