2000 Ranger 4x4 rides rough

[atvkid4eva]

Hey guys my 2000 ranger has 50k miles on it and is in mint condition, so no rust or anything. Its the nicest ranger ive ever had. The problem is when im driving its like i can feel everything in the floor boards. The smoother the road the better it rides, but regardless i can feel a pebble or a small dip almost all the time. Its like i feel the whole road all the time, not only when i hit a bump. It has new monroe shocks all around. I jacked the front end up and everything felt tight (Balljoints etc.). I expected this one with IFS to ride smoother than my old 97 with TTB, but it really dosent. What could be causing this guys? The tires are also in great shape and worn evenly. The steering wheel does not shake and it tracks straight, it just feels like im running over pebbles all the time even if the road appears flat. No clunks or anything when i hit bumps, only can feel it in the floor/cab. Let me know your input. Thanks!

 

[fixizin]

Does your 2000 have the PVH front hubs, or the live-axle setup introduced mid-year?

Auto or manual trans?

Are these sensations the same if you are coasting in neutral vs. in-gear and "on-it"?

 

[mitch4x4]

I honestly thought my 97 rode waaaay better than my 08 does. I miss the ride of the old TTB. I have cranked torsion bars so it makes this effect even worse, but even stock it rides fairly rough.

 

[4x4junkie]

It seems to me Ford might've gone a little overkill on the swaybar on the '98+ trucks.
My brother's '98 rides pretty rough as well (a lot of side-side pitching motions too). It smooths out dramatically with the front swaybar disconnected, however handling on the A-arm trucks seems to get a lot sloppier with it disconnected than the TTB trucks do (more body roll).

 

[mitch4x4]

Would you recommend running them without a sway bar?. I don't do very much highway driving with the truck unless I am taking the 4wheeler somewhere. My truck will toss and turn (back and forth) violently on some of the woods roads I am forced to use.

 

[4x4junkie]

You won't damage anything by running without it... However it's your call if you think the impact on your truck's handling is too severe or not.

I'd say disconnect one side of it and drive it around for a day or two and see how it feels to you. That should give you some idea if it's worth removing completely or leaving it hooked up.

 

[mitch4x4]

Thanks for the info! I am going to try it out, see how it goes. With my Torsion bars cranked anything that would give my truck some more give would be a good thing!

 

[Earl43P]

"With my Torsion bars cranked"

^ THAT'S what's making it ride rough.
You have no up-travel left.
Crank them back down an inch and see how much it improves.
BTDT.

 

[mitch4x4]

I know my torsion crank is causing a rough ride. But the truck was stock at one time, and even then it rode worse than my ttb did.

 

[mitch4x4]

I removed the sway bar today. So far I love the ride. Feels like the torsion bars are at stock height. Lots more wheel travel to. And no more side to side rock when you are going over bumps or off road. You can notice the body roll but with the rear sway bar still attached I think its a good combination. And even under heavy breaking I don't find the truck nose diving like I figured it would.

 

[4x4junkie]

The sway bar shouldn't have any effect on brake dive (at least in a straight line it shouldn't).

I haven't researched it, but I wonder if there's another vehicle that has a smaller diameter swaybar on it (4-cyl Ranger maybe?). Might give you a little better compromise between the harsh ride of the stock bar, and the body roll of not having one at all.

 

[mitch4x4]

That's a awesome idea, I will try and find out if there is any difference.