stiff harsh ride
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Elder User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 978
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From: Covington VA
stiff harsh ride
86 150 4x4 300
Dual shock front from the factory. I changed all the shocks a few months back. The old ones were all completely blown, shot, rusted, non working. They were the factory shocks from 86. The truck rode decent when the shocks were shot. Now it rides like a sledgehammer front and back. I know it shouldnt be this stiff. Anyone that knows these trucks have an idea of what prts soften the ride. I went with stock replacement shocks by gabriel.
Dual shock front from the factory. I changed all the shocks a few months back. The old ones were all completely blown, shot, rusted, non working. They were the factory shocks from 86. The truck rode decent when the shocks were shot. Now it rides like a sledgehammer front and back. I know it shouldnt be this stiff. Anyone that knows these trucks have an idea of what prts soften the ride. I went with stock replacement shocks by gabriel.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
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From: New Zealand
The thing that made the biggest difference to improving my truck's hard riding (F250), was removing the sway bars.
It had Camper & Heavy Tow packages from new, which included pretty heavy bars to prevent body roll with a camper on.
Removing them allowed the suspension to flex & work normally, softening the ride over bumps, curbs, & rough roads a LOT.
It still handles fine...........but I'm not carrying tall loads either.
It had Camper & Heavy Tow packages from new, which included pretty heavy bars to prevent body roll with a camper on.
Removing them allowed the suspension to flex & work normally, softening the ride over bumps, curbs, & rough roads a LOT.
It still handles fine...........but I'm not carrying tall loads either.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
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From: Sheffield, AL
Are the tires and air pressure unchanged [before and after the shock change]? Is the load the same [weight in bed]?
Last edited by 1986F150six; May 3, 2013 at 10:40 AM. Reason: clarification
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Elder User
Joined: May 2012
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From: Covington VA
Everything on this truck was stock. The po never fixed anything. Case in point it had a small fuel leak out of the top of the tank . It took me 2 hours and 5 bucks to fix it. His answer was only put half tank in. But he was still loosing fuel. Tire pressure is the same. Weight is the same.
Now no lift has been on this truck. But when i installed the front shocks they had a max 1~2" extension. Dunno if thats normal. But like i said. The day i changed them it started riding like the axles were bottomed out on the frame. Going over train tacks is like nosing the truck off a 1 foot ledge. I know more about engines than i do suspension. But i expected the ride to smooth out. Actually the truck rode smoother with 3000 pounds of rock in the bed. Front and back were softer.
Now no lift has been on this truck. But when i installed the front shocks they had a max 1~2" extension. Dunno if thats normal. But like i said. The day i changed them it started riding like the axles were bottomed out on the frame. Going over train tacks is like nosing the truck off a 1 foot ledge. I know more about engines than i do suspension. But i expected the ride to smooth out. Actually the truck rode smoother with 3000 pounds of rock in the bed. Front and back were softer.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
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From: Franklin, IN
I've always removed the swaybars from my trucks unless they were going to be used for towing or hauling heavy loads. Like Ken said, it drastically improves the ride quality.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2012
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From: Covington VA
I doubt those pics help. Tomorrow ill grab my jack and snap a full compression and full extension pic. Ill measure the difference too. It was gettin dark and startin to rain. Ill also do the rear tomorrow.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: In the garage
I'm looking at the Gabriel website right now. Do you have the shocks in the right position? There's about a 2" travel difference between the two shocks. I'd also double check to make sure you got the right part number. Considering it rode fine prior to replacing your shocks, this is really where I believe your problem lies.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2012
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From: Covington VA
They gave me 4 61520s (zone pn). My rear fronts swapped easy. The front front i had a hard time getting them over the permanant stud. The metal center piece in the bushing was tight. The rear front fit the bolt easily. Cant think of the rear number off hand.
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From: In the garage
61520 - rearward of front axle http://gabriel.com/mobile/light-vehicle/detailed-product-page?partnum=61520
61546 - forward of front axle http://gabriel.com/mobile/light-vehicle/detailed-product-page?partnum=61546