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I installed Rancho Loaded Quicklifts on the front and RS9000XL's in the rear. Still stock tires. The truck is spot-on level.
Definitely a substantial difference in the ride. No plowing into curves and the rear wheel hop is gone. The truck feels more planted on the road. That mushy feeling is gone also.
Most agree that the FX4 shocks are the problem. I've seen these complaints for years. Bilsteins or Rancho 9000s seem to help. Rancho 5000s or KYBs are probably about as stiff as what you have now.
Most agree that the FX4 shocks are the problem. I've seen these complaints for years. Bilsteins or Rancho 9000s seem to help. Rancho 5000s or KYBs are probably about as stiff as what you have now.
Agreed. Before I installed the Rancho coils and shocks the truck felt mushy and a bit unstable with wheel hop when hitting bumps in a curve. That all went south after the upgrade.
I had actually planned to add a rear stabilizer bar next but it is no longer necessary. For a $50K+ truck you'd think Ford would beef up the suspension a bit. But that's not new for them. Every Ford truck I've owned has needed some kind of help in the suspension department.
That's ok, I'd still rather own a Ford over any other manufacturer.
________________________________________________ 2015 F150 Screw XLT, SB, 5.0, FX4, 3.31, 302A, Tow Package, 2 tone, Drop-in Bed liner...
What's the complaint exactly? My FX4 feels planted and controlled and I'm not getting any wheel hop. It rides noticeably stiffer than our non FX4 almost identical truck, though that can probably be partially attributed to the Load E tires I have on the FX4. If my FX4 rode any stiffer I would be seeking to soften it up.
My 2012 sure didn't feel planted and controlled compared to my new 2016. I think it could be the short bed on the 2012 compared to the long bed on my 2016.
What's the complaint exactly? My FX4 feels planted and controlled and I'm not getting any wheel hop. It rides noticeably stiffer than our non FX4 almost identical truck, though that can probably be partially attributed to the Load E tires I have on the FX4. If my FX4 rode any stiffer I would be seeking to soften it up.
The issue is how the trucks settles after a bump. The intial bump is firm but then it is a soft bouncy ride like an old Cadillac. On a rough road the truck seems to bounce between loaded and unloaded and there is no in between. It's hard to describe
Agreed. Before I installed the Rancho coils and shocks the truck felt mushy and a bit unstable with wheel hop when hitting bumps in a curve. That all went south after the upgrade.
I had actually planned to add a rear stabilizer bar next but it is no longer necessary. For a $50K+ truck you'd think Ford would beef up the suspension a bit. But that's not new for them. Every Ford truck I've owned has needed some kind of help in the suspension department.
That's ok, I'd still rather own a Ford over any other manufacturer.
________________________________________________ 2015 F150 Screw XLT, SB, 5.0, FX4, 3.31, 302A, Tow Package, 2 tone, Drop-in Bed liner...
I will look at the Rancho's, thanks for the replies!
I get the sense Ford didn't spend the time to fine tune the truck's suspension with the lighter aluminum body. The ride to me feels very "well, the computer model suggests..."
I actually prefer a stiffer than "normal" suspension. The FX4 on my '05 F-150 was perfect, especially once I installed a canopy. It might have been a little bouncy around town, but was very composed on the forest service roads I traveled. Everything just felt dialed in and working together.
My issues with the current package are twofold. First, the OEM tires with the FX4 package are horrible. They're amazing in wet weather, but the lack of sidewall stiffness is painfully obvious. I keep my tires at 40psi just to try and remove some of the floating sensation. Second, as others have mentioned the FX4 shocks don't calm things down over big bumps. The initial absortion is good, but things go all "Cadillac" from there. These two factors combined with a lack of sway bar just make the truck feel like your riding a whale.
The 5100 series is available for the '15 and '16 MY according to the Bilstein website. The cool factor for the 5100 series...is that the front shocks are ride height adjustable....from 0" to 2".
They also have the 4600 series for the rear only.
If I were a betting man, then the '17 MY is going to be the same shocks.
Most agree that the FX4 shocks are the problem. I've seen these complaints for years. Bilsteins or Rancho 9000s seem to help. Rancho 5000s or KYBs are probably about as stiff as what you have now.
Maybe Ford will develop something to compete with GM's magride. My Corvette has it and the GMC Sierra Denali comes with it and likely a number of other GM models as well.
I get the sense Ford didn't spend the time to fine tune the truck's suspension with the lighter aluminum body. The ride to me feels very "well, the computer model suggests..."
I was thinking the same thing (that they didn't properly calibrate the shock valving for the lighter body). Mine rides pretty harsh unless I have some weight in the bed, or a trailer hooked on. But more important than the ride, is the way the tires skip around on sharp bumps. That could be dangerous in winter. I'm going to throw some sandbags in back for winter, but next spring I'm going to buy some Ranchos for the back. I used them on a previous truck with great results.
11-01-2016, 08:10 AM
