Bilstein steering stabilizer

[Creativepart]

Jan 7th we leave home in Texas. Traveling I-10 West with overnight stops in Junction, Balmorhea, then a couple days in Las Cruces, NM and on to Tuscon. We'll be there 3 weeks before heading back along the same route. Getting home in early Feb. We looked at going to Quartzsite and then on to spend the bulk of our time in Palm Desert. But decided on a shorter trip with a longer stay in one place.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by Creativepart

Jan 7th we leave home in Texas. Traveling I-10 West with overnight stops in Junction, Balmorhea, then a couple days in Las Cruces, NM and on to Tuscon. We'll be there 3 weeks before heading back along the same route. Getting home in early Feb. We looked at going to Quartzsite and then on to spend the bulk of our time in Palm Desert. But decided on a shorter trip with a longer stay in one place.

Our paths may cross!

[Total Loss]

Finally tested the rig (Chevy) with the new goodies. No wind conditions.
1) Alignment- much better- less wandering
2) Roadmaster Reflex install- Much straighter tracking. Does not wander with road level changes- works great in combination with the alignment and one handed driving is easy.
3) Bilstein front shocks- no more bounce particularly on freeway overpass transitions where the tarmac meets the concrete.

All in all- 2 thumbs up with the mods. About $500 total - without my labor.
Well worth it.
I should say though that steering is "harder" on slow speed turns.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Total Loss, do you live in the SFV or Simi?

[Total Loss]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Total Loss, do you live in the SFV or Simi?

Simi

[vwexpert]

Bringing back an old thread...after alignment, installing shocks, and sway bars my coach started wandering. I took it back to the alignment shop and discovered the specs in the left front changed. The coach had a lot of positive camber and was toed out. We believe the two piece camber / caster adjusters slipped / moved. I also noticed the caster was only at 2.5 degrees. The tech said that was were he set it. Well that started a long discussion on motorhome front end alignments. He said a lot of caster will screw up camber and cause tire wear. I ended up going over to another alignment shop and got 2 - 2 1/4 degree camber / caster adjusters (one piece) - made the tech throw on those bad puppies and now I got 5.3 on the left and 6.1 on the right (and it kept the camber within specs). My coach was handling ok but sometimes it would just wonder off right or left. Taking it out for a 3 hour drive next weekend to verify...

[newRVer]

"...The coach had a lot of positive camber and was toed out. We believe the two piece camber / caster adjusters slipped / moved. "

VW,

So you replaced the 2-piece kit with a single piece unit?

[vwexpert]

Yes...they are one piece. Very simple

[newRVer]

Originally Posted by vwexpert

Yes...they are one piece. Very simple

Interesting that the box does not say E450 on it. I assume that this is also a valid application for this component?

[wvufan1958]

Wish I could find someone to check my front end..my steering wheel is turned to the right a little bit. It is a 2017 2861 DS

[shooter2]

Originally Posted by Boso

I went with the roadmaster reflex steering just because it was on sale and the reviews were good I didnt want to take a chance on the bilstein and have that pulling problem just the safest and easiest way to go for me but there are a lot of options as far as different manufactures still hoping airbags are fixed when I get RV back

The Ford stabilizer tie rod end mounts the same as the Roadmaster. The tie rod end bracket is mounted with U bolts same as the RM. It is centered the same as the RM to compensate for L or R pull.

The Bilstein's are a viable alternative and fully adjustable.

[newRVer]

Originally Posted by vwexpert

Bringing back an old thread...after alignment, installing shocks, and sway bars my coach started wandering. I took it back to the alignment shop and discovered the specs in the left front changed. The coach had a lot of positive camber and was toed out. We believe the two piece camber / caster adjusters slipped / moved. I also noticed the caster was only at 2.5 degrees. The tech said that was were he set it. Well that started a long discussion on motorhome front end alignments. He said a lot of caster will screw up camber and cause tire wear. I ended up going over to another alignment shop and got 2 - 2 1/4 degree camber / caster adjusters (one piece) - made the tech throw on those bad puppies and now I got 5.3 on the left and 6.1 on the right (and it kept the camber within specs). My coach was handling ok but sometimes it would just wonder off right or left. Taking it out for a 3 hour drive next weekend to verify...

VW, did you get a chance to take that 3 hr drive yet? If so, how did your vehicle perform after installing the kit?

[vwexpert]

newRVer...yes I took it out for the 3 hour cruise...it handles like a 7 ton SUV.
Much better than stock. I'm very happy with the handling now.
Jim

[newRVer]

Originally Posted by vwexpert

newRVer...yes I took it out for the 3 hour cruise...it handles like a 7 ton SUV.
Much better than stock. I'm very happy with the handling now.
Jim

Good to hear! I bought the same caster set that you had installed and will going for an alignment tomorrow. Hopefully I will have similar results.

[Sagecoachdriver]

After 5 trips, I'm not happy with the steering with the Roadmaster Reflex. Seems to have too much wandering again and I have increased effects from wind and passing vehicles, even small cars.
I prefer the heavier control of the Bilstein. May but it back on today and try in for a few trips.

[benagi]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

After 5 trips, I'm not happy with the steering with the Roadmaster Reflex. Seems to have too much wandering again and I have increased effects from wind and passing vehicles, even small cars.

I prefer the heavier control of the Bilstein. May but it back on today and try in for a few trips.

Sage, I just put a Bilstein on our unit along with the front and rear helwig sway bars. Driving much better now. Still need to do the front end alignment though.

[No-Fish]

Sage, After one trip from Memphis to Gulf Shores, and back ( 2 handed, fighting the wheel) in our new 3011, I had the front align, and replaced the steering damper to a Bilstein, no more steering bump. Went back to Gulf Shores, towing a toad, one hand drive, drove like my F350, coming back to Memphis, had a west wind all the way back..still held the road great

[Sagecoachdriver]

Did put the Bilstein steering damper back on yesterday. Good thing as I found that the frame bracket lower bolt had become lose and has strip some of the threads. Not usre if I had over or under tightened the Roadmaster Reflex. I have the bolts on fairly tight but I am going back to the alignment shop Tuesday. When I called for the appointment and mentioned the bolt, he said no problem. Driving over to get gas, I felt less centering as to be expected but about the same steering tension. It drove straight as an arrow where as the the RM Reflex was wandering.
So Benagi, did you find that the sway bars helped with wind and passing vehicles? Do you have the part numbers for the sway bars?

[Forester Fred]

Originally Posted by Total Loss

Finally tested the rig (Chevy) with the new goodies. No wind conditions.
1) Alignment- much better- less wandering
2) Roadmaster Reflex install- Much straighter tracking. Does not wander with road level changes- works great in combination with the alignment and one handed driving is easy.
3) Bilstein front shocks- no more bounce particularly on freeway overpass transitions where the tarmac meets the concrete.

All in all- 2 thumbs up with the mods. About $500 total - without my labor.
Well worth it.
I should say though that steering is "harder" on slow speed turns.

Total Loss - FR has alignment specs listed for the Ford chassis. Is there anything special for the Chevy 4500 or just go with Chevy specs? I've got 12,000 miles of bumping, potholes and rough roads so I'm figuring an alignment might be some good preventive maintenance at this point.

Also, I'm looking at getting Bilstein shocks. I see they list the comfort and standard models for Fords but only have one listing or the Chevy 4500, which they list as heavy duty. Are the heavy duty models going to be too stiff on a Chevy with a 25' coach?

[vwexpert]

Sage...Amazon has the sways - 7718 front $200.00 / 7180 rear $230.00. Did you ever have the alignment re-done to get a higher caster angle?
Jim