Hello all...

I am new to this forum and was hoping someone might have som information on my problem. I have a 2000 F-250 Crew w/8' bed. I live in southern california and when I drive the truck on certain freeways it produces an extremely large vibration/resonance. I realize it is a truck and will ride rougher than a car and I also realize the road is producing the vibration. The concrete expansion cuts in the freeway are about 14', the same as the wheelbase. The thing I want to know is do other trucks 250's or 350's respond this way also? I cannot put my infants in the truck and drive on the freeway for fear that the 2-3 inch displacements in the back seat will injure their developing brains.

Please let me know if you have any information on the subject.

Thanks
Kelley

 

yeah my truck does the same thing. it just depends on the length of the concrete and the wheel base. a nasty coincidnece that is. i bought my truck for the reason of safety. the bigger vehicle wins right? i dont have kids yet but that is a very good point as far as the bucking goes. i would think that putting on a high quality shock should help dampen the wild ride. my truck has crappy shocks on it and ive never really thought about it before. most seem to think that bilstein shocks are really good and from what i hear they arent all that expensive. i dont have a whole lot of experience with shocks though.

 

The wheelbase of your truck is nearly identical to the length of the expansion slots on the fwys you drive. You know what I mean when you go slow in traffic and the truck just goes up and down (front and rear) at the same time.

Solution:
1. Lower your tire pressures (you don't need 80psi in the rear tires unloaded) I've run as low as 30 psi with good results

2. Velvet ride Shackles. (they work to soften the rear when unloaded)

3. Add weight to the bed (like 500 lbs) (works well)
-T

 

Yup, happens here as well. We have a section of highway by an airport in Aurora that I was going down a few weeks ago with my daughter in the back. All of a sudden I heard this loud giggle. Turned around to see her holding the sides of her car seat while her whole body was shaking. Good thing she was in a car seat or else she probably would have been bouncing all over the floor.

Jeff

 

I've been thinking about the Velvet Rides for my '90 F250HD 4x4. I have a 4" SkyJacker "Softride" suspension system and 35" BFG's on it now. Quite the ride on the freeways!! Wondering if those Velvet Rides will help?

 

The velvet rides will help.
Also, new cab bushings aren't a bad idea on a 13 year old truck, either.
-T

 

One word: Bilsteins

 

Oh yeah, that too.

 

Well the tire pressure suggestion was a quick fix that has helped to soften the ride. I haven't tried it on the freeway yet though. My intentions are to go with new Bilstein shocks if that dosen't help I will try the Velvet ride schackles. Thanks for the help.

 

I second overkills remarks. Bilstiens will help alot.

 

Bilstiens ordered! Unfortunately the fronts are on back order until September!!!

Is it the consensus that the shocks will help more than the Velvet Ride Schackles?

thanks for the help.

 

Hey Ford guys:

My boss just purchased a 2003 F250 extended cab long bed and digs the truck except for the problem mentioned here - expansion joints on the freeway are terrible! So, if you guys could help me out I'll relay the info to him.

- What are the Bilstien shock absorbers model number, or where could I order them?

- Where can I order the Velvet Ride shackles?

- Any other suggestions to get rid of the vibrations (aside from lower tire pressure and weight in the bed)?

Thanks.
Tony

p.s. I'm a GM guy, but you guys have a cool forum here, and some badass trucks in the gallery!

 

Blame Cal Trans.
Expansion joints in Southern California?

 

Tell your boss that the tire pressure thing seems to help alot. I lowered the rears from 80 psi to 65 psi and the ride is better. The Bilstiens I ordered came from Off Road Warehouse at www.offroadwarehouse.com. They were very helpful and had the cheapest price, less than $65 per shock. Unfortunately they told me the front shocks are back ordered until September so I can't tell you if the shocks have helped yet. With just the back shocks it's hard to tell if there is significant improvement. I am going througt the steps one by one to find out what helps the most. As the data is available I will post it for others who have the problem.

Also wish I could convince the great govenor to fix the roads. That's a topic for a totaly different forum though.

Kelley

 

Well I now have Bilstien shocks on the truck and I took it for a ride up Highway 101 in southern California. If you've ever driven this road you will know the beating you take when you go through Camarillo (sp?). With the new shocks the ride was muc better. It still was not smooth but you could notice a significant improvement. I recommend these shocks to anyone who would like a better ride in thier truck or suv. I will put them in my wife's Suburban in the next few months. Thanks again for all you input and help.

Kelley