CHF Guide

[wayne and sherry]

One more note, as I was installing this missing rear sway bar bracket on my new motorhome, I earned my Ford badge of honer as my 15mm wrench slipped and nailed me right in the right eye area just above my safety glasses. After l woke up from what seemed like a 2 minute nap from the blow, and cleaned the blood from the wound, I finished this task that no one should have to be doing on a new ford product IMHP. But now l get to walk around with a nice shiner in and around my right eye. As friends, family, church members and co-works all ask about my badge all I can use is my new 4-letter word "ford" that is now just as nasty a word in my vocabulary as all the other nasty 4-letter words that I was raised not to use. That's about the best advertisement I can see to provide for ford, and thank God l can still see. Again ford hovering close to law issues.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry

[bigduke1956]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

There are different kinds of loctite. You do not need a torch to loosen the sway bar link bolts. Do you not have a 1/2" drive torque wrench?

Duckogram, going to Sears this AM, get 1/2 drive breaker bar, I am 6'3" 285, that nut is getting 'busted'......I am doing this w/level jacks down, so space for me tight....don't want a 'Wayne' shiner though .... sorry

[waiter21]

I used a breaker bar (Harbor Freight) while your there, get a set of the 6 point impact driver 1/2 sockets. I did mine a few months ago. I also replaced the torsion bar bushings (front and rear) at the same time.

I just finished a 2,000 trip last week and am happy to report a significant improvement in handling and stability, particularly in cross winds, when a 18 wheeler passes, and on those occasional times when my right wheels go off the road.

There seems to be a problem with later model F53s with the rear torsion bar bracket bolts coming loose and falling out. When ever I'm under mine, I always look specifically at these.

If you replace the rear bushing, be very, very, very careful to protect the ABS sensor located on top of the differential. It will break. and it will be a real "^&#$^#$^*($" to get the old piece out.

Although its not necessary, I extended the front links by 2 inches to improve their angle when connected to the rear set of holes on the front torsion bar. I did this by cutting the links in half, and then inserting and welding these halves into a 10 inch long piece of 1/2/ water pipe. (see photo)

On the rear torsion bar, the links will; move the toe rear set of holes, no problem, you will need to reverse the rear "Z" brackets to mount them.

ALSO - In my photos, note that I used the "Z" bracket on the front, but I had to put some serious notches in it. I would not do this again, I would just leave the "Z" bracket off. (If you don't extend the links, you won't be able to use the "Z" bracket anyway.)

Here is a short writeup I did on mine -

Cheap Handling Fix – and then some | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

..

[wayne and sherry]

Big duke, what l did was to drive my rear tires up on some sturdy ramps that lifted the rear of the RV about 3-4" and then lowered the rear jacks only just enough for the jacks to make contact this Mother Earth for a safety factor. The front tires were blocked, and of course the E brake was set. I'm a bigger fella my own self eh at 6' and 240.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry

[hammer55]

finally got mine finished on the front, took a trip to the beach, I noticed a big difference especially when a truck passes you on the road, and the sway was much less, very pleased

[bigduke1956]

Hello All, OK I am in process of doing the CHF, busted the tight nuts w/breaker bar, used jack to position the sway bar......OMG I forgot where the washers go.....I know the head of the bolts are on inside, the nut is on out side, but there are 2 washers each, one goes between bushing of sway bar to pivot rod, the other one is where I am confused....any help appreciated

thanks

[StephanFR3]

Look at the washers on the rear sway bar, should be same.

[StephanFR3]

Check for part's diagram on Internet might show order of parts.

[StephanFR3]

Look for tool and wear marks on parts, sometimes gives clue to order of assembly.

[bigduke1956]

Hello All, CHF Done, for me it was not bad, except for forgetting washer placement, rear sway bar hole alignment, little bit of a bear, but got it with the jack; I am a techie, not a mechie, so pretty proud that I did it..... anxious to see improvements in handling. Thanks much to this forum

[StephanFR3]

How did you figure washer placement?

[bigduke1956]

combination of what you suggested, looked at pics from this thread; thanks for assist

[wayne and sherry]

Good job BigDuke!!


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry

[wayne and sherry]

Took JeNNY for a drive today, about 20 miles. Now that the rear sway bar is back bolted to the rear axle and the CHF is done to both the front and rear sway bars JeNNY drove really good. Curves signed at 45mph were taken at 55mph no problem. Much improved driving with the CHF.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry

[bigduke1956]

Hello All, the CHF significantly improved the handling, my Wife (a born skeptic), even she made unprompted positive comments on it, we went on a short hop to Ludington, MI, which is very nice destination

[eytoey]

Thanks, could you send me the PDF of the CHF Guide please. send to eytoey@comporium.net

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by eytoey

Thanks, could you send me the PDF of the CHF Guide please. send to eytoey@comporium.net

You might want to send a PM to WGFR3 rather than posting your email address. A site team member can fix that for you.

[dutiful Don]

I just completed the front modification and was going to do the rear. What I found was that the passenger side sway bar bracket on the axle was missing and the grommet was out of position. I have ordered parts to replace, but was wondering how many others have found this condition. I know Wayne and Sherry did on Jenny and I believe at least one other had it on the driver's side.
I'm trying to add a photo, but not sure if it did.

[leisurelarry]

Hey dutiful Don, happened to me also. Found my bracket hanging from bottom bolt, bent out of shape from sway bar banging on it. Discovered 6 months into ownership when checking on leak underneath coach. Replaced myself as I just didn't want to deal with Ford on it. About $20.00 for the bracket and bolts. Also checked the other side and found top bolt loose.

[dutiful Don]

I sent a note to Bryan Knight, the warranty guy at FR for FR3, along with my photo and statement that I was not the only one with this issue. He said he had not heard of it, but would let his boss know.