Hello all, sorry in advance for the lengthy post...

I have a 2011 F-150 Supercrew 4WD Ecoboost 3.5L. I love the truck! Just put fiberglass fenders on it, 315/70/17 BFG A/Ts, Robby Gordon black wheels, and Bilstein 5100's all around.

I had the Bilsteins set to the third level (one down from the max) at least that's what I told the guy installing them at 4 wheel parts. They are way too stiff for my liking. They've been on for about 3 months now. I did not upgrade the control arms yet, the stock ones are still on there.

Im trying to figure out a way to improve the ride and make it softer. I haven't tried off road yet, but I mostly drive on the highway vs offroad so I would like to have a softer ride. I understand that because I have the shocks set on a higher setting (one down from the max) that its going to stiffen the ride. Here are my questions:

1. would upgrading the stock arms to uniball control arms make the ride softer or have any affect on the firmness or softness of the ride?

2. would dropping the shocks down to the next level make the ride noticeably softer?

3. by dropping the shocks down obviously the front end would go lower, and I like how it looks level now. Can I install a 2" leveling kit along with the Bilstein 5100's in the front so it will still be level (or even sit higher which would be fine) then I can set the shocks to the lowest setting? Will this make the ride softer?

4. what about changing the stock spring? Will that make it softer if I get a spring with a different spring rate?

Thanks in advance for the help<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

 

welcome to the forum!

not real sure what to tell you, other than monotubes aren't for everyone, contrary to what bilstein fans will tell you.

the ride you are getting is most likely a tribute to bilstein's "performance over ride" valving technology. not much is going to change that other that different shocks with a softer valving.

i'm afraid if you want a better ride, but still want the height in the front you are probably looking at a leveling kit and something softer like the Rancho 5000's, or KYB GR2's.

bilstein lovers will argue tooth and nail with everything above, but none of them will take me for a ride to prove me wrong, either.

 

Running the 5100's on my '11 with P265/70r17 rubbers. Certainly not a "Cadillac" ride but very comfortable and not harsh at all. I would call it [I]controlled[I]. My wife is very found of it.

I would assume your BFG's are LT rated, are they C, D or E load? What PSI? Maybe you can run them softer?

 

Changing the ride height won't soften the ride. Unfortunately monotubes are inherently stiffer due to the piston rod reaction force caused by the internal gas charge.

My experience is quite different. I recently had a set of 4600 Bilsteins installed on my 2010. I seem to recall some conversations with various vendors when I was researching and I was told that there is virtually no valving difference between the 4600 and the 5100 series. It sounded like the main difference was the fact that the 4600 have a yellow painted exterior and the 5100 are zinc plated with various settings for the spring perches for changing the ride height.

Frankly I didn't care. By 45k miles, the ride quality had deteriorated to such an unacceptable degree that anything would have been better than the way it was. I am extremely pleased with how the truck feels now. It's more composed now and the way it handles potholes and rail road crossings is substantially better than the way it did when new. I do like a stiffer ride generally an all my vehicles, but the way the truck feels now is not harsh by any stretch of the imagination. It just feels more controlled and it's quieter. With the OE shocks, the suspension was always busy. Actually one of my fronts blew a seal and the shock leaked fluid everywhere. I thought I had blown a power steering line or something.

There are some aftermarket twin tube alternatives out there, but frankly the Bilsteins seem to be a perfect balance between great value and superb design and manufacturing quality. The only other option is to revert back to OE and inspect/replace more frequently.

 

I just ordered the 4600's for my Truck. My favorite upgrade is to dump the OEM shocks for better ones. I have 61,000 on my stock shocks and they are totally gone. Can't wait for the Bilsteins to come in.

 

I was in a similar situation with my F350 and never got it figured out. I wish you luck with this, spending that kind of money and hating the ride sucks.

 

I don't think the shocks will give you a harsh ride on the highway. What tire pressure are you running at? If you are up near 50 lbs that will make your ride a little rougher.