replacing stock suspension
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replacing stock suspension
I own a 2001 4.2L V6 F-150 and it still has the stock suspension installed. Im relatively new and inexperienced when it comes to car parts. What brand or parts should I use replace the stock suspension? Im not trying to lift or lower it in any way. Just want that smooth ride. Thanks!
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From: central TX
Do you usually have some sort of a load in it, or is it empty most of the time?
Have the ball joints/ tie rods ever been replaced? They won't change the ride all that much, but it is something to inspect.
Different people have different definitions of "smooth ride" from what I've found. To some it means not feeling bumps (softer), for some it means not having much bounce after having gone over a bump.
As far as the ride, you are looking at tires and shocks. Both can change things pretty dramatically depending on what you go with. I have Bilstein shocks and Michelen LTX tires, it is about perfect for me. A little firm at times (for some people, others have thought they were soft), but with any sort of load (even just a couple hundred pounds in the bed) they are fantastic. The Bilsteins help get the truck back on center (up/down) quickly after bumps very nicely, no more bouncing.
Are you looking at doing more than shocks?
How do you use the truck and what is your budget?
Have the ball joints/ tie rods ever been replaced? They won't change the ride all that much, but it is something to inspect.
Different people have different definitions of "smooth ride" from what I've found. To some it means not feeling bumps (softer), for some it means not having much bounce after having gone over a bump.
As far as the ride, you are looking at tires and shocks. Both can change things pretty dramatically depending on what you go with. I have Bilstein shocks and Michelen LTX tires, it is about perfect for me. A little firm at times (for some people, others have thought they were soft), but with any sort of load (even just a couple hundred pounds in the bed) they are fantastic. The Bilsteins help get the truck back on center (up/down) quickly after bumps very nicely, no more bouncing.
Are you looking at doing more than shocks?
How do you use the truck and what is your budget?
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Joined: Mar 2007
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let me tell ya, my dad is a big gm fan and my brother is a dodge man...poor misdirected fellas i know...both of their trucks are waaaaay newer then mine (by about eight years) and they both admit that my 98 ford extended cab 4x4 is the smoothest riding of them all. Mind you the gm has a smoother shifting tranny and a quieter cab but for the ride you can't beat my ford.
The point is this, if your looking for something "smoother" then a bone stock ford i would imagine your looking for something plush and car like.
If that is the case and I could be way off base here, but if thats the case I would recommend a light tire ply, softer rebounding shock absorbers and for the ulitmate, softer springs. that will give you that cloud car feel. not much of a work truck but she'll be softer then a baby kitten.
The point is this, if your looking for something "smoother" then a bone stock ford i would imagine your looking for something plush and car like.
If that is the case and I could be way off base here, but if thats the case I would recommend a light tire ply, softer rebounding shock absorbers and for the ulitmate, softer springs. that will give you that cloud car feel. not much of a work truck but she'll be softer then a baby kitten.
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I dont really know that much about any of that but im pretty sure everything on it has not been replaced yet. The tires are brand new though. Most of the time I will be just hauling people for the most part, 3 or four maybe. Any time I go over a bump, it feels like the whole truck just jumps. The engine is not that powerful, so Im trying to just make it look and ride nice. Budget not really an issue, but im not trying spend all I got on it...yet.
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From: central TX
Shocks? Yes, front and rear shocks are different.
It's still going to be a truck. When unloaded, it is often the rear which is going to contribute more to ride harshness. As stated above, shocks can only do so much to help ride quality. About the only thing that could (halfway) easily be done after shocks and tires is to remove a leaf from the rear spring pack (or new springs). This will reduce payload capacity though. New springs would either have to be custom made or, the only aftermarket springs I know of that are softer, are going to also lower the truck considerably.
It's still going to be a truck. When unloaded, it is often the rear which is going to contribute more to ride harshness. As stated above, shocks can only do so much to help ride quality. About the only thing that could (halfway) easily be done after shocks and tires is to remove a leaf from the rear spring pack (or new springs). This will reduce payload capacity though. New springs would either have to be custom made or, the only aftermarket springs I know of that are softer, are going to also lower the truck considerably.
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You might try placing 200 to 300 pounds of weight in the cargo bed over the rear diff around the wheel well areas to smooth out the ride. It's not much for eye appeal but it works well. Some examples could be metal ballast weights, sandbags, kitty litter with a plastic bag over it, etc.
Last edited by phonedaddy; Apr 4, 2007 at 04:42 PM.
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