Save me from myself: Need Better Ride When Loaded 2024 XLT Screw

[Scott-E]

Late last year I installed 2" spacers in the front to get rid of some of the rake, which to me was just too intolerable. That impacted the rear (obviously) on the occasion that have a payload or the whole family in the truck. To address this, I added airbags which I now regret, because when the whole family is in the car (or I have a heavy payload in back), the rear sags and the suspension is terrible. If I inflate the airbags, it raises the rear but the ride feels way too unstable/bumpy.

I have a 10-hour ride coming up (we're driving to our vacation destination, rather than flying so that we can bring a bunch of beach crap with us). I'm looking to ditch the current setup and just go for new suspension, front and rear. I have stock tires. My priorities are, in order:

1. Ride quality when loaded
2. Ease of installation
3. Not requiring frequent manual adjustment
4. Cost (though am looking to stay under $1500 in parts for this)

I've spent hours and hours trying to research this, and feel like I get less clear on it the more I read. I'm pretty mechanically inclined but the suspension stuff is like Greek to me with all the terminology. Can anyone bail me out of this rabbit hole with a suggestion based on the above list? If so, you will be my HERO.

Thanks in advance!!!!

Sponsored

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Cheapest and easiest option might be to just swap out the rear shocks for some with better rebound valving to cancel out the bounce when using the bags. Something like the Bilstein 5100's might do well for you. They offer OE like ride so won't be any different for normal day to day driving but the rebound is considerably stiffer especially compared to the OEM Ford or FX4 dampers and virtually eliminates the bounciness or rolling boat like ride of the stock dampers and should help when there's a load in the truck. Takes just 20-30 minutes with a set of hand tools to install them too.

Other options are get a set of adjustable rear shocks from Fox, Rough Country, or Eibach instead. With these you can set them to be firmer or softer based on the load and/or when you have the bags inflated. Downside is you have to fiddle with them each time and adds complexity and additional failure points since there's no good way to protect the valve adjusters from dirt and debris.

Last option I can think of would be to install rear helper springs. @Stage3Motorsports has multiple different options available that may work in tandem with the bags you already have, or would be a better setup over them.

 

[Scott-E]

Cheapest and easiest option might be to just swap out the rear shocks for some with better rebound valving to cancel out the bounce when using the bags. Something like the Bilstein 5100's might do well for you. They offer OE like ride so won't be any different for normal day to day driving but the rebound is considerably stiffer especially compared to the OEM Ford or FX4 dampers and virtually eliminates the bounciness or rolling boat like ride of the stock dampers and should help when there's a load in the truck. Takes just 20-30 minutes with a set of hand tools to install them too.

Other options are get a set of adjustable rear shocks from Fox, Rough Country, or Eibach instead. With these you can set them to be firmer or softer based on the load and/or when you have the bags inflated. Downside is you have to fiddle with them each time and adds complexity and additional failure points since there's no good way to protect the valve adjusters from dirt and debris.

Last option I can think of would be to install rear helper springs. @Stage3Motorsports has multiple different options available that may work in tandem with the bags you already have, or would be a better setup over them.

THANK YOU. That is very clear and helpful breakdown. Adding the Bilsteins feels like the right approach given ease of and time of installation. That said, being able to adjust is also desirable.

Follow-up questions:

1. Would either option allow me to eliminate the airbags altogether? I'd say about 90% of my driving is done alone, or with one or both kids. 10% is as a family or when I have a loaded bed. I would be more inclined to adjust the shocks for that 10% if it meant I wouldn't have to worry about the bags anymore (I would just delete them).

2. With the helper spring (which is adding a leaf, right?) - would that eliminate the bags AND the need for adjustment when loaded? Trying to best understand this option - if it is specifically to get rid of the bags or it just generally helps in addition to the Bilsteins.

Thanks again!

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You're welcome. Shocks alone won't help with suspension sag, just improve ride quality. To eliminate the bags completely but reduce rear squat when loaded you would still need to swap them out for alternate suspension components such as a kit like this one.

RoadActive Suspension (RAS) SD Kit
https://activesuspension.com/products/ford-f-150-pickup-4wd-2021-sd

Changing rear shocks is still going to help the ride quality over stock even with a kit like this, sdo I'd say start with the shocks since that's easy and inexpensive and see how it rides and go from there.

 

[ak49rzrs]

As @Porpoise Hork said those are good options. Unfortunately with working to get your ride height leveled out when you have a load comes with downsides as you've noticed. Prepare for the members to come and tell you the leveled truck is blah blah blah. Anyhow. Better shocks will help tremendously. I had an '07 GMC 1500 I had leveled with the Rough Country struts and rear shocks, we had a 23'' TT back then and I installed the Airlift 1000 (If I remember right) and it was firm, but not harsh at all. Planted and stable and headlights weren't in peoples eyes.. Also for light duty applications you can get the air bag cradles, which when you're not towing or hauling the bag is not still connected to your axle so it rides like it did without airbags. Keep us posted on what you come up with.

