Leveling Recommendation - Close to Factory Feel

[RocketPack12]

Interesting. Even with 34.5” E rated tires I still get comments on how smooth my truck rides - and I also have the fox 2.0 kit.

But stock these trucks have too soft of shocks imo. Body roll is off the charts. The Fox kit helped make the ride more enjoyable all around vs factory.

The truck was smooth on the highway or on other roads with no imperfections. It’s just when pulling into parking lots that has a bump to enter, speed bumps, and other level changes where the truck jostled the family pretty good. I don’t want to be dramatic, the ride wasn’t awful but in no world could I have said it was soft. My wife who knows nothing about suspension mentioned that my new 2022 (factory suspension) felt so much better, and I agree wholeheartedly.

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[RocketPack12]

I removed my rear axle blocks and installed 2WD U-bolts and bump stops. The ride actually got smoother and the truck looks and handles great and it cost me ~$100 in parts. I feel anything you do to the factory ride beyond that will result in a less smooth ride especially if you go up.

Would you be able to send some pictures of the truck, especially straight on from the side?

 

[SumGuy]

The truck was smooth on the highway or on other roads with no imperfections. It’s just when pulling into parking lots that has a bump to enter, speed bumps, and other level changes where the truck jostled the family pretty good. I don’t want to be dramatic, the ride wasn’t awful but in no world could I have said it was soft. My wife who knows nothing about suspension mentioned that my new 2022 (factory suspension) felt so much better, and I agree wholeheartedly.

Well, it rides..like a truck.

Factory shocks are terrible at off road, imo. Too soft at speed on a sandy/rocky road the truck bounces and tracks way more than even the decent fox 2.0 suspension.

 

[bjl95mustang]

I really like my Bilstein 6112 front with the springs they come with. No regrets

 

[RocketPack12]

Well, it rides..like a truck.

Factory shocks are terrible at off road, imo. Too soft at speed on a sandy/rocky road the truck bounces and tracks way more than even the decent fox 2.0 suspension.

I'm familiar with how trucks ride. I think my use case might be different as my truck isn't used to tow heavy, off-road super often, and the like. Mainly for getting around town and having the capability of throwing stuff in the bed for convenience. The softer ride is nice for my use case.

 

[ynot]

2020 lariat, 275 55 20...just dropped rear 2" with new shackles, $55. looks good, same ride.

 

[RocketPack12]

2020 lariat, 275 55 20...just dropped rear 2" with new shackles, $55. looks good, same ride.

I'd like to see a picture if you have one.

 

[NitroDarwin]

Im thinking a puck spacer or King shocks is going to be your best bet. The installed Eibach coilovers to level my truck but was still wanting a softer ride compared to some others, but it is still firmer than stock. Most shocks are digressively valved(fox, icon, bilstein), kings are linear valved and Eibach are (case dependent (stage2 rears= digressive, stage2R rears= linear).

 

[XLT22]

Did the ride change much from stock? 1.5” sounds about right.

Not that I remember. There was still 3/8" or so of rake but it looked level.

 

[Munch]

The first bump I hit I was VERY disappointed and every time I drove my family for the next two years it was not a comfortable experience. The suspension was incredibly stiff.

My first thought upon reading this...did the installer adjust the locking collar, increasing spring tension, in order to gain a bit of additional "lift" in the front?

It is my understanding that FOX presets the coilover shock to the truck model. There are two P/Ns for FOX front coilovers for the F-150. The PowerBoost(and perhaps the 5.0) get a "high load spring" because of the additional weight in the front.

Adjusting the collar/spring tension from the factory preset will most definitely alter the performance of the unit.

While it can be a PITA, I always install with factory setting. If I do not like the ride after a few hundred miles, I can remove the coilover and adjust accordingly. But adjusting the coilover simply to achieve a desired height gain is going to make the ride harsher.

 

[RocketPack12]

My first thought upon reading this...did the installer adjust the locking collar, increasing spring tension, in order to gain a bit of additional "lift" in the front?

It is my understanding that FOX presets the coilover shock to the truck model. There are two P/Ns for FOX front coilovers for the F-150. The PowerBoost(and perhaps the 5.0) get a "high load spring" because of the additional weight in the front.

Adjusting the collar/spring tension from the factory preset will most definitely alter the performance of the unit.

While it can be a PITA, I always install with factory setting. If I do not like the ride after a few hundred miles, I can remove the coilover and adjust accordingly. But adjusting the coilover simply to achieve a desired height gain is going to make the ride harsher.

That's a great question. I'm not sure what the installer did as I'm not very educated on suspensions. I did ask them to set the lift to a pretty low setting as I actually prefer a modest 1.25" lift up front.

 

[ynot]

probably lost about 200lbs of load and tongue capacity...but 10,000lb boat and trailer with no significant difference, no sag.

 

[JCsTruck]

Would you be able to send some pictures of the truck, especially straight on from the side?

Its all in my thread. https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/rear-blocks-removed-2-0.38487/

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