Cheap Handling Fix (CHF) question

wayneroe · 02-11-2018, 09:41 PM

This has probably been covered elsewhere and I just can't find it, but I have a question about the CHF. Do both front and back have to be done at the same time or could I do the front now and wait til warmer weather to do the rear? Would this cause issues?

MR2DI4 · 02-11-2018, 09:52 PM

No you can do the front now and the rear at another time. It will really make a difference.

bigben · 02-11-2018, 10:22 PM

Wayne and Jo - as MR2D14 indicate front and back at different times is okay. Over on the IRV2 - F53 forum there is a HUGE post on this. Here is a link. http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/cheap...fix-72335.html

wayneroe · 02-11-2018, 10:38 PM

Thanks, guys. I just got the MH back from POW status, er, I mean from the dealer getting a couple of things fixed. It's pretty cold here today and we are going out of town this week for a couple of days (without the motorhome). So I will probably wait until we get back since the weather is supposed to be better next weekend, then do the front, go for a drive and see if I can experience all this difference everyone talks about. Once spring gets here full-time, I'll crawl under the back and test my skills.

04fxsts · 02-12-2018, 11:05 AM

I actually did the rear first on ours. No problems just some improvement in handling and more incentive to do the fronts which came soon after. Jim.

wayneroe · 02-12-2018, 02:02 PM

Jim, how difficult is it doing the rear ones? How long did it take? The front looks like a piece of cake, not so sure of the rear.

jpmihalk · 02-12-2018, 03:01 PM

The rears are twice as many wrench turns due to the Z-bracket but it isn't very difficult as long as you have a torque wrench and a jack to reposition the sway bar.

wayneroe · 02-12-2018, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpmihalk

The rears are twice as many wrench turns due to the Z-bracket but it isn't very difficult as long as you have a torque wrench and a jack to reposition the sway bar.

Thanks. Maybe by springtime, I can still wriggle my 71 year-old frame under there and get it done.

jpmihalk · 02-12-2018, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneroe

Thanks. Maybe by springtime, I can still wriggle my 71 year-old frame under there and get it done.

Believe it or not, my wife did the rear and I did the front. Just make sure you are as close to level as you can be before putting the jacks down.

04fxsts · 02-13-2018, 10:54 AM

As said the rear has more bolts to turn because of the "Z" brackets but I did them first because I was still debating about extending the front links to keep the sway bar mostly level. Figured that way I could find out if it would help "sway," and it did help. Another good thing about the rear is when I first crawled under to check things out I found the broken sway bar bracket on the rear axel. Had that replaced at Ford under warranty then did the rear CHF.
Ended up just moving the front links to the other holes without extending them and then saw a lot of improvement and no problems after 8,000 miles. While you are working on the rears remember to check the sway bar brackets, take out the bolts and re-torque to 66ft/lbs with blue locktite. Jim.

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