Suspension upgrades?

[HenryMac]

My front end is a bit bouncy but not that bad. Granted, I have the FX4, which should have a stiffer rate anyway.

The weak shock dampening is the issue. A shock with a stiffer dampening rate is needed.

Actually the exact opposite is true. The FX4 is a softer suspension, not stiffer, than a regular 4x4.

I for one don't understand all the comments about a bouncy ride? Our XL FX4 SuperCab rides great.... but then again I've driven mid-size trucks since 1985 as a daily driver and don't expect an empty pickup truck to ride like a Buick Roadmaster.

Maybe it's something to do with the SuperCrew and weight distribution vs a SuperCab?

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

bouncing is not a result of inadequate stiffness. its a result of too little rebound dampening.

 

[sgtsandman]

Actually the exact opposite is true. The FX4 is a softer suspension, not stiffer, than a regular 4x4.

I for one don't understand all the comments about a bouncy ride? Our XL FX4 SuperCab rides great.... but then again I've driven mid-size trucks since 1985 as a daily driver and don't expect an empty pickup truck to ride like a Buick Roadmaster.

Maybe it's something to do with the SuperCrew and weight distribution vs a SuperCab?

In my experience, off road trucks typically have a stiffer ride. But in any case, a softer or stiffer ride isn't the concern. The weak dampening of the suspension is the concern. A bobbing and swaying truck while on the trail is. One needs predictability and a steady ride, especially in tight, technical sections. Of course, there is different types of off roading. So perehaps that is where we disconnect. I'm thinking dirt trails. Desert running could be different and a floatly suspension may be desirable there. Desert Runner looking truck does seem to be the rage. Like the Raptor for instance. Desert Runner.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

desert trucks arent any less stiff than anything else. it just looks more floaty cuz theres 20+ inches of travel. which is almost always progressive, meaning the spring rate and valving ramps up the more the suspension compresses.

ive been around tuning suspension in all sorts of off road vehicles and i can say with confidence suspension rules are the name no matter where the vehicle is being driven. you can have the heaviest springs and most compression dampening in the shock in the world and still be bouncing all over if you dont have a handle on the rebound side of the shock. if a rebuildable/ re valveable shock like fox, king, icon ect... is out of the price range, best thing to do is find a replacement shock with some sort of adjustment knob like the rancho 9000 series. im not sure if that exact shock has a rebound adjustment knob, but thats gonna be the biggest key to a less bouncy ride. obviously compression dampening plays some role in bounce, but not as much as the rebound side

 

[HenryMac]

In my experience, off road trucks typically have a stiffer ride. But in any case, a softer or stiffer ride isn't the concern. The weak dampening of the suspension is the concern. A bobbing and swaying truck while on the trail is. One needs predictability and a steady ride, especially in tight, technical sections. Of course, there is different types of off roading. So perehaps that is where we disconnect. I'm thinking dirt trails. Desert running could be different and a floatly suspension may be desirable there. Desert Runner looking truck does seem to be the rage. Like the Raptor for instance. Desert Runner.

My comments are in regard to the 2019/2020 Ranger FX4 option.

You stated "I have the FX4, which should have a stiffer rate anyway." Nothing is stiffer. The springs on the truck are the same as a non FX4 truck. In regard to the suspension the tires are different and the shocks have a lower dampening rate.

Nothing is stiffer.. that's my point.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Generally "Offroad" trucks as in those with "Offroad" or "FX4" stickers on the bed as some sort of offroading package have a little stiffer shocks and ride a little rougher than a mere mortal 4wd.

Being bouncy is kind of not normal.

 

[sgtsandman]

My comments are in regard to the 2019/2020 Ranger FX4 option.

You stated "I have the FX4, which should have a stiffer rate anyway." Nothing is stiffer. The springs on the truck are the same as a non FX4 truck. In regard to the suspension the tires are different and the shocks have a lower dampening rate.

Nothing is stiffer.. that's my point.

And my point is that the dampening rate for an FX4 should be higher, aka stiffer. I think you knew exactly what I meant.

People don't buy the FX4 package to have the ride qualities of a Lincoln Continental or Chevy Caprice.

 

[win]

The springs on the truck are the same as a non FX4 truck.

I am not sure that is the case. My wife's FX4 sits 2" higher, and does not share rear spring part numbers with std 4WD springs.

