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Old Sep 19, 2018 | 06:00 PM
  #1  
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New 2003 X

Hi all,
i recently purchased a 2003 v10 4wd Eddie Bauer X, 155,00 miles. This forum has been a great resource. This is my work truck so it will be mostly city driving and some highway.
I'm sure this is a question you've heard a million times but pot holes and speed bumps are really jarring, way worse than any other vehicle I've ever had. Everything else about the ride quality is great.
I have put new front shocks on and replaced the rear bump stops that were missing(which I wouldn't even have known about without this forum). The front measurement is 23" and the rear is 24".
Is there anything else I can do so it doesn't feel like my truck is going to fly off the road every pothole I hit. I'm in Baltimore so there are a lot of potholes. Thanks
 
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Old Sep 19, 2018 | 08:45 PM
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What shocks did you put on ?

are the front bump stops intact ?
 
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Old Sep 19, 2018 | 09:12 PM
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Kyb gas a just. I don't have the part number, it was what their customer service recommended for a stock ex. The front bump stops look brand new. The rears were destroyed and I replaced those.
 
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Old Sep 19, 2018 | 11:14 PM
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Sounds like your stock suspension is in decent working order so I see 3 options.

1. Increase your compression valving in the shocks, easiest way to do this is dual shock setup in front. This will make the limited amount of travel the Ex has stiffer, this will allow you to hit bigger holes without bottoming out.

2. Increase the travel with new springs that have a bigger arch. Increasing the travel from the Excursions 5” to f250 springs and longer shocks will give you 8” of travel.

3. Don’t hit pot holes
 
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Old Sep 20, 2018 | 06:44 AM
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Thanks for the reply. I'll give it some thought.
 
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Old Sep 20, 2018 | 10:00 AM
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There is a vendor on FTE who speacilizes in Excursion spring packages. Maybe give Junior a call and check out pricing on springs.

if you get me the part number for your current front Shock I will do a little homework and see if I can come up with a single shock that would be more suitable for your road conditions.

also Just to be on the safe side, Can you post a pic of your front springs and bump stop.
 
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Old Sep 20, 2018 | 10:18 AM
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The front shocks I put on we're kyb kg54330. I'll check with the vendor you mentioned about springs. Thanks
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 10:20 AM
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Bilstein has a 8” non resivoir shock with a fairly firm compression setting of 175/80 or the will build you one with custom valving. Price about $180 each.

another option is a Fox with adjustable clicker for the compression, priced at about $350 each.

or if you want to go cheap try a pair of rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. About $120 each.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 12:37 PM
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Maybe the angle of the pic is making it worse, but dang it looks like you only have a couple inches of travel before hitting that bump stop. If that's so, no wonder your pot hole problem is so jarring.

Stewart
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 12:50 PM
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There is about 1 inch between the bumpstop and the thing below it. How much room is there supposed to be? Sorry for all the stupid questions, I don't know much about suspensions.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 01:18 PM
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Look at the bump stop, where it goes from Light grey to slightly darker....that is how far it is compressing your bump.
it is designed that way as the last inch or so of travel is controlled by the bump.

stock the measurment is 23” from hub center to bottom of fender lip. As mentioned You either need more travel, more shock or don’t hit pot holes so hard.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 01:48 PM
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The only ways to avoid potholes here in the Mid-Atlantic is either move or not drive at all.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by WE3ZS
The only ways to avoid potholes here in the Mid-Atlantic is either move or not drive at all.

i love it when east coasters suggest we move out of CA due to dumb stuff we have ... uhh I’ll put up with the fruit cakes...I like our rust free weather and roads !
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 02:43 PM
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Baltimore is the worst. It seems like the roads are just crumbling away.
i talked to junior at Ats and got a quote for U code springs which he said would lift the front 1.75" from stock .
Do you think that would help much?
 
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Old Sep 21, 2018 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by rwebb
Baltimore is the worst. It seems like the roads are just crumbling away.
i talked to junior at Ats and got a quote for U code springs which he said would lift the front 1.75" from stock .
Do you think that would help much?
Yes it is the worst. lol

I got the V/C kit from Junior. Raised the truck about 2". I think it sits about perfect now. As far as shocks, I have Rancho RS5000. Not too impressed by them. Thinking of changing to Bilstein 5100.
 
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