Popular New Guides Product Guides Tools Checklists My Rig

Results for "sdi eclik"

787+ Q&A Updated Weekly Free
Newmar Motorhome Rough Ride Fix: Suspension & Air Pressure
Engine Medium varies 378 👍 1

Newmar Motorhome Rough Ride Fix: Suspension & Air Pressure

Noticed my 2013 Newmar still rides incredibly rough through every crack and pothole even after replacing all six air bags. The ride height was never adjusted after the air bag replacement, and I'm worried I might be causing more damage or creating a safety hazard.

I upgraded from a Super C expecting a much smoother ride with the air suspension system, but this feels just as jarring. Am I missing something critical with the suspension setup? Could improper air pressure or ride height settings be causing this rough ride, and what other components should I be concerned about? I don't want to make things worse by continuing to drive it if there's a fundamental issue I'm overlooking. …more
Ford E-450 RV Shock Absorber Upgrade Guide: Bilstein 4600 vs Koni FSD
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 129 👍

Ford E-450 RV Shock Absorber Upgrade Guide: Bilstein 4600 vs Koni FSD

Before spending hundreds on new tires and suspension parts for my 2023 Ford E-450 Class C motorhome, the ride quality is still absolutely brutal. The RV is about 28 feet long and weighs approximately 14,500 pounds loaded. We use it primarily for family camping trips, but I also occasionally tow a small utility trailer with dirt bikes - probably 25% of our trips involve towing that extra 2,000-3,000 pounds.

I've been researching shock absorber upgrades and have narrowed it down to two main options that seem popular in the RV community: the Bilstein 4600 series and the Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) shocks. I understand both are significant improvements over stock, but I'm trying to understand the practical differences between them for my specific setup and usage patterns.

What I really need to know is which option provides the best balance of ride comfort improvement, handling stability (especially when towing), and overall value for money on the E-450 chassis. I want to make sure I'm making the right choice since this is a fairly significant investment and I don't want to have buyer's remorse later. …more
F53 Motorhome Wheel Alignment Florida: Where to Find Heavy-Duty Service Experts
Engine Easy Research and appointment 119 👍

F53 Motorhome Wheel Alignment Florida: Where to Find Heavy-Duty Service Experts

Standing here looking at my F53 motorhome for the third time this year needing wheel alignment and I'm absolutely done with tire shops saying they can't handle it. I recently had six new tires and Retrobands installed at NIRVC in Georgia, along with some suspension upgrades, and now I'm in the Gainesville, Florida area for the winter. My 12'-8" tall Class A seems to be too heavy for standard alignment equipment.

I'm trying to figure out what type of shops actually have the heavy-duty equipment needed for F53 chassis alignment. Are there specific places I should be looking for, or am I gonna have to drive all over creation to find someone who can do this? Any tips on what to ask when I call around so I don't waste time showing up somewhere that can't help me? …more
Sumo Springs Knockoffs vs Genuine: Complete RV Suspension Comparison 2
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 113 👍

Sumo Springs Knockoffs vs Genuine: Complete RV Suspension Comparison 2

Saw Sumo Springs knockoffs on Amazon for half the price of the genuine SuperSprings product. Reviews are mixed — some say they're identical, others say they fell apart in a year. Trying to decide if the savings are worth the risk on my suspension or if I should just buy the real thing. …more
F53 Chassis Leaf Spring Problems: Signs of Failure and Replacement Guide
Engine Hard 3-4 hours per spring 111 👍

F53 Chassis Leaf Spring Problems: Signs of Failure and Replacement Guide

Got a 2001 F53 chassis with leaf springs making weird noises and the RV feels unstable—is this dangerous with my grandkids riding along? Specifically for my RV, I want to know what to look for during inspection of the passenger side front spring. I'm considering replacing the stock springs (2750# rating) with new springs rated at 3750#, as my front axle weight when loaded is 6000#. Are there particular areas I should focus on when checking the springs? Also need to understand how urgent replacement is if I find problems. …more
Quad Shock Setup on Ford F-53 Chassis - Performance Review
Engine Medium 30-45 minutes to evaluate performance 108 👍

Quad Shock Setup on Ford F-53 Chassis - Performance Review

Looked everywhere and my F-53 chassis is still showing 2.1 inches of body roll with quad shocks installed, but forums claim it should be under 1 inch. As a former high school auto mechanics instructor with 35 years of experience, I've carefully considered the shock design challenges in RV suspension.

I installed additional shocks after discovering that shock suppliers list a single shock design for F-53 chassis ranging from 16,000 to 26,000 lbs. I used Koni shocks ($170 each) and supplemented with Monroe shocks ($75 each) for additional dampening.

Installation required 10" bottom bolts and modified top mounting. I used hardened washers to prevent shock cover contact. Total bolt modification cost was approximately $18.