I purchased a pair of 4WD rear springs for my RWD and found they DO share the same part number as my RWD. So yea, I bought, and shipped in, a pair of exactly the same springs as I wanted to change.

On the front, the FX4 springs are .620" making them almost 10% stiffer than the .600" std front springs. And one of my spare FX4 front springs is a quarter coil shorter than the other making it even stiffer.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am not sure that is the case. My wife's FX4 sits 2" higher, and does not share rear spring part numbers with std 4WD springs.

I purchased a pair of 4WD rear springs for my RWD and found they DO share the same part number as my RWD. So yea, I bought, and shipped in, a pair of exactly the same springs as I wanted to change.

On the front, the FX4 springs are .620" making them almost 10% stiffer than the .600" std front springs. And one of my spare FX4 front springs is a quarter coil shorter than the other making it even stiffer.

This is on a 19+ truck?

I don't think there is supposed to be a ride height difference between 2wd, 4wd and FX2/4.

 

[sgtsandman]

This is on a 19+ truck?

I don't think there is supposed to be a ride height difference between 2wd, 4wd and FX2/4.

There is a difference but not a huge one, at least on paper.

 

[win]

2019's, yes.

Guess I should have said 2" higher at the rear wheel arch. The front arches are only marginally higher than std.

With the additional rake, the FX4 tail gate is even higher.

One thing that has puzzled me, Ford Parts clearly differentiates the "special" FX front suspension bits, but only the rear FX shocks. Cannot find the FX4 rear springs at all, even with the part numbers on the rear springs.

 

[sgtsandman]

Things like that are going to take time. The truck is only about a year old in the U.S. market. One does get spoiled with all the options available on the older Ranger models but one has to consider the basic platform has been around for a long time with lots of time for the aftermarket to develop replacements and upgrades for them. Especially since they are old enough for there to be a market for such things. With only a year under the new Ranger's belt, nothing is old enough to need replacement and the aftermarket is still figuring out what market there is for it and what kind of demand there will be for what.

 

[Country boy 1975]

I'm in a 91 stx ext cab, but i just installed gabriel load master coil overs. I've used the same style on a toyota i used to have and really enjoyed the suspension. However on this truck, the passenger side coil is right beside the sway bar, barely any clearance. I'm actually about to remove my rear sway bar to clear it

 

[gaz]

For the rear of the 87 Ranger is used a Helwig anti sway bar with Rancho 7000's. I didn't like the way the shocks felt so I switched to James Duff LLC 70/30's. WoW!!! Even with only 1 per side in the rear, their awesome. When things started to sag I installed 89 STX Hi Ryder rear spring pack and a helper kit to level it out (I used the complete Hi Ryder suspension). Recently the front stock coils are sagging so I am replacing them with Softrides.

For the 87 BroncoII, I went with a Superlift 4" kit and awith Softride coils in front and a custom rear pack built from a 94 Explorer XLT 4x4. Again, I used James Duff 70/30's on the the rear but with 2 on each corner and Duff's rear track bars.

 

[HenryMac]

And my point is that the dampening rate for an FX4 should be higher, aka stiffer. I think you knew exactly what I meant.

People don't buy the FX4 package to have the ride qualities of a Lincoln Continental or Chevy Caprice.

I do know exactly what you meant, and what your saying isn't true in this case of the 2019-2020 Rangers.

The FX4 shocks are mushy, not enough dampening, that's what makes the bounce or as was stated previously...

bouncing is not a result of inadequate stiffness. its a result of too little rebound dampening.

stiffer dampening wont do much unless the rebound dampening is more effective. bounce is not a result of stiffness, but a result of rebound control. rebound is how fast the shock can extend. lets say two shocks have the same amount of compression stiffness, a shock that has alot of rebound dampening (slow rebound) will bounce less than a shock with little rebound dampening (fast rebound).

And that's the issue on the 2019-2020 Rangers - A stiff mono leaf spring and a shock with poor rebound dampening for more bounce (but it's good for off-roading). Take the shock off and then see how "bouncy" the ride is.

That's why when folks remove the FX4 shocks and replace them with a shock that has better rebound dampening (which isn't what you want off-road) the ride improves (on the road).

It's kind of a common sense thing.... Want a better "road" ride.... don't buy an off-road package.