Bad ride quality

[Lar]

2000 ranger xl ext cab, 3.0l flex
I have replaced upper and lower control arms and bushings complete front repair. The ride quality is still bad on rough roads. Before front end repair, I replaced the front shocks Monroe hoping that would help fix bad ride, but did not, so had front end rebuilt, but still bad ride.
Please help me in determining what I need to do from here.
Are the shocks I put on before front end repair could they be bad as well ?
Lar

 

[2011Supercab]

It is a truck, You won't get a car like ride from it,

With rough roads you will get a harsh and bumpy ride, you'll feel every bump in the road.

 

[Lar]

I fully understand the difference between a car and a truck ride. I guess I should have said that before all this work the ride was just fine before any of the replacement took place ride just keeps getting bad. No to little difference after all this work.

 

[Lar]

Also I have had this truck when it was new. and the ride has been good up until about 1 yr. ago. Looking for ideas on how to make it better not pointing out the diff. between cars and trucks
Lar

 

[2011Supercab]

Before front end repair, I replaced the front shocks Monroe hoping that would help fix bad ride

I guess I should have said that before all this work the ride was just fine

Which one?
First post says you replaced parts to fix bad ride

Second post says ride was fine before replacing parts

 

[Lar]

Ride was fine until about 1 yr. ago when the rough ride started, that is when I started the repairs.
Lar

 

[SenorNoob]

What size tires and pressure?

 

[Lar]

The tires which have been the same size from when I purchased it. 255x65x15r pressure 30 front 35 rear.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The springs are 24 years old, they may be sagging. The shock may be too stiff as well, which would give a harsher ride.

 

[Lar]

Does not show any signs of sagging. Is there a way to test the coil springs?
As far as the shocks I put on Monroe oem shocks about 6 months ago

 

[Cees Klumper]

If your truck is cab on separate frame, with rubber isolators to dampen vibration etc, check whether the cab is touching the frame somewhere. I had a mild fender bender in my Bronco II and it caused the frame to move and touch the body. Ride became very harsh as a result. I replaced shocks to no avail. Then loosened all the body-to-frame through bolts: the body moved back where it should be and vibrations were gone. Very smooth ride for a 1990 truck.

 

[SenorNoob]

No way to test coil springs that I'm aware of. Suppose you could see how close you are to the bump stops... Maybe hitting them on every bump?

 

[JoshT]

New shocks probably aren't bad, but they are Monroe OEM replacement shocks. They can be working perfectly but still not provide the same characteristics as the OE Ford shocks.

Also when you replaced the control arms, did you have weight back on the suspension when you tightened up the bolts? If not, it could be putting the pivot bushings in a bind which could affect the ride quality.

Have you considered that you've changed? You say that you've had the truck since new, so almost 25 years. You were a younger man when the truck was new. You got used to how it rode as you both grew older. Something may have broken that abruptly changed the way it felt. When you repaired it, you removed that 25 years worth of wear and tear on the suspension causing it to ride different that what you had grown accustomed to. Not saying that it's all in your head, but...

 

[superj]

i was going to ask if you tightened the new parts with the truck sitting down or in the air as that can make it ride rough

 

[2011Supercab]

i was going to ask if you tightened the new parts with the truck sitting down or in the air as that can make it ride rough

The way I make this out.

Ride was fine, a year ago the ride became rough, That's when he started replacing parts trying to fix it.