Smoother Ride Help Please
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Smoother Ride Help Please
I'm trying to get a smoother ride out of the dually. I have thought of shocks, but I have heard Bilsteins, KYB, and Monroe, also would a fluid dampner help as well? I am trying to get a ride as close to a sedan as I can get with the DRW. I am a neophyte when it comes to this so any help with brand and models(in particular with shocks, but if there is something else I should change that it would apply to as well). Sometimes those potholes just kill me if I hit it just right, I had at one time thought about it, but I got bombarded with too many different brands and I just don't know where to go where I would believe I wasn't getting a sales pitch. Thanks for the help.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Bilsteins are 10 levels above anything else you can put on your truck. I couldn't believe the difference in ride and handling when I got rid of the crappy stock shocks. I also installed Hellwig swaybars which made a huge difference in handling, but my truck doesn't have training wheels (sorry--I couldn't help it--LOL) so that may not help you at all. I don't know about the KYB's but the Monroe's won't come close to the Bilsteins. Like Wish said.....maybe try putting it on airbags---they are definitely worth the coin.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,634
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From: bricktown NJ
I kind of like the bouncing,when the wife rides in the truck 
No ........i know what you mean.I thought the same thing.I just came back from a trip one way 3000k truck was empty and it bounced all over the place.Forget about the concrete roads with the groves in them.On the way back home the truck had some weight in it and rode a lot smother.You know these truck's with training wheels need some weight on the rear end.....06 cc drw 4x4
No ........i know what you mean.I thought the same thing.I just came back from a trip one way 3000k truck was empty and it bounced all over the place.Forget about the concrete roads with the groves in them.On the way back home the truck had some weight in it and rode a lot smother.You know these truck's with training wheels need some weight on the rear end.....06 cc drw 4x4
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by WishIhada7.3
its not a IFS/IRS sedan...its a straight axle truck...but with that said shocks may help but maybe look into airbags??
Last edited by tex25025; Jun 7, 2007 at 09:14 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by npccpartsman
Bilsteins are 10 levels above anything else you can put on your truck. I couldn't believe the difference in ride and handling when I got rid of the crappy stock shocks.
Originally Posted by npccpartsman
Like Wish said.....maybe try putting it on airbags---they are definitely worth the coin.
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 204
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From: U.P of Michigan
Bilstiens are top shelf but are stiff shocks. They will help handling but they will also stiffen up the truck and it will ride rougher. I've had them on my 96 for the last 3 years and I remember the first ride like yesterday. I took off heavy duty gas shocks from Carquest which actually rode pretty descent and installed the Bilsteins. I was like damn, these things are STIFF! And 3 years later, they're still stiff. Thing rides like a dump truck.
I don't know what shocks to reccommend for a smooth ride. Something on the softer side. My current truck has Ranchos and it rides real nice. Better than my wifes car actually. Also helps to run a little lower tire pressure if you want a softer ride. You could also try some weight in the back behind the axle. Just make sure it's something secure. I know when I put the plow on my 96 and 600 lbs of ballast in the back, it rode much better. Either way, a dually will only get so good.
I don't know what shocks to reccommend for a smooth ride. Something on the softer side. My current truck has Ranchos and it rides real nice. Better than my wifes car actually. Also helps to run a little lower tire pressure if you want a softer ride. You could also try some weight in the back behind the axle. Just make sure it's something secure. I know when I put the plow on my 96 and 600 lbs of ballast in the back, it rode much better. Either way, a dually will only get so good.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Bossier City, LA
Air bags are pretty straight forward. They can and do leak however, so if you have money to spend on this mod, get the onboard compressor and regulator system. $600 for the hardware, being able to adjust the ride form the cab on the go....priceless.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 79
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From: Phoenix
I have the same problem with my 05 F350 dually I just bought. I heard that running the tires @ 45 psi helps, but I didn't really like the way it rode, not to mention the power loss and extra gas. I think I might add some airbags in a little while after a few paychecks
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 710
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From: Fallon,NV
I'm also looking to get a smoother ride as my feaux Rancho shocks on the FX4 are shot! I've always read about the Bilsteins too, but after installing them on the 97 PSD, I'm hesitant because it definitely made for a stiffer ride.
nppccpartsman, what series of Bilsteins give the best ride? Are they nitrogen filled? Thanks.
nppccpartsman, what series of Bilsteins give the best ride? Are they nitrogen filled? Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 853
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From: Oregon
I know its not what you wanted to hear but through some weight in the back and it will smooth it out a bit....
Heck buy a new Harley Davidson and throw it in the back and you can look cool and it will smooth out your ride. If your lucky you can convince your wife that its a great idea and she will buy into it also. $24,000 for a smoother ride and the cool factor is built in.
By the way I tried it on my wife and it didn't work; so good luck....
Heck buy a new Harley Davidson and throw it in the back and you can look cool and it will smooth out your ride. If your lucky you can convince your wife that its a great idea and she will buy into it also. $24,000 for a smoother ride and the cool factor is built in.
By the way I tried it on my wife and it didn't work; so good luck....
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 86
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From: SoCal- Long Beach Area
If you want it to ride like a Mercedes or Lexus, you'll have to drop some major coin.
I've driven a truck with the Kelderman kit and the ride was very close to my Lexus LS400.
http://www.keldermanairride.com/
I've driven a truck with the Kelderman kit and the ride was very close to my Lexus LS400.
http://www.keldermanairride.com/
