What Rear Shock Upgrade Will Fix My Bumpy Ride?

[Buyer2021]

My concern now is that the ride quality is quite harsh. While driving around it just feels like I am getting catapulted around in the cab. It's worse when you sit in the back. My father has literally the exact same truck as me (totally stock) and the difference is night and day. I had a 2021 XLT with the same level kit installed and the ride quality was the same as factory, which is why I think my problem lies with the rear suspension/airbag set up.

Just to clarify and provide a 'baseline' of what's an acceptable ride to you ....

Did you find the at the ride on your current truck was acceptable as stock / 'factory' / before you installed the pucks and bags?

Did you drive the truck with only the pucks, and if so was the ride acceptable with only that mod?

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[itsDom]

I run mine with zero pressure also when not towing. I also left out the bolt on the bottom so that they would not bind or get over extended when off road or going over a large bump in the road. No problems so far and I don’t think it would work on the straight style bags. The factory shocks are not great though and I look to upgrade to some fox 2.5 in the future.

Interesting, I will have to look into leaving the bottom bolts out and test the ride. I guess I didn't mention in my original post was that because I have the Air Lift Wireless One onboard compressor it automatically makes the minimum limit 5 psi and I have been unable to make this any lower.

 

[itsDom]

Just to clarify and provide a 'baseline' of what's an acceptable ride to you ....

Did you find the at the ride on your current truck was acceptable as stock / 'factory' / before you installed the pucks and bags?

Did you drive the truck with only the pucks, and if so was the ride acceptable with only that mod?

I found the ride after the pucks were installed acceptable. I find that the ride after the airbag installation to be... okayish...sometimes.

I just did a test where I basically isolated the airbags, removed all the air, let them vent and drove around. The ride was wayyy better. So my issue does indeed lie with the airbags themselves. Another user mentioned that it may have to do with the airbags having the internal jounce bumpers, but I think I have ruled those out as potentially being the cause.

I knew before I installed the airbags that it would change the ride characteristics of the truck but I guess I didn't know how much it would change. I am going to put a couple ball valves in line of the wireless onboard compressor and airbags and just let them vent when not towing.

 

[OleMustyBag]

Interesting, I will have to look into leaving the bottom bolts out and test the ride. I guess I didn't mention in my original post was that because I have the Air Lift Wireless One onboard compressor it automatically makes the minimum limit 5 psi and I have been unable to make this any lower.

Try Putting it on a switch and turn it off when not towing.

 

[OleMustyBag]

Wow! You have Onboard Scales too, and no problems? Whose airbags do you have? As I already laid out in an earlier post ( https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/air-bags-for-trucks-with-on-board-scales-caution.20600/ ), at the time of purchase, Firestone was the only company making airbags for trucks with Onboard Scales. Maybe things have changed since then...

I also installed the AirLift compressor and remote. Had very high hopes, but would up being extremely disappointed. The compressor/manifold leaks, and as per AirLift Customer Service, losing 5 PSI in a 12 hour time frame is within specs! So, that means the compressor is CONSTANTLY turning on and off, on and off. And adding salt to the would is that the compressor is LOUD. I'm driving down the highway at 70 MPH and you easily hear it kick on. Passengers ask, "What was that? What happened?" I've since added a switch to the compressor and installed a valve between the airbags and the compressor. I leave the valve closed unless I need to inflate/deflate the airbags, then I open the valve and turn on the compressor. When finished, I close the valve. A real PITA - very disappointing for the amount of money that the system cost.

If I remember right, these airbags do NOT have internal jounce bumpers.

Try removing all threaded connections and add teflon tape and pipe thread sealer over the tape and re install. Remove all push connections and cut the tube square with a proper tubing cutting tool on the end and make sure it’s pushed in all the way into the connector. Mine will hold 10 psi, after three weeks it’s only down to 8psi.

 

[DK4]

Wow! You have Onboard Scales too, and no problems? Whose airbags do you have? As I already laid out in an earlier post ( https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/air-bags-for-trucks-with-on-board-scales-caution.20600/ ), at the time of purchase, Firestone was the only company making airbags for trucks with Onboard Scales. Maybe things have changed since then...

I also installed the AirLift compressor and remote. Had very high hopes, but would up being extremely disappointed. The compressor/manifold leaks, and as per AirLift Customer Service, losing 5 PSI in a 12 hour time frame is within specs! So, that means the compressor is CONSTANTLY turning on and off, on and off. And adding salt to the would is that the compressor is LOUD. I'm driving down the highway at 70 MPH and you easily hear it kick on. Passengers ask, "What was that? What happened?" I've since added a switch to the compressor and installed a valve between the airbags and the compressor. I leave the valve closed unless I need to inflate/deflate the airbags, then I open the valve and turn on the compressor. When finished, I close the valve. A real PITA - very disappointing for the amount of money that the system cost.

