Just bought a new F-150 XLT with the Max tow and FX4 package. I was wondering if anybody knew who makes the shocks that come with the FX4 package? Any opinions on them? I'm a little disappointed with them as they don't seem to keep the tires in contact with the pavement very good while going over undulating bumps.

 

I agree; they suck. I expected a much stiffer ride, instead they're almost like riding in a big old 1970's Cadillac. My tires stay in contact as I go over bumps, but they don't seem to squelch the motion very well. I liked the ride quality of my '05 FX4 much better.

 

I din't say they sucked. I have put 300 miles on the truck all with an empty bed. Maybe they will work great when there a little weight in the bed. I'm reserving judgement until then.
Any thoughts on a good replacement shock if I decide I need to go that route? Bilstein, KYB Monomax?

 

F150 shocks SUCK ! OMG they are horrifc,I can even see other trucks
on the hwy bouncing down the road
Esp the rears,they are so weak and flimsy its like not having a shock
at all......Guess what MFGs have nothing to offer the new models ,so I had to
call up Shockwarehouse.com and pick out a shock based on the 2015/2016s lenth
and I ended up with a 2014 shock for a 2" lift kit ,Bilstiens..problems solved

 

Perhaps OMG you could share the part numbers with us rather than just this rant?

 

I have a 2016 Platinum with FX4 same issue. Tires loose contact with pavement over bumps. Scary when you are on an exit ramp hit a bump and truck does a hop off the ground and lands a half a lane over. Other than that the truck seems to ride very nice.

 

I haven't had it hop half a lane over but the shocks do not keep the tires in contact with the road very well. I also get a shimmy or vibration when I hit a bump, not sure if that is the shocks or just the way this truck is.

 

Another time I was going about 40 mph around a corner which had bumps and I could feel the tires loose contact with the ground. The truck seems to drive very smooth and usually takes bumps very nicely. But bumps when the going around a curve can be scary.

 

I drive a 2WD,he has a 4WD,my part number may not match .
Best thing to to is unbolt one rear shock which takes 5 mins and take
open measurements and closed measurements and call the seller I mentioned earlier. Wasent a rant bro,Ford shocks are junk.period.

New F150s use a really long rear shock for some reason

 

Your trucks are skipping over bumps and ridges in the road because the suspension is too stiff for the situation (empty bed, highway speeds, etc.). Freedom1955 is correct, carrying a load in the bed will settle the ride down dramatically.
You could put 400 pounds of block in the bed, or lower the rear tire pressure a bit.

 

When you say the suspension is to stiff are you referring to the springs or shocks or both?

 

In the case of the tires skittering across the road, I'd say it's due primarily to spring stiffness. Though tire sidewall stiffness plays a big part as well.
I had an F150 that came with load range 'C' tires but included a tow package and a camper certification; it rode like a car over bumps and ridges in the road. I equipped that same truck with load range 'E' tires inflated to 65 psi. The ride became quite harsh, with contact with the road lost even when crossing rail road tracks. Reducing the tire pressure to 38 psi when not loaded reduced this behavior significantly.

That being said, I believe that shocks can directly affect ride harshness as well. But you will be hard pressed to find a shock that gives a consistent ride under all the load conditions a truck experiences.