-Need some help for a softer ride!

[stevenc1]

Hey all...
So, if you see the pic in my sig and the parts in it, you can imagine it's not the smoothest riding rig out there.

It's getting old though...

I'm looking for ideas on how to smooth out the ride a bit while still keeping the tires and lift. Right now I have Baja ATZ's on it (38x15.50).

Here's my thoughts, please chime in with your own:
1-Lower the air pressure significantly. How much? What's a safe, low amount? Will this help or only cause more problems?
2-New shocks? I've taken the shocks off before when I painted them to match the flames on the truck and even with all eight of them off, the truck didn't "sit down" but maybe a 1/8th of an inch. Therefore I'm wondering if they really do a dam thing at all!
3-New, softer springs? I understand that the springs actually help HOLD UP the truck on the lift so if I get softer springs, will it start sagging down a bit too much?

Either way, I'm open for ideas as again, it's starting to get really old feeling every single bump, cigarette, crack and crevice in the road!

[mydirtytruck]

Im not sure, but i think you may be out of luck man...I had a truck with 10" lift and 40's under it, and the ride was horrible no matter what i did. Like you said, every little bump in the road feels like you hit a ditch, and it got old...i traded it for a cc with a 4" lift with A/T 35's.

[Fall Guy]

If you want to stay at the same height I would ditch the fabtech setup & go with a Icon or Pure Performance setup.

Several different options out there for you.

Get with Trevor @ PMF or Cary @ CT Performance both can get you set up properly

[Fall Guy]

Sneek Peek Of Icon/PMF 7"

Check out this setup.

[DieselFeverDisease]

Originally Posted by Fall Guy

If you want to stay at the same height I would ditch the fabtech setup & go with a Icon or Pure Performance setup.

Several different options out there for you.

Get with Trevor @ PMF or Cary @ CT Performance both can get you set up properly

What he said!!! I would truly ditch the fab tech if you want to remain lifted but yet have a nice riding truck. Granted I only have 4.5" of lift on my truck, it rides a lot better than stock! I have heard the same exact thing from guys running same brands (Icon or Pure) but have 7" or more. Also as mentioned above, Trevor (NotStock) or Cary at CT Performance will get you taken care of.
You could go the Carli suspension route, but your talking about twice the price of what has already been mentioned.

[stevenc1]

A whole new lift kit? Really? So I guess I'm a bit more ignorant then I thought, but a new lift kit would actually be a softer ride? Can someone explain this better?

[Skyd Ram]

Originally Posted by stevenc1

A whole new lift kit? Really? So I guess I'm a bit more ignorant then I thought, but a new lift kit would actually be a softer ride? Can someone explain this better?

Basically,
Your stiff ride is from a mulitude of issues:

Stiff coils
Dual generic shocks
Steep radius arm angle
Stiff stock leafs with tall blocks
Wheel/tire combination

You can fix a few items but you may not see a reasonable improvement until you address most or all of the factors that lead to the poor ride.

Assuming that your Toyo's are E-rated I would start with dropping the psi on the fronts to around 45psi and the rears to 30-35 when empty.

I would then look at ditching the dual basic shocks and going with a correctly valved single shock. This may not solve a lot as long as you are running the stiff coils and leafs though. The shocks can't do much to control the ride if the suspension is barely moving in the first place.

By the time you upgrade the coils, leafs, shocks, radius arm setup you will be close to just doing a better lift anyways.

[Thunderin Jimmy]

first off i see that you have dual shocks on your truck. most people just throw 2 shocks on and go their way. if you want duals, each one must be valved softer than say a single. i recommend just one quality single. and shocks don't hold your truck up. they help smooth it out and stabilize it. i've driven with none before (not recommended, its like driving a rubber d!ld0)

second, the springs you run play a huge role in the ride. i just upgraded to icon leaf springs from my ranchos and it made the world of difference. you get what you pay for.

moral of the story, you pay a little, you feel the bumps, you pay a lot, your truck rides like a caddy.

[DieselFeverDisease]

Originally Posted by Thunderin Jimmy

moral of the story, you pay a little, you feel the bumps, you pay a lot, your truck rides like a caddy.

That pretty much sums it up. Unfortunately now you will be a living testimony as to why you should get a nice kit the first time, because you truly get what you pay for..... Especially in the suspension department. You won't regret upgrading to a nicer kit if you go that route. Now Try explaining that to your wife lol..... "honey, I need a different lift, but it won't look any different than it does now"

[ol_Blue97]

you could try just replaceing the coils and shocks for now and see how she does...

icon
pure performance
deavor sprins