Good ride question.

[88workcar]

I redone the whole front end on my lil truck and new shocks all the way around it. I find it bangs hard when I hit bumps, potholes etc... Now I understand that it's a small light weight truck. Besides better tires and maybe not inflating them to the high side of the range, would a quality shock vrs the el-cheepo's that I put on here make a difference?

 

[97RangerXLT]

do you have the right size shocks for it? if they don't allow enough travel that could cause some banging. if you have the old ones, compress them all the way and measure them, then stretch them out. yank one of the new ones off and do the same, they should be similarly ranged. if the new ones don't move as much stop to stop, that would be your problem. you will likely end up breaking them at some point due to this.

AJ

 

[sgtsandman]

I’m not sure what you mean about inflating your tires at high side of the “range”. There is no range. If you are talking about the maximum allowable pressure marked on the aide of the tire, that is not the number you should be using.

If the sticker is still on your door or door jam, that is the pressure they should be at. Even if you went with a different size tire or one with a different load rating, the proper pressure would still be close to what is on the sticker.

 

[88workcar]

The shocks are correct to the truck. The shocks are not bottoming out or stretching out. I know it will never "ride" like a Lincoln Town car but I feel that it should be a little better. It was a night and day difference after all the new parts were installed and a alinement was done. I have two new tires and two about a year old. I just feel that the truck is harsh when I hit a bump or a pothole. I am asking what or if anything can be done to make it better. It may just be as good as it gets LOL. I did buy a cheep set of shocks and was wondering if expensive shock would ride any better.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Something I thought of the other day and didn't mention it... when you replaced all the front end parts... the suspension should be put under the weight of the vehicle prior to torqueing things up. If any rotating type bushings were torqued with the suspension dropped... it will certainly lead to ride harshness.

 

[88workcar]

Something I thought of the other day and didn't mention it... when you replaced all the front end parts... the suspension should be put under the weight of the vehicle prior to torqueing things up. If any rotating type bushings were torqued with the suspension dropped... it will certainly lead to ride harshness.

Yes sir, I went back and did that a second time to make sure. And for the record I'm not a bitchy whinny kind, I have had some tough rides in the past. If this thing is as good as they get, so be it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Truck 2wd? Is it a special package like an Edge or Trailhead?

 

[88workcar]

2wd short bed single cab

 

[Ranger850]

2wd short bed single cab

Just an FYI : You have the shortest wheelbase Ranger. The shorter the wheelbase, the rougher the ride. Also, you have one of the lightest Rangers, so, they bounce around a little bit more than others.

 

[88workcar]

Exactly what I was thing.... guess it is what it is, Thanks.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2wd short bed single cab

If it is one of those packages it has a torsion bar front suspension rather than a coil spring like a normal 2wd. Somebody could have destickered it too. Torsion bar trucks sit higher like a 4wd and would probably use longer shocks than a “normal” 2wd.

 

[ericbphoto]

.... And don't forget what sgtsandman said about tire pressure. It should be close to what the door sticker says. That pressure is based on the truck having some load in it. So you could even drop it a few psi lower if you normally drive unloaded. Too low or too high will also affect tire wear patterns and handling.

 

[pjtoledo]

I have a similar truck, 2005 reg cab 2wd 2.3 manual. 359,000 miles and had it since new.
unloaded I run between 29 and 32 PSI on 235/70-15 tires. loaded with 500 lbs 32-34 is fine.

I once had Goodyear Triple Treads 245/70-16 on it, spent more time in the air than in contact with the pavement.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Yes sir, I went back and did that a second time to make sure. And for the record I'm not a bitchy whinny kind, I have had some tough rides in the past. If this thing is as good as they get, so be it.

Very well... had to ask... not long ago someone did that and had the entire works in a bind.

@Ranger850 hit a nail on the head. It's short... it's light... it's kinda what they do. There is a limit though... the truck shouldn't change lanes at highway speed. PJ... was it really the tires... or were you pinching the reindeer dust again?

Tires and tire pressure are key to ride quality... experiment with some lower pressure as others have stated.

As for el cheapo shocks... some make better paper weights then shocks. I've been a KYB fan for years... if you decide to upgrade... have a look at some of their offerings.

 

[88workcar]

Thanks guys