Hey fellas,

New member here. Just picked up a 2003 Extended 7.3 PSD with 140k miles on it, and redid the entire front-end, as well as some hoses and sensors. We installed Bilstein HD Comfort series shocks, as the shocks were original on the truck. The ride quality is great, but what I am noticing, is some sway, especially when windy, as well as the wheel impacts seem to be taken very hard (the wheel bounces a bit).

This is my first E-series since I had a 6.8 6-7 years ago, and I don't remember this type of suspension behavior on that one. Did I get the wrong shocks for the truck, or should I have something else looked at that could be causing this?

Thanks for your help,

Anton

 

Check the front ride height with that heavy 7.3, wind and sway is normal..........

 

Will do, thanks. What should it be?

 

Just a few random thoughts about all this.......

I've also installed Bilstein shocks along with a complete front end rebuild that included 2008 brakes on a 2003 E250 extended body, 5.4 motor. Moog front coils were part of that rebuild along with all new urethane bushings (axle pivot & radius arm) and Hellwig anti-sway bar. Prior to all this work a reman'd steering box from Ford added too. As a daily driver work van I weigh 7,600# running on Michelin LTX 245/75-R16, E-rated @70 PSI all around.

I chose Bilstein's "heavy duty" for two reasons: a) "comfort" is not something I want running that much weight on that chassis & b) such terms are highly subjective, not even in the least quantified by any standard measurement.

Despite running the all new front end and a rear Hellwig sway bar I too have that fishtailing effect. I believe if I were to further tinker with my set-up to remove the under mounted full sized spare tire, experiment with redistributing my aft rear axle weight, increase front positive caster to 5 degrees and/or replace/strengthen rear leaf springs I could eliminate or greatly reduce that fishtailing thing.

Sweetsound I'm thinking what you're experiencing is somewhat normal for that particular chassis and motor. If your front end work included a qualified alignment ride height would have been checked, any huge variation from factory specs reported to you.

There are systems such as Roadmaster Active Suspension and such touted as being cures for the heavier E-Series chassis handling issues but I don't have direct experience with them.

Hope this info doesn't distract from your original question----I think most of us have been dealing with this sort of thing individually so its not just your own perception or feeling.

 

At that age and mileage anything is possible, sagging frontend, rear spring shackle bushings, any of the pivot bushings or bent brackets, tires messed up from the old frontend, etc. A good 4 wheel Alignment and Inspection is worth every Dollar........

 

what is that fishtailing thing..... i thought that was a controlled drift

 

Maybe a not-so-controlled drift instead?