me too

I am most certain his can be improved upon based on the pictures and his description but at this point Cary may have his hands full managing his expectations

 

This is an interesting thread to read. When I got my Ex, it had a mystery lift on it, one that felt mushy and worn out. Since I was new to the give the Ex a lift world, I went the very easy route and ordered the 4" all spring BDS lift with their name brand shocks.

It did marvels for the ride and handling of the Ex, and I could not be happier.

Good luck on what ever you decide!

 

Looked at the link: Not near a pricey as I would have guessed. When the OP says he's going to remove Super Lift for Pro Comp I don't think he will see much joy from such a move.

 

I think the OP first needs to verify exactly how much lift he currently has, I don't think he has as much lift as he thinks from looking at the included pictures. Devotio, read this thread and then take your measurements to find out where you are starting. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...easurents.html

 

YSo let's focus on just this one aspect for a moment.

Look closely at picture #2.
What I see and my clue to part of your issue in the front is the small shiny circle on the landing pad for the bump stop.

Why I think that at least one shock has failed is that shiny spot is from the relatively hard bump stop contacting the pad, this happens in the last 1 or 2 inches of suspension travel and really should not happen often in normal daily street driving. When your stock is working to control the suspensions compression all it is really doing is slowing down the speed at which it travels.with a working shock the trasisition speed as the bump stop is contacted can usually on only be felt when you hit something very hard. With a failed shock there is no compression dampening happening and contact with the bump stop will be frequent and harsh. Your bump stop looks like it gets used frequently.

What you are possibly feeling is actually a very soft ride for a couple of inches of travel but that travel gets used up quickly and then a very stiff and harsh ride as you are on the bump stop.

 

Wow, I did not get any notifications on my phone that there was any new comments here so I apologize for that!

Well let me start working backwards from most recent: Yes PirateCamo I do now see the shiny spot where the bump stop is contacting, and I do agree that this could in fact be a sign of a "blown shock", also when I think about it, riding down a relatively smooth freeway/road I can feel the springs working and the truck rolling along "smoothly". When I start hitting small bumps or cracks in the road that the ride starts getting "harsh", or the bumps are interpreted as more rough, almost jarring, shaking the vehicle- I attributed this to the springs being very stiff? Maybe I am simply bottoming out on the bump stops as the picture shows? Might be time to simply replace the front shocks and see if that improves? I have always liked the Bilsteins, had initially thought about the Rancho 9000 just for the "adjustability", might have to order some tomorrow and get them on there to rule that out!

WE3ZS- I have read through that thread, and I do need to take an exact measurement to know what I really have going on, I am currently away from the rig on shift as of right now and will do this on Wednesday, thanks for the input! When I bought it I was "told" it was a 6in, lift but when I saw it I thought it was more of a 4in- I will get a definitive answer on that mid-week.

Harley -I am not sure what I was expecting- not Cadillac Eldorado or anything but not John Deere, but I guess thats what I get for moving from an IFS Duramax to a straight axle leaf sprung 3/4 beast! As for ride quality, it definitely is pretty damn harsh on bumps, deflects pretty bad in fact, hoping now Pirate is correct that it is continually bouncing off the bump stops- that would make sense- its that rough! Thinking about ordering some front shocks tomorrow to rule that out for now!

Thanks for all the input so far yall!

 

First thing first, I'd take We3zs advice and measure up so you know what you are dealing with.

Step 2. take 15 minutes and pull that shock off and fully compress it by putting one end on the ground and lean into it with all your weight. Pay attention to how it acts for the full compression stroke and then the rebound. It should be somewhat difficult to compress and require consistent force to do so. It will be obvious if it has failed.

Take heart, I have ridden in plenty of ifs trucks that ride horrible.

 

just had a thought.

With your limited exposure to the ride chartaristics of a solid axle truck and dealing with the somewhat unknown quantity of your setup.

If and I think you should, decided to work with Cary and have him custom valve your shocks. A great bench mark to shoot for would be the new f250
Go test drive one and see how it rides and handles. If you like that ride have him
Dial it in for you.

 

OK I'll eat some crow here & say I read the post closer than I looked at the pics. No way is that a 4" lift. Closer to a wore out 2" if the truck still has the factory rake BUT if it's a little nose high Then the fronts might be 3 1/2" / 4" when new. The bump stop hitting the pad (as PC) pointed out is the hard/harsh bumps your feeling More than likely. EVEN then Unless the PO put on some kind of bump stop EXtenders OR longer B/Stops I don't see how they are making so much contact even with NO SHOCKS on at all

 

No need to eat crow, it's a learning process.
Take your shocks off, I think you would be surprised how easy it is to bottom out on the bump stops A hard stomp on the brakes is usually all it takes.

Since the OP is going to measure I'll guess the back is +3 and the front is at +2.5

 

Sounds like an optimistic 'guy measuring' system- you know, the one you whisper to your new-found girlfriend; knowing you're going to be up before dawn and outa there before she wakes up!

 

Just realized I never updated ya'll on this topic, I measured as described above (from the center of the "hub"(?) the the wheel well) and I got 26 1/4 all around which tells me I am (A) fairly level all around (B) Sagging a bit in the rear, correct? Also, what is the measurement from a stock EX? How much lift do I actually have?

 

Brand new factory stock ? Who knows. LoL

I see stock listed in that link as 22.5 F and 23.5 R by at least one person.
Maybe go get all the reported stock heights and do a average.

 

One person reports 23 & 24

 

Gotcha, so somewhere in the neighborhood of 2-4 inch lift depending on who you talk to.... however the difference in that 2 or 4 inches makes a difference on what shocks I need to order with bilstein.... see where my problem is there? So do I order the bilstein 3-5 in. lift shock?

Either way that's what I have, now to remedy the situation, I have been looking for some X/C codes for springs in local wrecking yard but none yet. I am thinking starting with new shocks in the front, and I am also thinking about re-installing the air bags in the back to regain that little bit of rake as well as assist in managing any future tongue weight.