Improving on road suspension

FL Zipper · #1 07-21-2011, 10:54 PM

I know it's a truck and designed to haul stuff and maybe go down unmade roads etc, but this is just a second vehicle runaround and will be ON road for the foreseeable future.

What's the most effective way of gentling the pretty severe jolts when going over speed bumps (slowly!) and sharp changes of gradient on approach ramps etc which are loosening my fillings...

softer shocks? downgraded leaf springs?

All suggestions welcome.

Mileage 109,300

FL Zipper · #2 07-29-2011, 11:20 AM

Any suggestions?

darkstar_420 · #3 07-29-2011, 11:22 AM

shocks, thats about it as far as im understanding your question, sway bar might help some too

sgtsandman · #4 07-31-2011, 08:08 PM

A lower rated leaf spring might soften things up a bit too.

cdawall · #5 08-01-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtsandman

A lower rated leaf spring might soften things up a bit too.

splash's already have the lower rated leafs. it probably just needs new shocks. anything past that its a truck.

FL Zipper · #6 08-01-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdawall

splash's already have the lower rated leafs. it probably just needs new shocks. anything past that its a truck.

I'm guessing that they are OEM and with 109k on them are more or less totally wiped.
Next choice, replace with standard or pay more for Bilstein or similar, is it worth it for simple road use?

rstangboi · #7 08-01-2011, 11:41 PM

new shocks, maybe new bushings too on the leafs, shackles, etc

now if you dont mind sway...take off that swaybar haha

when i drove without mine...it drove sooo nice. really.

Puck · #8 08-02-2011, 01:54 AM

On the same topic, I recently lowered my 03 Ranger XLT. The ride in the front is for sh*t. Bare in mind that this is not my first lowered truck, but the first one had bags. Any suggestions on a good shock on a 3'' drop? Maybe a part #. lol. And if anyone has a bead on a better way to correct bump stearing due to the misalignment of the tie rods, I'd be greatfull.

cdawall · #9 08-02-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Zipper

I'm guessing that they are OEM and with 109k on them are more or less totally wiped.
Next choice, replace with standard or pay more for Bilstein or similar, is it worth it for simple road use?

any good shock will work i have bilstein 5125s and love them on my truck. my jeep has a standard BDS shock in the front and old chevy shocks in the back and it doesn't ride to bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstangboi

new shocks, maybe new bushings too on the leafs, shackles, etc

now if you dont mind sway...take off that swaybar haha

when i drove without mine...it drove sooo nice. really.

the front sway bar will help on these trucks it makes the IFS work like its independent. as for the bushing check them first but it they are the OEM's they probably need to be replaced.

rstangboi · #10 08-02-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdawall

the front sway bar will help on these trucks it makes the IFS work like its independent. as for the bushing check them first but it they are the OEM's they probably need to be replaced.

oh really.

cdawall · #11 08-02-2011, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstangboi

oh really.

having no sway bar makes the independent suspension work like an independent? yes the sway bar connects both a arms together forcing one side to do what the other does thats how a sway bar works. thats not independent. all that sway bar does is when one side compresses it forces the other side to effectively doubling the spring rate which helps prevent body roll and makes handling better, ride however suffers for the exact same reasons.

webster426 · #12 08-03-2011, 09:12 AM

I am having the same problem and I just installed the rancho 9000's.....its like the truck handles the little bumps fine, but will cause my wife to have an early pregnancy if I drive on one of California's rougher highways.

Christianguy · #13 08-03-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webster426

I am having the same problem and I just installed the rancho 9000's.....its like the truck handles the little bumps fine, but will cause my wife to have an early pregnancy if I drive on one of California's rougher highways.

LOL
No wonder all the women in my area are pregnant!
Haha ha

rstangboi · #14 08-03-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdawall

having no sway bar makes the independent suspension work like an independent? yes the sway bar connects both a arms together forcing one side to do what the other does thats how a sway bar works. thats not independent. all that sway bar does is when one side compresses it forces the other side to effectively doubling the spring rate which helps prevent body roll and makes handling better, ride however suffers for the exact same reasons.

well if you read what you wrote you didnt say that the first time. you stated just the opposite.

and the reason i brought up the swaybar is cuz if you take it off it softens up the front end alot...which just so happens to be what the OP was mentioning.

so before you become mr. dictionary

...make sense first.

cdawall · #15 08-03-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstangboi

well if you read what you wrote you didnt say that the first time. you stated just the opposite.

and the reason i brought up the swaybar is cuz if you take it off it softens up the front end alot...which just so happens to be what the OP was mentioning.

so before you become mr. dictionary

...make sense first.

it should have read no front sway bar....that was my mistake just a typo.