Just wondering what you folks w/ stock height X's are using for replacement shocks?

 

You left out Rancho.

You should add that to your poll.

Rancho RSX
Rancho 9000

Also
Monroe Magnum
Monroe Reflex

 

Ditto ... I bought Rancho ... but if I had installed my home-built radius-rods first, I would've left the stock shocks in there. Changing the shock absorbers did very little to improve ride quality. IMHO, I wasted $400 on the Rancho units.

 

Rancho's can go into other.

 

Yes but there are a lot of Ranchos out there, a lot more than some of the ones that you name.

What do you do with a poll that shows 80% "other"?

 

I used to have a Jeep Cherokee that was built for serious off road & I had Rancho's on it. Noticed that I said Had. I'm not a fan of Rancho.

 

Ahoy Landyot - try the bilsteins if you get around to it. They really do make a diference.

 

Hey LandYot,

I've been reading up on your radius-rods and your comments here. I think I understand how they help the rearend, but how does this affect the front end? It seems like new shocks would be the only way to get the bounce out of the front. Please elaborate. Thanks.

 

I put on Bilsteins a month ago and I gotta tell ya, there REAL nice.

 

neilc88,

You've got "bounce" in the front end? If that's true, then the first thing I'd assume is that the shocks are shot ... entirely. I've had no front end problems other than the oft-mentioned "wandering" of the mighty-X. But I found after installing my own radius-rods that the wandering has been almost completely eliminated (I'm a little gun-shy of saying it's been 100% eliminated). My theory about a big contributor to the wandering is the rear axle's "axle wrap" ailment being unequal side to side. In other words, you drive over a depression in the roadway at speed with one side of tires (left or right), and the rear axle "wraps" a bit, but not equally between left and right sides. But "bounce" in the front? I'd opt for some new shock absorbers.

I will be installing a small lift on mine in the near future (only 2-1/2"), and have given thought to making a pair of radius-rods for the front end. Will decide after installing a Skyjacker add-a-leaf up front, and a 2-1/2" blocks (that makes 3 blocks!!!) in the rear. I'll also look at welding those blocks together in the rear. Multiple blocks make me a bit nervous. Of course, I could replace the whole she-bang with a single block ... fabricate it myself. I'll make some longer arms for the rear rods to compensate for the increased height. And again, decide afterwards if the front might benefit from a set of radius-rods. I've heard the add-a-leaf kits stiffen the front end some ... and I'm certain to find out.

Buy some shock absorbers ... at least the front pair.

LAND YOT
Ken E.

 

Landyot,

From what I am reading about "spring wrap", and the very vague steering feel I am getting "on center", I am assuming that this "wandering" problem is worse for 4X4 than for 4X2. This owing to factory "lift" that is installed on 4X4. Correct? Do all complaints about wandering come from 4X4 drivers?

I do notice that factory "traction bars" have a very mild pre-tension on them through the big urethane "bump stop" on the fronts of the bars. This may have been done to alleviate some of the spring wrap, although I doubt it helps much.

I installed Hellwig anti-roll bar on rear axle of mine. Previously had nothing--apparently early '03 X did not have anti-roll bar. The Hellwig helps only in sweeping turns and exit ramps to minimize body roll. I can't say it helps with on-center directional stability or ride at all. I will need it when towing, however.

My biggest complaint on '03 X is the directional stability when travelling on straight and level highway. Requires constant attention and steering effort for minor corrections is higher than it needs to be.

 

Forrest,

Good question! I haven't paid attention to which X-owners (4x2 or 4x4) were complaining about wandering. My personal guess would be it's predominantly a problem with the 4x4s only because of the extra lift block between the rear axle and leaf springs .... puts the axle further away from the springs giving it more leverage to "wrap" the leaves. The 4x2 model also suffers from the spring wrap ailment, but to a slightly lesser degree. I'd be interested in hearing if any 4x2 owners have the wandering problem.

Pre-tension on the OEM bars? My bump stops had a gap between them & the leaf springs ... no pre-tension. Hence. the OEM bar does nothing while cruising along or braking ... it only operates when accelerating, especially when towing a heavy load. Yes, the OEM bars help alleviate some spring wrap, but only when accelerating. Whereas the radius-rods I built for my truck work 24/7 ... while accerating, cruising, and braking.

25 years ago, I had a Toyota Landcruiser for which I bought a pair of commercially available radius-rods. I bought them to enhance offroad performance. My surprise came after I installed them, and was heading towards a local area to go 4-wheeling and see if I could feel any difference. On my drive to this spot, I crossed over some railroad tracks ... like I did several times each day ... and was shocked to feel how much smoother it was this time. No more bouncy feeling from the rear. That bouncy feeling was the leaf springs trying to normalize themselves after the axle had wrapped them a bit. With the radius-rods, the spring wrap condition was gone.

In 2003, I buy a 2001 Excursion. After a few weeks of driving, I'm feeling a little disappointed with the ride quality. I crawl underneath, see those lift blocks, and realize the X needs some radius-rods like I had bought 25 years ago. But my online search turned up nothing for stock-height Xs ... only those huge bars for 6", 8" or larger lifts. So, I made my own.

Ken E.

 

Land Yot,

Interesting. My bump stops (on traction bars) are mildly compressed. Wonder if Ford is "tweaking", without spending the money it really takes (e.g. radius rods).

Now, if I can just figure out how to justify these to my wife for a truck with only 2800 miles...

Thanks for your reply.