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If buying new bumpstops for the front, you may also want to see if your rear traction bar bumpstops are still there or crumbling, good time to replace them too if they need it.
For the Rancho RS9000XLs corrosion issues I have had excellent results with removing the adjuster ***** and the small plate they mount through (two small Allen heads screws) and filling the cavity behind with white lithium grease, then reassembling. Granted my EX doesn't go out in the Winter salt but I've read others who do have seen good results from this. Mine are still super easy to adjust 4+ years after lubing the adjuster *****. And I would also recommend hitting the shocks with 2 or 3 coats of clear paint before installation to keep them looking good for a long time.
V/modded b swap a couple years ago with used springs and every part of it is better. Ride/handling/towing/looks, etc. Easy to do and worth every penny.............
pirate4x4_camo here are some more measurements the first set is after I drove 21 miles to work and parked and the second is after I drove home 21 miles and parked. Not a significant change from the initial measurements but some.
I want some honest opinions on whether a spring swap is worth the money and time to make the ride better and less harsh of ride.
To be honest, what you need to do is find someone near you that has done the spring swap and ride in their truck. "ride" is as about as vague/subjective as someone's taste in food...one person likes it, another can't stand it.
I can sit here all day and tell you that I LOVE my V/Modded B swap and that while the ride in my estimation is a little more stiff than it was before - I don't hit the bump stops and my Dad's 70s era Ford Ranger rode much harsher than my Excursion does with V/Modded B's.
The only way you are going to know is to ride in one yourself and see what it feels like. Taking anyone else's word for it (even from a spring shop owner) is trying to talk to someone in two different languages - what THEY think is a good ride vs what YOU think is a good ride.
pirate4x4_camo here are some more measurements the first set is after I drove 21 miles to work and parked and the second is after I drove home 21 miles and parked. Not a significant change from the initial measurements but some.
I'd say your springs are not abnormally sagged and despite lacking adequate travel as designed from the factory they should be usable. Get new shocks and replace the worn bump stops. Like Rob Ross points out, ride quality is subjective and even though I tried to give a generalization on the shock charteristics it can be hit or miss. But even shocks that don't suit your ride criteria will be better then shocks that are blown. ( yours sound blown out )
robert_l_ross that is a very valid point the only issue is there aren't alotof Excursions in my are ,let alone some that are diesel 4x4's. I understand that would ideally be the best case scenario to experience the ride , but I'll guessill have to use the better judgement on here. I would like the ride to be better and by that I mean absorb the bumps and fix the sway. From what I have gathered the best way to do that is with a V/modded B swap that gives lift or in my case go with some V/C's from ATS and maintain closer to factory height. I don't really want to throw wider wheels and tires at it at the present moment and want to maintain close to factory height as possible for ease of the family getting in and out and use of the garage. I might even try doing new shocks right now then doing the swap in spring or if I get ancy sooner. I would love to see any pics of the V/C swap or hear from anyone who has this setup from ATS too
Wow, Stewart_H you don't get much of a better comparison than that, even the same color. It looks like you gained about 1.5 -2 at least or the the owner has some sagging spring as well. Nice looking ride by the way!
This suspension mod thread has a lot of info on ride height changes from various suspension mods and it also has some pictures too. You can add you recent stock measurements to the thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...easurents.html
I went the ATS route (recommended) and gained about 1.5". I was nervous about the height change but get compliments and actually love the look. And it rides sooooooooooooooo much better. I went with whatever the "stock" spring spec was as a suggestion from Jr. (ATS).....new u-bolts and shackles....$400 installed and aligned. That does not include the price of the springs.....installation costs may vary.
Wow, Stewart you don't get much of a better comparison than that, even the same color. It looks like you gained about 1.5 -2 at least or the the owner has some sagging spring as well. Nice looking ride by the way!
I went to the thread I posted back in '06 and found I forgot to take before and after measurements, but that is the approximate gain for most, 1.5" to 1.75".
I went V's and B-mod, used a 2" drop hanger kit from Icon up front to sit level. 26" on all corners, Bilstein 5100's. It's worth noting that the B's, once modded (top overload removed) actually have a lower spring rate than stock springs will. I don't think the addition of the two little leaves from the X pack have a noticeable impact on that. Rides great, shocks are a hair soft for my liking otherwise I have been quite happy with it.
Might be going to X and C-mod from ATS come tax season, would like a smidgen more height out of things and some more weight capacity out back. If it weren't for the desire for more height I would just airbag the rear.
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