Possible to regain that new truck "sports car" ride??

[fixizin]

I remember when my 4x4 was brand spankin' showroom fresh... for just the first 2,000 miles... before I had ever taken it off-road... it had KILLER ROAD HANDLING!

That puppy truck cornered FLAT, like it was on RAILS! It was completely impervious to strong crosswinds and didn't budge or weathervane even when oncoming semis with no median had closing speeds of 120MPH!

... then it faded away, and became like so many American vehicles... squishy... rolly... could even get rocked by folks blowing by at only 45mph while I waited in the left-turn lane...

The rear is where I think "it" maybe disappeared. Could it have been the sway-bar bushings? Leaf spring bushings? Shocks? The sidewalls of the infamous "exploding" Firestone Wilderness ATs? What, WHAT? Will a few clicks on the torsion bars bring back the magic?

I'd really like to get "it" back, if only I knew what "it" WAS... lol. Does anyone know what I'm rambling on about?

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

Your truck is almost 10 years old so it's to be expected.

Your torsion bars have sagged a bit most likely, and your rear leafs are definitely weaker if you're been hauling/off roading with your truck.

Replacing the bushings all around can make a huge difference. Replacing them with polyurethane ones will tighten up your ride. Check around the internet to see who makes replacement bushings for your truck. I think Energy Suspension does. Leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, etc.

Are you still running the stock shocks on the truck? If so, it's definitely time to replace them. I have Bilsteins on my truck and it made an enormous difference in ride quality and handling. Plus they have a lifetime warranty.

 

[fixizin]

Yes, my stee-Ranger is 9 years old, but what I'm talking about "went away" within 2 months of driving it off the lot. I noticed it at the time, and made notes (which I recently found), but I really didn't have time to pursue it back then. (You can imagine what the dealer would say if I made such vague complaints... bastiges had already tried to stall/renege on a bedliner THAT WAS IN WRITING )

Front gas shocks are 9 years old too, but only 33K mi. on the whole rig... that'll probably change... may be my daily driver soon... will have to be able weave in and out of beemer-weenies.

But yes, I'm strongly gravitating towards urethane bushings all-'round... is there a how-to page on that? One with a complete LIST and helpful pics? Anything more major than lifting the bed off?

I'll go one set of bushings at a time, starting in the rear, and see if "it" returns.


PS: Since you're the 3.0 Vulcan's biggest fan, go check out my 3.0 vs. 4.0 thread, and tell us what you think.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=145351&posted=1#post145351

 

[Forcus]

Bushings, shocks, springs. It may have only 33k but time ages these components as well.

I'd wager that the shocks were the first items to wear out. They are cheaply spec'd from the factory. But since they wear progressively you don't notice a huge difference over time until you get new ones.

I'd also check ball joints, tie rod ends, even steering box play (which should be adjustable). Check the rag joint / slip joint in the steering column.

On older trucks, the cab mount / radiator support bushings need checked as well.

The torsion bars will loose some rate over time as well. Cranking is an option but as you can search and read maybe not the best.

 

[fixizin]

Radiator support bushings? Hmmm... doesn't sound like a RIDE quality item, but I guess it could develop a nasty rattle. Doing a lot of cooling system maintenance this week, so I'll check that out.

Are these bushings common/universal, or Ford Dealer only items??