How to make F150 ride better?

[2Lazy2P]

I wouldn't unless you seriously give your suspension a workout. Level w/ 2.25" pucks (you have a PB, them's some heavy girls). Consider a rear sway bar, between rear sway and front pucks you won't dive in turns and it'll handle the road better. Higher performing shocks help out if you change out your wheels / tires by a margin of 20% (increased weight). Otherwise that kit on a powerboost is mostly moot. You're already carrying 600lbs more than a non PB truck, and your shocks and springs are already the highest there is. Even stiffer than a raptor's. They warn of such in the kit.

The pucks are more than cosmetic, they bring the CG up and aft ever-so slightly and decrease the front dive in cornering.

I had an 08 Tundra when they came out (came with 305-50-20 on BBS wheels) and at the time it was the best driving truck there was. Driving / handling was amazing, 'lexus' like in-fact. Put the TRD rear sway on it and it made a world of difference. My next 'truck' after that was the 22 F150 and it rode even better than the tundra did (though doesn't turn like it), once the f150 got it the sway bar. There was a few years and other vehicles between them, but the F150 was certainly a nice ride. Tundra wheel/tire package was region specific and not common. Both are trucks that don't ride like it. Glad my needs don't require 10 ply tires.

All good points. My truck is an Ecoboost which may change the equation?

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[HammaMan]

All good points. My truck is an Ecoboost which may change the equation?

Spring and dampening rate should match your factory weight. The pucks and sway would still go a long way. You can get by with less pressure, personally I'd still run a bit more ~38 front, 36 rear. What characteristics are you looking for? Your weight distribution has a higher percentage on the front wheels so you'll likely gain even more from a rear sway.

 

[2Lazy2P]

Tighter in turns, less sponge effect over road bumps.

 

[Calson]

My 2022 F-150 has the softest ride of any pickup or SUV I have owned or rented by a wide margin. Unless you really need the bed of a pickup truck you should buy a SUV and maybe consider taking them for a test drive BEFORE you buy one.

 

[powerboatr]

my 22 kr 4x4 rides SUPERB
yes its soft on rebound a bit, but dayum its a nice ride
i can take curvy roads at speed and still feel in control
but my 22 f250 4x4 road every well to
i also have the super soft pirelli scorpions awr tires at 35 psi

 

[HammaMan]

Tighter in turns, less sponge effect over road bumps.

Rear sway and adjust pressure, highest that feels best, the less roll you'll end up with. Find that spot in the road, hit it adjusting pressure over and over in the evening / when there's no traffic. I've got an angled bridge that's like a 12% grade going over the RR with significant pavement shift in a part of town they rarely touch the roads. Even after it gets done, trucks tear it up because it's so steep. Perfect spot to judge and calibrate suspension.

Rear sway changes the frequency / motion of the rear wheels, as well as helping seat it in corners. Someone needs to make a good panhard bar for the F150. That'd lock the side to side solid. Only one I'm aware of needs welding. Hard to beat a good IRS w/ leaf springs, but you can at least keep it in place. My guess is IRS well be in next gen F150, or at least an option.

 

[Chili]

"ride better" to me is running the 20s at 40 psi and installing a rear sway bar. Significantly better road handling at the cost of slightly more fuss over very large terrain deltas. Road handling and towing are the above. Off road is different entirely. On road the truck is already caddy soft and the above helps correct that (less body roll, firmer ride). Granted my truck weighs a hair over 6klbs with just me in it, another ~200lbs of tools and gear onboard makes it 62xxlbs.

No, it's not a race car by any means, but I like my street handling a bit firmer. ALL trucks need a rear sway. I couldn't imagine running 31psi. If you saw your tires in a turn at that pressure, you'd raise it to 35 at least. F150s from the factory are already really soft and the lack of rear sway -- well, put one on and you'll understand. Even a small rear bar makes a world of difference. Makes cornering more of lean than a front dip/dive. That's a big deal IMO.

The powerboost's frame is the most rigid except for the raptor's. It's 30% wider center-beam than all non-raptors, and 10% thicker steel than the raptor's. It's a bit of franken-frame. Not quite raptor, but definitely heavier than all other F150 frames.

Made a post on it here
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/the-pbs-franken-frame-and-gimped-gvwr-sticker.13070/

I've veber added a sway bar to a truck but in my experience stiffer sway bars make for a firmer ride. Upgrading shocks would do so as well

Powerboost would want to skip the 4600 and do the 5100 or 5160 because they are a firmer shock, designed for heavier wheels/tires.

 

[FORDTEXAS]

I'm not saying Ram's don't ride nicer, I'm sure they do. But does your Ram also have oversized tires and a level like your F150?

The only Ram I've driven was a prior gen, 2015 maybe? My 22 F150 rides nicer. I have heard that the newer gen Rams ride better but never driven one.

I also know they don't have the over 1900lbs payload in a standard payload package crew cab truck with a decent amount of options like I do.

my Ram is stock and at one point my F150 was stock. my Ram feels a lot more planted on the roadways as opposed to the bouncy/floaty feel on my F150.

 

[thudnblunder]

Rear sway and adjust pressure, highest that feels best, the less roll you'll end up with.

What’s the trade off with a rear sway bar?

 

[Snakebitten]

Ground clearance off-road.
I honestly can't think of anything else negative about what the rear sway brings to the truck.

 

[HammaMan]

What’s the trade off with a rear sway bar?

off road articulation --- it's the reason why some vehicles have the ability to disconnect the sway bar.

 

[thudnblunder]

off road articulation --- it's the reason why some vehicles have the ability to disconnect the sway bar.

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[thudnblunder]

Ground clearance off-road.
I honestly can't think of anything else negative about what the rear sway brings to the truck.

I’m pretty happy with the ride of my max tow FX4 PB, it’s so much better than the truck I test drove that didn’t have any of these packages.

I’d love to ride in one with a sway bar to see the difference before committing.

 

[HammaMan]

I’d love to ride in one with a sway bar to see the difference before committing.

Go drive a new ram 1500 or a tundra, both have them

 

[Snakebitten]

Go drive a new ram 1500 or a tundra, both have them

They're smart to do that too.

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