Ride Quality
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Senior User
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Ride Quality
I have 2000 miles on my 4x4 reg cab. On smooth roads and the highway the truck it is a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately most of my time is driving low speeds, patchy roads. I find the ride super rough and an rock hard at low speeds ( below 30 mph) and am wondering how to soften the ride a bit. I have the 18" wheels with the good year eagle tires. They state 40 psi cold, I run at 37 psi. Would different tires or dropping the pressure help. Does any one else feel the ride is rough at low speeds?
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Chesterfield, Mi
I feel it too, especially on the overpass when I get off the express way. I don't feel the bumps in my Windstar. Seems like the truck is just really sensitive. Considering all the problems with tires in the past, Id probably leave the pressure to spec
Not to mention your gas mileage will drop.
Not to mention your gas mileage will drop.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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I have heard other post about people having 4x4's complaining about how bumpy it sometimes can be. If you have a 4x4 like you have, you will feel bumps in the road more then what 4x2's will feel. The 4x4's have a stiffer ride due to having a suspension for off road use. Not to sound rude or anything, thats why I went with a 4x2 after test driving one after a 4x4, the 4x2 drives a lot smoother then the 4x4's. I'll take the better driving verses off road suspension since I hardly even go off road anyway. Ride on! :-)
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
If your tires are LT tires, then a switch to P-metric will soften the ride a bit. Your load capacity will drop.
I would advise against lowering your tire pressure.
Try putting something in the bed to help put the suspension in it's optimum dampening range.
I , too, have a 4x2 and the ride is great! Especially compared to my 03 Expedition!!
I would advise against lowering your tire pressure.
Try putting something in the bed to help put the suspension in it's optimum dampening range.
I , too, have a 4x2 and the ride is great! Especially compared to my 03 Expedition!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
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From: NH
As mentioned the 4x4 suspension is stiffer. Another thing is the tires. The larger the rim the less sidewall(cushining) you have in order to keep the overall tire/rim size relitivly(sp?) the same. It is also a truck and not a car therefore will ride rougher in general. I have also heard that the box frame allows the driver to feel more of the road because there is less flex in the chasis.
Think of this for a second. You know all those "ricer" cars you see driving around. Well they have tight suspension(with the drop) and than they go and put the biggest rims and shortest sidewall tires thay can find. You see these cars literaly bounce as they drive because there is no cushining between the road and the body. I know this is an extreme example.
I was also told not to deflate a radial tire as the contact patch changes(less contact) if you are at the wrong air pressure. A couple pounds over or under the recomented should be fine tho, but not 10+. In soft sand may be another story.
Think of this for a second. You know all those "ricer" cars you see driving around. Well they have tight suspension(with the drop) and than they go and put the biggest rims and shortest sidewall tires thay can find. You see these cars literaly bounce as they drive because there is no cushining between the road and the body. I know this is an extreme example.
I was also told not to deflate a radial tire as the contact patch changes(less contact) if you are at the wrong air pressure. A couple pounds over or under the recomented should be fine tho, but not 10+. In soft sand may be another story.
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I understand the 4x4 suspension is going to be stiffer, I'm just looking for suggestions to soften up the ride a bit in the lower MPH range. It really is hard to beleive that the truck is so smooth at one point and so bumpy at the other.
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From: South Jersey
Originally Posted by tank55
I understand the 4x4 suspension is going to be stiffer, I'm just looking for suggestions to soften up the ride a bit in the lower MPH range. It really is hard to beleive that the truck is so smooth at one point and so bumpy at the other.
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My new 2004 Lariat 4x4 is definately stiffer than both my 95 4x4 XLT and my 97 Lariat 4x2.
I've been driving over the same roads for 12+ years, and they get pretty bad with all the frost heaves. My 2004 Lariat will scare me a few times on some very bumpy roads I drive over. Feels like the rear end is fishtailing!
I've never felt that with either of my other two trucks. I just figured the frame/suspension of the new truck is MUCH stiffer.
I just have to remember to slow down on those two spots so I don't scare myself silly!
I've been driving over the same roads for 12+ years, and they get pretty bad with all the frost heaves. My 2004 Lariat will scare me a few times on some very bumpy roads I drive over. Feels like the rear end is fishtailing!
I've never felt that with either of my other two trucks. I just figured the frame/suspension of the new truck is MUCH stiffer.
I just have to remember to slow down on those two spots so I don't scare myself silly!
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I never feel the fishtailing, compared to my 98 150 the 04 is steady as a rock. I did experience a strange sensation one time on an off ramp that I hit too fast. I can't explain it exactly it almost felt like the sidewalls of the tires gave way, scared me for a second or so but I still to this day don't know exactly what it was.
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From: Chesterfield, Mi
Originally Posted by tank55
I never feel the fishtailing, compared to my 98 150 the 04 is steady as a rock. I did experience a strange sensation one time on an off ramp that I hit too fast. I can't explain it exactly it almost felt like the sidewalls of the tires gave way, scared me for a second or so but I still to this day don't know exactly what it was.
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