If I remember right, these airbags do NOT have internal jounce bumpers.

I have the Airlift 5k setup (without jounce bumpers). Posted pics earlier in this thread. I don’t run an onboard compressor, never have with any of my bags. I always have a portable 12v compressor with me everywhere I go and just use that. Mine will hold air at pressure for weeks without leaking.

Zero problems with the install. I installed them myself in a few hours. They ride awesome too. They don’t feel stiff at all until I get up to 20psi or so

I didn’t read your thread you linked to but I don’t think having scales impacts the airbag install more than any other truck with the rear height sensors.

I mean pumping up your bags will throw off the scales of course, but I wasn’t aware of any install issues. At least one mine.

One of the main reasons why I went with the kit I went with is because they were compatible with the height sensors. The PacBrake kit is another awesome kit that is compatible. Have no idea about the Firestones.

Thanks for the info on the bumpers on the Firestone bags.

Edit: I installed mine in June of 2022. At that time I know both my kit and the PacBrake kit were offered for our trucks with the rear height sensors.

 

[Mtnman1]

G

Hi everybody,

I own a 2022 F-150 Powerboost hybrid with 4x4 and Max Trailer tow. The truck does not have CCD and no FX4.

When I got the truck, I knew I wanted to lift the front with some puck spacers (not actually pucks, I just forget what brand I purchased) to remove the factory rake for when I'm just cruising around town. It lifted the front of the truck about 2" over factory. It looks great and doesn't cause any noticeable loss in MPG - God bless the Powerboost.

I also tow a couple different types of trailers quite frequently and the truck would squat quite a bit, which isn't safe and defeats the point of having a levelled truck. So, I outfitted some AirLift Load Master 5000 airbags with the onboard compressor to help level out the truck while towing. I love it! It works great and I love the versatility that the airbags provide. My plan was to always put the airbags on, as I thought being able to run the airbags at 5 psi while just cruising around would preserve the factory ride quality. However, that hasn't been the case.

My concern now is that the ride quality is quite harsh. While driving around it just feels like I am getting catapulted around in the cab. It's worse when you sit in the back. My father has literally the exact same truck as me (totally stock) and the difference is night and day. I had a 2021 XLT with the same level kit installed and the ride quality was the same as factory, which is why I think my problem lies with the rear suspension/airbag set up.

I think I would be able to eliminate most of my ride quality woes with a rear shock upgrade. I have been looking at the Bilsten 4600's or 5100's and with the research that I've done I'm even more confused about which shock would best suit my application.. I don't know too much about these shocks, or any shocks actually.

If anyone would be able to chime in with their suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated as I don't really have the time to make a mistake and order the wrong shocks..

Thanks in advance!

Easy, ditch the pucks and bags. Easy peasy.

 

[FirstFord]

Try removing all threaded connections and add teflon tape and pipe thread sealer over the tape and re install. Remove all push connections and cut the tube square with a proper tubing cutting tool on the end and make sure it’s pushed in all the way into the connector. Mine will hold 10 psi, after three weeks it’s only down to 8psi.

The compressor was installed well after the airbags were installed, and I had zero leaks prior to the compressor installation. After the installation, I tested all connections with soapy water, etc., etc. and had no leaks. Solely through the process of elimination, I determined that the leak was inside the manifold/compressor unit, of which AirLift Customer Service virtually confirmed by telling me that a 5 PSI leak per 12 hours was within their specs. Customer Service also confirmed that if I opened the manifold/compressor (to confirm/find leak), I will void the warranty. My so-called "solution" was to throw good money after bad and added a valve and switch.

 

[FirstFord]

I have the Airlift 5k setup (without jounce bumpers). Posted pics earlier in this thread. I don’t run an onboard compressor, never have with any of my bags. I always have a portable 12v compressor with me everywhere I go and just use that. Mine will hold air at pressure for weeks without leaking.

Zero problems with the install. I installed them myself in a few hours. They ride awesome too. They don’t feel stiff at all until I get up to 20psi or so

I didn’t read your thread you linked to but I don’t think having scales impacts the airbag install more than any other truck with the rear height sensors.

I mean pumping up your bags will throw off the scales of course, but I wasn’t aware of any install issues. At least one mine.