Completed a 30-mile test drive with no apparent harshness or negative handling characteristics. The suspension feels more controlled during normal driving conditions, but this limited test may not reveal the full performance picture.

What's the recommended approach for thoroughly evaluating quad shock performance on the F-53 platform? Specifically looking for guidance on testing duration, road conditions to assess, and key performance indicators to monitor during the break-in period. …more

Still stuck on this repair?

Get a personalized answer from a verified RV mechanic. Describe your issue and get step-by-step help.

Chat with an RV Mechanic
27708 RV owners helped · Avg response under 5 min
F-53 Motorhome Leaf Springs: Complete Replacement Guide & Warning Signs to Watch
Engine Medium 2-4 hours 104 👍

F-53 Motorhome Leaf Springs: Complete Replacement Guide & Warning Signs to Watch

My F-53 motorhome still bounces like a trampoline over every bump despite replacing the shocks, checking alignment, and rebalancing the tires. I have a 1995 F-53 motorhome that's been in Arizona its whole life, so thankfully no rust issues.

I keep seeing posts about people replacing leaf springs on much newer rigs, and it's got me wondering if I should be doing the same. My coach is 30 years old now, but honestly I don't see any obvious sagging and the springs look okay to my untrained eye. I do have some worn bushings that I'm planning to replace.

What are the actual warning signs that leaf springs need to be completely replaced? Am I missing something obvious, or could my old Arizona springs actually still be fine? I don't want to spend money I don't need to, but I also don't want to ignore something important for safety. …more
2021 Ford E-350 I-Beam Axle Pivot Bushing Wear at 36K Miles
Engine Medium 30 minutes diagnosis 102 👍

2021 Ford E-350 I-Beam Axle Pivot Bushing Wear at 36K Miles

Last week my wife casually mentioned our 2021 Ford E-350 makes creaking noises when turning and now I can't stop hearing those worn I-beam axle pivot bushings failing at just 36K miles. The passenger side tire was wearing really badly on the outside edge, and when I took it in, they found that both I-beam axle pivot bushings were worn out and needed replacement.

What's got me worried is that this happened at only 36,000 miles - that seems really early to me for bushings to fail? The RV is a 2021 model and I did have the rear raised 3/4 inch when I first bought it. Could that modification have caused this problem, or is this just normal wear for these Ford chassis? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect more issues like this or if this was just bad luck. …more
RV Airbag Spring Assist: Are Mismatched Jounce Bumpers Safe to Use?
Engine Medium 30 minutes 98 👍

RV Airbag Spring Assist: Are Mismatched Jounce Bumpers Safe to Use?

Nobody told me that mismatched jounce bumpers on my RV's airbag spring assist could be dangerous, but now I'm worried with my kids traveling. After receiving a replacement air spring from Airlift, I discovered it's the Ultimate model with an integrated jounce bumper, while my existing undamaged bag does not have this feature. This creates a mismatched setup - one air spring with jounce bumper, one without.

My operational parameters are consistent: I maintain air pressure in both bags at all times and never run them empty. Given that the bags remain pressurized, the jounce bumper should theoretically never contact or engage during normal operation.

What are the safety implications and performance considerations of running this mismatched airbag configuration? Will maintaining proper air pressure in both bags effectively neutralize any potential issues from the jounce bumper differential? …more
Tiffin Breeze Front Suspension Bottoming Out: Complete ZF Upgrade Guide
Engine Medium 2-4 hours 98 👍

Tiffin Breeze Front Suspension Bottoming Out: Complete ZF Upgrade Guide

About six months after installing new Koni shocks, my Tiffin's front suspension is STILL porpoising, bottoming out on big bumps, AND creating handling nightmares.

I'm worried this could be dangerous or cause damage to other components. Before I take it back to the dealer again, I want to make sure I understand all my options. Are there additional upgrades beyond just the Koni shocks that can help? I've heard mixed things about Sumo Springs but wasn't sure if they'd work with this ZF setup. Also concerned there might be other worn components contributing to the problem that I should have checked. …more
How to Replace 1995 Ford F53 Rear Sway Bar Bushings - Complete RV Repair Guide
Engine Medium 2 hours 97 👍

How to Replace 1995 Ford F53 Rear Sway Bar Bushings - Complete RV Repair Guide

Staring at my 1995 Ford F53 motorhome's rear sway bar bushings that look perfectly fine, probably a dumb question but why does this thing sway like crazy over every bump? I can hear some clunking back there and the handling feels loose and wallowy.

I'm planning to tackle this myself (because apparently I enjoy spending my weekends cursing at rusty bolts). When replacing these axle bushings, be extremely careful with bolt alignment. The nuts are welded to the bracket, and if you don't align everything precisely, you risk cross-threading, which can turn a simple job into a much longer project - I learned this the hard way and had to chisel off a nut.

