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Finally got around to replacing the shocks on my 2015 F350. It had Ranchos on it when I bought it and I'm figuring they were the original shocks. The truck had 97,000 miles on it today when I replaced the shocks. It rode horribly - jarringly harsh. I replaced the shocks with a set of Bilstein 5100's. Took me 2 hrs in my driveway. I didn't remove the wheels or have to jack the truck up. The rubber isolators on the top of the front shocks were completely worn and warbled out. I took it for a spin afterwards and it definitely seemed smoother. Will have to see how it does on a longer trip. A very doable project for the average mechanically inclined.
Glad that you think that it is running smoother.
imo, it did not come with Rancho's, but were added later. One big clue is that you said that the rubber isolators on the top of the front shocks were completely worn and warbled out. I does not look like the rubber is in too bad condition for 97,000 miles on the Rancho's, if they were original.
Did you put the shim in the lower overload leaf (second picture)? That shim really reduces the flex of the leaf springs as the lower overload is engaged all of the time (making for a stiffer ride). Some one did not want the rear to sag or sag very little. If that is a factory shim, I question why?
I have heavy duty overload springs (upper and lower) and have no shim.
Whatever is there, was there when I bought it. Is the shim, the round disc looking thing between the springs? The previous owner towed a 5th wheel and so do we. Ours is 16,000lbs with about 3,000lbs of pin weight in the bed. Truck doesn't squat much at all when hitched up. I bet the previous owner didn't want it to squat with his trailer either.
Whatever is there, was there when I bought it. Is the shim, the round disc looking thing between the springs? The previous owner towed a 5th wheel and so do we. Ours is 16,000lbs with about 3,000lbs of pin weight in the bed. Truck doesn't squat much at all when hitched up. I bet the previous owner didn't want it to squat with his trailer either.
The bottom 'leaf' is the lower heavy duty leaf. The middle springs, when 'loaded' would squat down to the lower (heavy) leaf. The shim/round disc helps keep the middle leafs at their starting position. The stiffness of the leafs makes a stiffer ride because of less flex in the springs. Hauling a 5th wheel, these shims keep your truck from squatting and is safer for hauling for stability from side to side and reduces the porpoising effect.
Whatever is there, was there when I bought it. Is the shim, the round disc looking thing between the springs? The previous owner towed a 5th wheel and so do we. Ours is 16,000lbs with about 3,000lbs of pin weight in the bed. Truck doesn't squat much at all when hitched up. I bet the previous owner didn't want it to squat with his trailer either.
If you really want to get excited, pick up the Bilstein steering damper, worth every penny.
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