What. The. Heck.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
What. The. Heck.
Drove her for the first time tonight to fill up the tank. Wow. When I got home, I checked to make sure I didn't have wooden wheels.
I have no bed on the back right now so I hope it softens the blows a least a little after it's back on!
I have no bed on the back right now so I hope it softens the blows a least a little after it's back on!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,679
Likes: 1,251
From: Jefferson City, MO
How are your shocks and how much air pressure do you have in your tires? When I got new tires, they put about 50 or so pounds in them. I dropped it to 30. I have no bed at the moment either. I also don't have shocks. Boy when I drove it on a gravel road that had some washboarding, I had to look behind me to make sure nothing was shaking off.
Also, if your tires are old they can give a rougher ride. My old tires (really old) would scare me over 20 miles per hour.
Oh, don't forget. This is an old truck.
Also, if your tires are old they can give a rougher ride. My old tires (really old) would scare me over 20 miles per hour.
Oh, don't forget. This is an old truck.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
No idea about the shocks. They've been replaced not too many miles ago I'd guess, but they could be 10 years old. I don't know the history of this truck but I don't think it's run in quite a while before I bought it.
PSI is also unknown. I pumped them up pretty close to 45-50 before I pulled it home but haven't checked since(they seem to be holding air well). And the tires are pretty old and hard.
I knew it would be rough, but no idea it would be this rough! Can't wait to get the bed back on.
PSI is also unknown. I pumped them up pretty close to 45-50 before I pulled it home but haven't checked since(they seem to be holding air well). And the tires are pretty old and hard.
I knew it would be rough, but no idea it would be this rough! Can't wait to get the bed back on.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
I let a little air out of them so they'd be in the 30s. Made a slight difference(I think!).
I was researching bias plies vs radials and one site said that at low speed, bias ply is actually a better ride. But I have no idea.
These are currently on the front:
Power King Tire
And these, on the rear:
I'm hoping adding a couple hundred pounds on the back(put the bed back on) will smooth it out a little. I also saw somewhere that adjusting caster will give a little softer ride in the front so I'll definitely be researching that.
I was researching bias plies vs radials and one site said that at low speed, bias ply is actually a better ride. But I have no idea.
These are currently on the front:
Power King Tire
And these, on the rear:
I'm hoping adding a couple hundred pounds on the back(put the bed back on) will smooth it out a little. I also saw somewhere that adjusting caster will give a little softer ride in the front so I'll definitely be researching that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
Likes: 34
From: Rockingham, VA
I let a little air out of them so they'd be in the 30s. Made a slight difference(I think!).
I was researching bias plies vs radials and one site said that at low speed, bias ply is actually a better ride. But I have no idea.
And these, on the rear:
Amazon.com: 2 New Trailer Tires 7.50-16 10 <acronym title="Page Ranking">PR</acronym> Load Range E - 11025: Automotive
I was researching bias plies vs radials and one site said that at low speed, bias ply is actually a better ride. But I have no idea.
And these, on the rear:
Amazon.com: 2 New Trailer Tires 7.50-16 10 <acronym title="Page Ranking">PR</acronym> Load Range E - 11025: Automotive
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=219
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I always ran low air pressure in my trucks to smooth out the ride some. I'm currently running 25 front and 22 rear in my 2004 Jeep Wrangler. It makes a huge difference. In my 48 I was running 28 front and 25 rear.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 80
From: Northville, MI
I don't know what tires you are running or any suspension mods but that is way below required pressures for the suspension design. While this would be fine for off road and it will ride better going straight ahead, you will have some significant handling problems at highway speed in unexpected situations. Bigger tires and/or lift kits will make it worse.
It doesn't make a lot of difference on our old trucks but newer suspensions have to perform at higher speeds so everything is balanced in the design phase.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I can only assume that you have the stock OEM springs still on the rear?
If so, you have to realize they were designed to not only carry the weight of the bed, but also an additional 1500 # of load (the equivalent of 30 50# bags of concrete) over rough unimproved/no roads and still not bottom out!
Then there s the likelyhood the 60 year old springs are quite rusted and worn so the leaves do not slide over each other like they did new, rendering the spring stack nearly a solid block of steel. Finally the spring eye bushings and pins are likely worn out as well. This all adds up to a very stiff harsh ride.