 

[Joe_Lee]

I leveled my '23 XLT FX4 with 2.5" pucks when I bought it and hated how it sags when I tow my boat. After spending WAY too much time on this subject, I finally bought the Road Active Suspension and installed it. I bought the HD model but probably should've bought the SD model. At the lower 15% (white spacer) setting, it raised the rear of my truck 3/4" leaving me with 1.25" of rake. It's not my favorite look but I prefer this to the sag when towing since I tow almost every weekend.

 

[Scott-E]

Thanks, all. So it sounds like my plan is to first install the rear Bilsteins. I'll see how we do with that. I might even just go ahead and order the RAS SD kit now since it seems likely that I'll install those also (just to get rid of the bags).

Last question (for now) - I came across the 5100 series that we've been talking about:
https://www.americantrucks.com/bils...ear-shock-for-0-to-1-inch-lift-33-253190.html

I also came across what looks like a beefier version, the 5160 https://www.americantrucks.com/bils...ear-shock-for-0-to-2-inch-lift-25-311372.html

Is there any advantage to the beefier version for someone who almost never tows or goes off-road?

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I have the 5100's on mine and love them. Much improved ride over the stock FX4 dampers that mine came with. I rarely tow and the most off road driving I do is the 2.5 mile dirt road to the in-laws property in the country and they handle that with no issues. As for the 5160's they are designed for much more aggressive off-road use, thus the additional reservoir attached to them much like the Fox 2.5 and 3.0 dampers have. If most of the driving you do is paved then the 5160's would be overkill for you needs.

 

[Scott-E]

Billstein 5100s and RAS SD kit ordered. I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to help me get this sorted. I feel good about this plan and am excited for the install. I'll update folks with results to get this on the interwebs for future reference.

In the meantime, if anyone needs help with Healthcare IT systems/device integration, and/or recreational boat systems I'm happy to help lol.

 

[tomcaudell]

You won’t be disappointed in the Bilstien 5100 I put the shocks in the rear and struts in the front. You set the ride height on the front with an adjustable c clip. I set mine at 2”.The struts have a longer travel the pucks limit the travel as the shocks are extended further in the static position. The guys at shocks surplus were very helpful and had a great price. Mine were around $520 delivered to my house. I had a local tire shop install the struts and do an alignment. This was $150 for both. I plan on adding air bags to my truck as well for towing my back hoe. I’m currently using my GMC 2500 HD for that. I bought the F150 5.0 for my work truck trying to keep the mileage low on the GMC and use it for my 40’ fifth wheel. The shocks will stop that swaying and also the rear bounce when you’re empty. Good luck.

 

[Chili]

Personally I think the Bilstein ride too rough, especially in 5100s unless unless you have oversized LT tires. I'd go for the Eibachs and set them around 1" lift up front.

 

[Scott-E]

OP Final Results: removal of the airbags and the addition of the Bilstein 5100s and Active Road Suspension SD kit solved my problem of sag while significantly improving the ride quality.

I want to thank everyone on here for responding to my request for clear direction in order to avoid another internet discussion rabbit hole. I arrived to the solution quickly and couldn't be happier with the results! More info below, for those considering this solution for their truck:

Following the advice of folks on this thread, I removed the airbag kit entirely. I installed Bilstein 5100s in the back. I rode this around for a few days, and they did noticeably improve the ride, though I still had the sag problem (as expected). I then installed the Road Active Suspension. They have two settings for amount of assist: 25% assist and 40%. I set it at 25%, which lifted my back end by about 7/8". This was not expected at the time, though later research indicated that this is expected on most installations. Anyway, I welcomed the change so all good.

Riding around unloaded, I experienced what others have described as "feeling more planted' on the road. My perception of this is that you feel more of the road surface, but the "hop" is completely gone. Steering control is consistent through pot holes, etc. It feels more secure, and in general is a better ride - but in the truck sense, not in the Cadillac sense (if that makes sense, hah).

I just returned from our annual trip to Virginia Beach, where we take the truck, load it up with all our gear including two adults and two medium-sized kids. I was VERY happy with the performance across all road surfaces, from freshly paved highways to NYC surface roads.

Note on the ARS: There are two pre-load settings, one for 25% added support, and one 40% (though it's an adjustable spring so theoretically there are as many settings as you want so long as you have a reliable way to measure the gap between coils). I set it at 25%. Just before we left for vacation I ran into a valve problem on one of my boat's engines which resulted in me needing a replacement head. I found one on Long Island, and decided to grab it on the way home rather than pay freight. It weighs about 250lbs, and was added towards the tailgate since we didn't want to re-arrange everything. While I didn't measure it directly, this definitely creating some sag that was noticeable visually as well as how the track handled. If I had known this before we left VA, I would have set it at 40% pre-load. For those towing, or frequently carrying a heavy payload I suggest you set at 40%, or consider the HD kit instead.

Parts
Bilstein 33-253190 Rear Shocks. ($210/pair, Amazon)
Active Road Suspension SD Kit 3611-Y. $539, ARS website (arrived super fast).

Sponsored