Anyone here using Bilstein or Rancho shocks on their 1st gen? If so; how do you like them? I just put 4 new Monroe HD shocks on my 93. I have the 2 1/2" Skyjacker leafs on the front; which have helped in regards to ride quality, somewhat. She's still a brutal ride on our rough NE IL - SE WI road I know the old 1 ton - 3/4 ton trucks, will never ride like the new one's - but there has to be some way to improve ride quality? The Kelderman (SP) setup is out of my $ range!

A buddy of mine suggested that I remove a leaf pack or two, out of the rear leafs, then add air bags (for when I need to tow). 1/2 ton Ram charger leafs in the rear; along with bags were another suggestion mentioned. Has anyone tried this? I know suspension seats would help (like baja racers/truckers use), but again they are expensive. Any price conscious suggestions on improving the ride quality on my 3/4 ton, is greatly appreciated! I guess I could try an air cushion first

 

Ask Hoss, his idea was cheap, practical, and long lasting.

 

It is a lost cause..lol... Try taking the rear shocks off and let me know how you like it.. I took mine off and wow!! I am running with one right know in the back.. Been to lazy to try my shock relocation trick.. I also took two leaves off the bottom and that didn't help at all, so save yourself that task...

 

I've got Keldermans on all four corners and they help some but it's still not a Cadillac. Frankly, there are several brands of aftermarket leaf springs I've seen referenced on some recent posts here in our DTR forum that I think might ease the stiffness even better than the Kelderman air bags.

And if you're trying to chase away the stiff ride, stay away from high-tech “monotube” shock absorbers such as Bilstein. I regret buying my Pro-Comp monotubes. Rancho (“twin tube” technology) makes an adjustable shock that, on its softest setting, might help.

Good luck.

 

If your into fabricating spring mounts, longer springs would make the ride much more bearable.

 

Air ride suspension would be my number one choice if money wasn't so hard to hold onto. The cheapest thing I found was lower tire pressure in the rear. I just put on six new BFG commercials and found that at 40 psi I can get the tread to hit the ground almost all the way across the tire and my kidneys like it a lot better while empty. 65 to 70 psi in the front keeps her running straight and true.

 

Back to the removing leafs theory, DNR, you might want to try removing different leafs, as it seems to me the upper leafs are seeing more action when the truck is unloaded versus the bottoms.Not sure if you meant you removed the flat thick leaf on the bottom and the next up, but if so the flat leaf is for flattened out support under load, but you probably mean the next two up, your a pretty intelligent guy.

My other thoughts were longer springs as mentioned, I have been lookin at newer trucks, even Fords, and longer leaves and less of them, while being thicker and wider per leaf is the newest technology so to speak.

I also thought about losing or rearranging weight that the truck bears and replace it with or relocate it over the rear axle when possible. A nice set of remote batteries before and after the wheel wells on the side opposite the fuel tank would give you room under the hood, add a second battery, and counter some weight opposite the fuel tank. Maybe always keeping your tank full, and putting tools stored in a traditional box, in a custom box(es) tucked in fore and aft the wheel wells might help too. That is what racers do to relocate the necessary weight they carry without adding excess for traction and ballasting purposes.

 

My bed on my 92 probably has 1000 maybe 1500lbs. in it, just parts, steel for 2 g/n hitches, tool box full, 5 sp trans, ect.. It still rides rough, it's just an ole skool work truck. I'm thinking if you want the smoothest ride is to install the longer 52 to 56 inch spring pack. I think i'll add an airride suspension under my drivers seat since I have onboard air, "just a thought", not sure if I can get an a/r suspension low enough.

 

I am running the bilstein 5125 on mine Not A caddy by any means but way better ,plus I used the new springs from skyjacker. I did find that now I do need a rear sway bar though

 

What about a custom pack of thinner springs? Ive seen a few lifted ferds, maybe 98-03 7.3's, and the front pack looks to have about 10, 1/4 inch leafs, isn't that supposed to yield a better ride? The longer pack idea would probably be ideal.

 

Despite being derided by the high-end shock crowd as just another overpriced cheap shock, I've found the Rancho 9000XLs to work very well for me on the softest setting. That's with Skyjacker springs, and oversized E-rated Nittos inflated to around 60lbs. Noticeable improvement over the 5000s and D-rated BFG AT's that were on there when I got it.

You have to remember the whole tire/spring/shock combo is working together to give you the overall feel or ride impression going down the road. And nothing will make it ride like a car or later model truck, except possibly a full air makeover.

 

My trucks ride decent with weight in the bed,always gonna be stiff, but it takes the bounce out.

 

Good point about the D rated tires .that makes a huge difference on mine to . I done worry about the rating due to the fact i do not tow. I know i had a set of Yokohama At's on my 2001 quad and i got 80,000 k and they were D rated

 

I am thinking seriously about moving my spring mounts and installing longer springs along with bags. I have seen this done to make use of chebby rear springs. The only problem I see is that it moves the hangers away from the cross members. On my crew, I have already addressed this issue with the ramcharger cross members in the back getting ready for the rc tank up under the bed. In the front, I figure to make a custom cross member or just install a second factory member in front of the original. It all depends on how it fits with a factory ctd fuel tank.

From the research I have done, this is what I have found (assuming the Ked-set-up is out):
1. longer springs
2. slickery bushings on the ends of each leaf
3. less spring with airbag compensation for heavy loads
4. more thinner springs in the pack (still netting less spring)
5. anything I missed?

 

Powerrammaster,
I wouldn't look to newer F@rds for any clues to a better ride! I commute in my wife's bro-in laws '05 crew, shortbed, 4x4, F*rd every other day. It may not be quite as harsh as my '93 CTD but man does it pogo at 65mph on the freeway we drive. It about makes me want to barf it's so bad. I'd be ****** if I spent $35K for a miserable ride like that.