Are you planning on this being a work truck regularly hauling heavy loads? If so it is going to ride hard when empty. If not,then you could substitute f100 springs or remove the extra leafs, clean what's left and add plastic slider strips between them.
If so, you have to realize they were designed to not only carry the weight of the bed, but also an additional 1500 # of load (the equivalent of 30 50# bags of concrete) over rough unimproved/no roads and still not bottom out!
Then there s the likelyhood the 60 year old springs are quite rusted and worn so the leaves do not slide over each other like they did new, rendering the spring stack nearly a solid block of steel. Finally the spring eye bushings and pins are likely worn out as well. This all adds up to a very stiff harsh ride.
Are you planning on this being a work truck regularly hauling heavy loads? If so it is going to ride hard when empty. If not,then you could substitute f100 springs or remove the extra leafs, clean what's left and add plastic slider strips between them.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
I have 20 miles of worn out gravel road before another 20 of
pavement to get to town. They are 31X10.5 tires. And it still
rides harder than I would like. Someday when my ship comes
in and docks I would like about a 2.5 in lift.
Can the suspension lift be bought with like soft ride springs?
Is there such a thing without screwing up handling. Highest
posted speed on my Island is 50. I seldom see much over that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Vern,
I don't know what tires you are running or any suspension mods but that is way below required pressures for the suspension design. While this would be fine for off road and it will ride better going straight ahead, you will have some significant handling problems at highway speed in unexpected situations. Bigger tires and/or lift kits will make it worse.
It doesn't make a lot of difference on our old trucks but newer suspensions have to perform at higher speeds so everything is balanced in the design phase.
I don't know what tires you are running or any suspension mods but that is way below required pressures for the suspension design. While this would be fine for off road and it will ride better going straight ahead, you will have some significant handling problems at highway speed in unexpected situations. Bigger tires and/or lift kits will make it worse.
It doesn't make a lot of difference on our old trucks but newer suspensions have to perform at higher speeds so everything is balanced in the design phase.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
I can only assume that you have the stock OEM springs still on the rear?
If so, you have to realize they were designed to not only carry the weight of the bed, but also an additional 1500 # of load (the equivalent of 30 50# bags of concrete) over rough unimproved/no roads and still not bottom out!
Then there s the likelyhood the 60 year old springs are quite rusted and worn so the leaves do not slide over each other like they did new, rendering the spring stack nearly a solid block of steel. Finally the spring eye bushings and pins are likely worn out as well. This all adds up to a very stiff harsh ride.
Are you planning on this being a work truck regularly hauling heavy loads? If so it is going to ride hard when empty. If not,then you could substitute f100 springs or remove the extra leafs, clean what's left and add plastic slider strips between them.
If so, you have to realize they were designed to not only carry the weight of the bed, but also an additional 1500 # of load (the equivalent of 30 50# bags of concrete) over rough unimproved/no roads and still not bottom out!
Then there s the likelyhood the 60 year old springs are quite rusted and worn so the leaves do not slide over each other like they did new, rendering the spring stack nearly a solid block of steel. Finally the spring eye bushings and pins are likely worn out as well. This all adds up to a very stiff harsh ride.
Are you planning on this being a work truck regularly hauling heavy loads? If so it is going to ride hard when empty. If not,then you could substitute f100 springs or remove the extra leafs, clean what's left and add plastic slider strips between them.
I plan on light duty for this truck 95% of the time. Yard debris, couple bags of trash, a lownmower here and there, and the like. Removing leaves doesn't sound too bad. Can always reverse if I don't like it, right?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Yes, you can always put them back. Many F100 owners even take out every other leaf to soften the ride and lower the rear with the loads you are talking about. You will need a new pair of centerbolts and the slider strip, Mid Fifty has both. You can take out the bottom leafs to 8 left for 1/2T stiffness or additionally then take out every other leaf as per the instructions in the MF catalog for even softer ride and lowering (still plenty stiff for your occasional load). I have posted a number of times info about how to disassemble leaf springs safely and how to clean and smooth them. DON'T paint them! Do an advanced search on my user name and leaf spring disassembly, cleaning. Do add the slider strips, it's inexpensive (1 roll will do both springs) and will make quite a difference. Order new spring eye bushings and shackle pins and replace as well.