Ride quality
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 20
From: Louisiana
Ride quality
I have a 2017 Platinum with a ready lift 2.5 leveling kit installed. Tires are Toyo Open country AT LT325/60R20 everything else is stock. I thought the truck rode a little on the rough side and i feel everything in the steering wheel but thought it was normal for a straight axle truck.
Well this morning I dropped it off at the dealership to fix a rattle in the moon roof. They gave me a nice Lariat superduy 4x4 diesel as a rental.................. My God this thing rides great!!!!!! Do i have to put my truck back to stock height and stock tires to get this ride quality or is something wrong with my truck??????
Well this morning I dropped it off at the dealership to fix a rattle in the moon roof. They gave me a nice Lariat superduy 4x4 diesel as a rental.................. My God this thing rides great!!!!!! Do i have to put my truck back to stock height and stock tires to get this ride quality or is something wrong with my truck??????
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 20
From: Louisiana
My truck is a Diesel and a FX4 also in case someone else asks. I just cant get over the difference between a stock truck's ride and mine, by the way the rental is a 2018 and a FX4 also.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Just to be clear the FX4 "Rancho" shocks on any truck (gas or diesel) are s***.
In a diesel it will be worse. The 2.5 level will not change the ride much, the tires might have more impact.
If your truck has the high capacity tow or camper PKG this adds an overload spring to the rear leaf pack which could cause a rougher ride. Also the snow plow prep PKG has firmer front coils.
My suggestion, replace the shocks. The "Ranchos" are factory Ford shocks which have been tweaked slightly (if only pained white and a red boot). Real Ranchos will ride better, Fox 2.0 will be night and day, and adjustable Fox or Kings will ride like a Cadillac.
I just replaced mine with Fox 2.0 adjustable with custom valving from Accutune. I could easily compress the "Ranchos" with one hand when I took them off. It took my full body weight to compress the Fox's. Rebound was also pitifully slow for the "Ranchos" while the Foxs we're easily 3x faster.
If you spent $70k on a truck, don't skimp on the replacement shocks. Ford heard our complaints about the "Ranchos" and discontinued them for the 2019+ FX4 trucks.
In a diesel it will be worse. The 2.5 level will not change the ride much, the tires might have more impact.
If your truck has the high capacity tow or camper PKG this adds an overload spring to the rear leaf pack which could cause a rougher ride. Also the snow plow prep PKG has firmer front coils.
My suggestion, replace the shocks. The "Ranchos" are factory Ford shocks which have been tweaked slightly (if only pained white and a red boot). Real Ranchos will ride better, Fox 2.0 will be night and day, and adjustable Fox or Kings will ride like a Cadillac.
I just replaced mine with Fox 2.0 adjustable with custom valving from Accutune. I could easily compress the "Ranchos" with one hand when I took them off. It took my full body weight to compress the Fox's. Rebound was also pitifully slow for the "Ranchos" while the Foxs we're easily 3x faster.
If you spent $70k on a truck, don't skimp on the replacement shocks. Ford heard our complaints about the "Ranchos" and discontinued them for the 2019+ FX4 trucks.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 590
Likes: 32
"I feel everything in the steering wheel" <- this came from your 2.5" level.
You most likely don't have enough caster. When you lift the truck 2.5" in the front you removed most of the positive caster the truck was setup with from the factory.
Positive caster is what prevents your steering from being so light and jittery feeling, also helps return your steering wheel to center after a turn.
This has been covered to death in tons of posts here. Search and read.
You most likely don't have enough caster. When you lift the truck 2.5" in the front you removed most of the positive caster the truck was setup with from the factory.
Positive caster is what prevents your steering from being so light and jittery feeling, also helps return your steering wheel to center after a turn.
This has been covered to death in tons of posts here. Search and read.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
"I feel everything in the steering wheel" <- this came from your 2.5" level.
You most likely don't have enough caster. When you lift the truck 2.5" in the front you removed most of the positive caster the truck was setup with from the factory.
Positive caster is what prevents your steering from being so light and jittery feeling, also helps return your steering wheel to center after a turn.
This has been covered to death in tons of posts here. Search and read.
You most likely don't have enough caster. When you lift the truck 2.5" in the front you removed most of the positive caster the truck was setup with from the factory.