One of the main reasons why I went with the kit I went with is because they were compatible with the height sensors. The PacBrake kit is another awesome kit that is compatible. Have no idea about the Firestones.

Thanks for the info on the bumpers on the Firestone bags.

Edit: I installed mine in June of 2022. At that time I know both my kit and the PacBrake kit were offered for our trucks with the rear height sensors.

I posted a link to my original post on this matter (the link that you said that you didn't read) just so as to avoid repeating what I had already stated earlier. But, things don't always go according to plan....

One of the points that I covered in relaying my experience was the fact that back when I was originally shopping / researching for airbags, I found (at least at that time) that all of the manufacturers of airbags that I looked at for my truck expressly listed their product as being not compatible if equipped with Onboard Scales, or in a few cases, not even acknowledging the Onboard Scales option. The only exception was Firestone - they had added an airbag specifically for Onboard Scales equipped trucks. This alone instilled a big shot of confidence that the Firestone product was the way to go. But as previously posted in the linked thread (and I'm trying not to continually repeat myself from other threads) it turns out that the Firestone product was released to market prematurely, and I had plenty of issues. That was then, this is now. This discussion triggered my curiosity and I went back and and looked at some of the airbag products again, and the Onboard Scales exception seems to have evaporated. I've gone down this rabbit hole far enough, but that was the reason why I was surprised that you didn't have any installation issues.

In short, once I reworked all of the brackets and hardware and got the airbags in, I'm very happy with them. However I am extremely disappointed with the onboard AirLift air compressor that I added later. I thought I would be adding a great convenience, but instead added a PITA that wasn't looking for.

 

[DK4]

I posted a link to my original post on this matter (the link that you said that you didn't read) just so as to avoid repeating what I had already stated earlier. But, things don't always go according to plan....

One of the points that I covered in relaying my experience was the fact that back when I was originally shopping / researching for airbags, I found (at least at that time) that all of the manufacturers of airbags that I looked at for my truck expressly listed their product as being not compatible if equipped with Onboard Scales, or in a few cases, not even acknowledging the Onboard Scales option. The only exception was Firestone - they had added an airbag specifically for Onboard Scales equipped trucks. This alone instilled a big shot of confidence that the Firestone product was the way to go. But as previously posted in the linked thread (and I'm trying not to continually repeat myself from other threads) it turns out that the Firestone product was released to market prematurely, and I had plenty of issues. That was then, this is now. This discussion triggered my curiosity and I went back and and looked at some of the airbag products again, and the Onboard Scales exception seems to have evaporated. I've gone down this rabbit hole far enough, but that was the reason why I was surprised that you didn't have any installation issues.

In short, once I reworked all of the brackets and hardware and got the airbags in, I'm very happy with them. However I am extremely disappointed with the onboard AirLift air compressor that I added later. I thought I would be adding a great convenience, but instead added a PITA that wasn't looking for.

That is a bummer you had so many problems and I’m glad you are now past that for the most part.

All I was trying to convey is that both the AirLift 5k or the PacBrake kits would have bolted right up to your truck no problem, no modifications needed. Both of those kits have been available since early 2022 and maybe even 2021.

When speaking only about the rear suspension mechanically, there is nothing different on a truck with scales, and a truck without scales so long as the truck without scales has the ride height sensors (502+ trucks at a minimum, so a bunch).

It’s not surprising that you didn’t find airbags listed as “compatible” with scales because technically none of them are. The sales use the height sensors to work. When you pump up the bags, that changes the ride height which makes the scales now useless even if the bag kit bolts up just fine mechanically.

You were on the right track though, but rather than looking for airbags that were compatible with scales you should have been looking for bag kits that were compatible with the height sensors.

The air compressor issue is a whole nother problem that I feel for you on. THAT is an issue that you shouldn’t be forced to deal with.

 

[Calson]

My 2022 with the max tow package with no modifications made has the smoothest ride of any pickup or any large SUV I have driven by a wide margin. The many changes by the OP has made for a poor ride and new shocks are not going to help much.

Shocks are meant to dampen the movement of the springs and not dampen shocks to the frame. The one addition that greatly reduced wheel hop with my 1-ton pickup was the addition of a Helwig Bigwig rear sway bar. A sway bar will transfer the impact at one wheel to the opposite wheel, which on a sedan is a negative aspect of their use. On a pickup with its very light load on the rear wheels this negative attribute becomes a positive one. The rear sway bar reduced wheel hop in turns by more than 75%. No change with a heavy load in the bed but a big difference when the bed was empty.

 

[Jracing123]

bilstein 5100 on my max tow made a huge difference for only 30min of work in my driveway

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