I've got some photos documenting my process and can share those if anyone's interested. I did not need to replace the upper sway bar tie rod bushings this time. Should I stick with the original rubber ones or is it worth upgrading to something better? And since I'll already be crawling around under there getting dirty, are there any other components I should check or replace while everything's accessible? …more
Motorhome Steering Stabilizer: Do You Really Need One? | Complete Guide to RV Handling
Engine Easy N/A - informational 95 👍

Motorhome Steering Stabilizer: Do You Really Need One? | Complete Guide to RV Handling

Replaced the steering stabilizer on my old Class A and it completely fixed the wandering — but my 2017 Coachmen Pursuit 30FW feels totally different and I'm questioning everything. The steering requires constant correction to stay straight, and I'm worried about safety on the highway. I keep reading about steering stabilizers online, but I'm also seeing mentions of something called the "Quick Fix" and basic maintenance checks.

I don't want to spend money on a stabilizer if it's just going to mask a bigger problem, but I'm also concerned about driving without addressing the steering wander. Should I install a steering stabilizer first, or am I potentially making things worse by not fixing the root cause? What's the safest approach here? …more
SDI E-Clik Stabilizer Reviews: Real RV Owner Experiences & Performance Guide
Engine Medium Professional installation 94 👍

SDI E-Clik Stabilizer Reviews: Real RV Owner Experiences & Performance Guide

The third time this season my F-53 motorhome has been rocking like a boat at campgrounds and I'm done pretending the SDI E-Clik stabilizer system isn't worth investigating. The body roll on highway drives has me white-knuckling the steering wheel, and I'm worried about safety for my family.

I keep seeing mixed information online - some people seem to love it, others say it's just marketing hype. I don't want to throw money at a problem that needs a more serious suspension overhaul, but I also can't afford a complete suspension replacement right now.

Can anyone share honest, real-world experiences with the E-Clik system? Does it actually improve handling enough to notice, or am I setting myself up for disappointment? I need realistic expectations before I commit to this purchase. …more

Need a second opinion?

Not sure if this applies to your rig? An RV technician can confirm the fix for your specific make and model.

Ask an RV Expert
27708 RV owners helped · Avg response under 5 min
2016 F53 Chassis Bilstein Shocks & Dana Spicer 17060S Service
Engine Medium 6-8 hours shop time 90 👍

2016 F53 Chassis Bilstein Shocks & Dana Spicer 17060S Service

I tried ignoring the rough ride, but my 2016 F53 chassis is 8 years old and the Bilstein shocks and Dana Spicer 17060S are clearly wearing out — service or replace? I've got 87,000 miles on the clock and I'm honestly frustrated because I keep second-guessing myself on when to tackle these big maintenance items.

The original shocks are still working, but after 9 years should I be proactive about replacing them with Bilsteins? And what about the Dana Spicer 17060S differential - I'm overdue on time but under the mileage recommendation for a fluid change. I've been putting this off for months because I can't decide if it's really necessary yet.

I really need someone to tell me straight up - is this the right time to bite the bullet on both the shock replacement and differential service, or am I jumping the gun? The uncertainty is driving me crazy and I just want to do right by this rig. …more
F53 Front Leaf Springs: 2017-2021 Compatibility for Air Lift
Engine Medium 4-6 hours installation 89 👍

F53 Front Leaf Springs: 2017-2021 Compatibility for Air Lift

Between my neighbor insisting F53 front leaf springs swap between 2017-2021 models, my RV dealer claiming they don't, and YouTube mechanics throwing different part numbers at me, I'm completely lost. I successfully installed an Air Lift air bag suspension kit on my 2017 Winnebago a few years back, and now I'm looking to do the exact same setup on a 2021 Holiday Rambler Invicata. Both RVs are built on the F53 chassis, so I'm hoping the front suspension components are standardized across these years.

The Air Lift representative I spoke with believes the kits should be compatible between the 2017 and 2021 F53 chassis, but they don't have definitive documentation to confirm this. Since I already have experience with the installation process and know the kit works well, I'd prefer to use the same Air Lift setup rather than sourcing a different kit. Can anyone confirm whether the front leaf spring configuration, mounting points, and overall suspension geometry remained consistent on F53 chassis from 2017 through 2021? I want to be absolutely certain before ordering the same Air Lift kit for the newer RV. …more
Robert, RV Mechanic
Ask an RV Mechanic Avg reply < 5 min

My Rig Settings

Hi, I'm Hank!
Need help setting up? I can walk you through it
Rig Info
Give it a name you'll recognize
Power & Electrical
Climate Control
Water System
Refrigerator Type
Leveling System
Convenience & Features
Sync across devices

Rig Saved to Cloud

Your sync code (use this to load your profile on another device):

Write this down! There is no way to recover it if you lose it and clear your browser.