Positive caster is what prevents your steering from being so light and jittery feeling, also helps return your steering wheel to center after a turn.
This has been covered to death in tons of posts here. Search and read.
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 20
From: Louisiana
My kit did have the new bracket and i did have it aligned, don't know about alignment cams though.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Just to be clear the FX4 "Rancho" shocks on any truck (gas or diesel) are s***.
In a diesel it will be worse. The 2.5 level will not change the ride much, the tires might have more impact.
If your truck has the high capacity tow or camper PKG this adds an overload spring to the rear leaf pack which could cause a rougher ride. Also the snow plow prep PKG has firmer front coils.
My suggestion, replace the shocks. The "Ranchos" are factory Ford shocks which have been tweaked slightly (if only pained white and a red boot). Real Ranchos will ride better, Fox 2.0 will be night and day, and adjustable Fox or Kings will ride like a Cadillac.
I just replaced mine with Fox 2.0 adjustable with custom valving from Accutune. I could easily compress the "Ranchos" with one hand when I took them off. It took my full body weight to compress the Fox's. Rebound was also pitifully slow for the "Ranchos" while the Foxs we're easily 3x faster.
If you spent $70k on a truck, don't skimp on the replacement shocks. Ford heard our complaints about the "Ranchos" and discontinued them for the 2019+ FX4 trucks.
In a diesel it will be worse. The 2.5 level will not change the ride much, the tires might have more impact.
If your truck has the high capacity tow or camper PKG this adds an overload spring to the rear leaf pack which could cause a rougher ride. Also the snow plow prep PKG has firmer front coils.
My suggestion, replace the shocks. The "Ranchos" are factory Ford shocks which have been tweaked slightly (if only pained white and a red boot). Real Ranchos will ride better, Fox 2.0 will be night and day, and adjustable Fox or Kings will ride like a Cadillac.
I just replaced mine with Fox 2.0 adjustable with custom valving from Accutune. I could easily compress the "Ranchos" with one hand when I took them off. It took my full body weight to compress the Fox's. Rebound was also pitifully slow for the "Ranchos" while the Foxs we're easily 3x faster.
If you spent $70k on a truck, don't skimp on the replacement shocks. Ford heard our complaints about the "Ranchos" and discontinued them for the 2019+ FX4 trucks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 7
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Good info. I have noticed that the back end of my truck (FX4) tends to have the occasional death wobble. I mean, it's not a death wobble, but when it happens, I can distinctly count 5-6 back and forths of the suspension. Bridge transitions are sometimes really bad if the two wheels are hit at slightly different times. I assume that upgrading the rears to those Fox shocks would probably solve that problem. I also got the plow package, which I didn't want, so I'll eventually swap the front springs and shocks, but for now the front end doesn't really bother me. Feels about the same as my old Ram.
And for the OP, you might have two problems; the level kit probably took one or two degrees of caster out _and_ your shocks are likely on their way out.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Get the paperwork from the alignment and post a pic. You should have +4 caster. Alignment cams are not necessary on a 2.5" level (not sure if readylift includes them in the kit), but without them caster drops to +1.5-2.5 which makes these truck drive too light.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Just called a local 4x4 shop, and it appears that the Fox shocks for that truck are extremely popular. On backorder right now.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Wow... less than 3 weeks old and only 700 miles. I guess I'll have to pull one off tonight and see how it feels. I guess I could make a warranty claim, but they'll probably replace them with the same pieces of crap, unless I get lucky and they don't even carry the "Ranchos" anymore.
Just called a local 4x4 shop, and it appears that the Fox shocks for that truck are extremely popular. On backorder right now.
Just called a local 4x4 shop, and it appears that the Fox shocks for that truck are extremely popular. On backorder right now.
If you want the basic 2.0s look at any major online retailer, they will have them in stock.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 7
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Wow... less than 3 weeks old and only 700 miles. I guess I'll have to pull one off tonight and see how it feels. I guess I could make a warranty claim, but they'll probably replace them with the same pieces of crap, unless I get lucky and they don't even carry the "Ranchos" anymore.
Just called a local 4x4 shop, and it appears that the Fox shocks for that truck are extremely popular. On backorder right now.
Just called a local 4x4 shop, and it appears that the Fox shocks for that truck are extremely popular. On backorder right now.