Rough Country M1 Strut/Shocks

[Area5150]

I installed the front and rear M1 units on my '23 F150 and I'm conflicted with the purchase, the products and the performance. I've had other trucks including F150 and F250's on Bilstein 5100 and this is the first time i've invested in Rough Country products. I've committed to giving them 500 miles before going in really hard on them but what I noticed right of the bat was:

• On my truck the advertised lift was dead on. Came set at 3", I moved to 2.75
• The ride is MUCH bumpier than stock. Seems like the front is always bobbing up and down as I drive and you feel it in the cab
• Freeway driving felt almost dangerous with the level of movement transferred to the cab and not soaked up by the struts! (think ricer with cut coils)
• Less body roll than before
• Rear end doesnt jump around when going over rough spots. stays planted
• Made in China <-- this seems like most of their parts though

I took it on some pretty uneven roads with lots of bumps and I almost feel like they need to settle in but I have no history with them so Im learning as I go on my way to 500 miles with them. Not a full review, but it seems like no one else has a review or a real comment about them so I wanted to share

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[Area5150]

Update:

I felt like I owed coming back and providing feedback on the RC M1 struts/shocks. As noted above, my initial impressions were that these rode very rough but over the course of 300 miles and some mild off roading these have broken in nicely. Nice firm ride on the road that keeps body roll to a bare minimum and they eat up offroad bumps and ruts!

 

[EL5_Zero]

I had the same reaction when I installed the M1 struts and shocks on my '07 F150. After one camping weekend on rough roads and approx. 500 miles of freeway driving, they have settled in nicely. I have approx. 5K miles on the new suspension, and my truck rides great down the road with 37 Mickey Thompsons Baja AT and a 8" lift.

 

[TX_Tim]

I just installed the M1 level kit set at 1.5. It sets a bit higher than I expected. The week brought this truck home I pulled the blocks on the rear leafs and it still had a rake to it. Will the M1 settle any after some miles and bumps?

 

[Area5150]

I just installed the M1 level kit set at 1.5. It sets a bit higher than I expected. The week brought this truck home I pulled the blocks on the rear leafs and it still had a rake to it. Will the M1 settle any after some miles and bumps?

No. My experience is that these MF will not settle. Honestly I don't trust the RC documentation or their tech support. My 3" lift was more like 3.75 out of the box.. I had to put the clip all the way down to get 3" . Which ring land do you have it set to?

 

[TX_Tim]

It is set in the 3rd from the bottom for 1.5". It lifted the front about 1.5". Seems a little nose high to me although each fender measures ~40"

 

[Area5150]

It is set in the 3rd from the bottom for 1.5". It lifted the front about 1.5". Seems a little nose high to me although each fender measures ~40"

I'm not a suspension expert but you pulling the blocks probably has a lot to do with the nose high look. What exactly are you trying to accomplish ?

 

[madvent]

I installed the front and rear M1 units on my '23 F150 and I'm conflicted with the purchase, the products and the performance. I've had other trucks including F150 and F250's on Bilstein 5100 and this is the first time i've invested in Rough Country products. I've committed to giving them 500 miles before going in really hard on them but what I noticed right of the bat was:

• On my truck the advertised lift was dead on. Came set at 3", I moved to 2.75
• The ride is MUCH bumpier than stock. Seems like the front is always bobbing up and down as I drive and you feel it in the cab
• Freeway driving felt almost dangerous with the level of movement transferred to the cab and not soaked up by the struts! (think ricer with cut coils)
• Less body roll than before
• Rear end doesnt jump around when going over rough spots. stays planted
• Made in China <-- this seems like most of their parts though

I took it on some pretty uneven roads with lots of bumps and I almost feel like they need to settle in but I have no history with them so Im learning as I go on my way to 500 miles with them. Not a full review, but it seems like no one else has a review or a real comment about them so I wanted to share

How are your CV and Upper control arm angles at 2.75? I just bought these because the 2” ones were not enough for my wheel and tire set up. Deciding whether i want them set at 2.5” or 2.75”.

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