[janitorjohnson]

I have been a fan of the 2wd level truck for awhile. 4x4 is not a big necessity in AZ so when i got my 2011 Ecoboost I put a leveling kit in the rear that is just a shackle the changes the leaf mount location.....
but that creates the issue with a load or trailer making it sag like an S10 hauling concrete so I installed some Ride Rite bags from Firestone. It helped with the appearance but now it rides really rough. I've tried everywhere from no air to 30 psi and it seems to ride the best at around 20 psi, but that brings the rear end almost back up to stock height. ...sigh....

I know that the air bags aren't supposed to affect ride at 5psi, but it is most definitely noticeably worse and I'm sure it's because of the new mounting point on the leafs. My pregnant wife is the first to tell me that.

So, on to my question.....Would an aftermarket shocks clean up that rough ride(i.e bilstein gas shocks) or is there some way to lower the bracket on the air bag cuz I do notice there is a bit of space under the bag mount between the leaf and the mount.

And I also have an afterthought. I had to tow my mother in laws car home from the mountains on Wednesday the 3rd so I pulled the car hauler the 90 miles to the break down spot and towed the loaded trailer back and the truck did great. It is an extremely up and down drive that proved to be the killer to several cars that we saw on the way up there. It is after all AZ and it was between 100 and 110 the whole drive. Truck didn't miss a beat. And as for the bags for towing they work tremendously well.

Anyway, I appreciate any ideas.

 

[cnrwbaker]

I know how you feel I put those bags on and it made it ride rougher so I took them back off till I can figure out something different

 

[F-BOMB]

I think that any shock unless engineered to be used with bags cannot improve ride.

Preload and rebound must be precise.

Run the bags with 0 psi and report back.

 

[janitorjohnson]

Honestly on 0 psi it's even worse. Gives it a bottom out feeling on every bump and bounces like crazy.

 

[F-BOMB]

Another thread with Firestone airbags suggested Monroe Load Matic shocks.

Why is there space between the bag mounting bracket and the leaf spring?

 

[jonrjen]

Post deleted.

 

[janitorjohnson]

Another thread with Firestone airbags suggested Monroe Load Matic shocks.

Why is there space between the bag mounting bracket and the leaf spring?

Ok. But aren't these shocks used in place of bags? Or are they known to help get the ride quality back?

 

[jonrjen]

Try pulling the valve stem core out of the fill line and give it a drive for being an unloaded experience. Even with the air pressure at 0 there is air trapped in the bag. With the valve core out of the stem there is no trapped air as the open valve will work as an exhaust for the trapped air to escape. At least it works that way in my mind.

Another route maybe to replace the rear shocks with a shorter shock. By dropping the rear end 2" to get a level stance you have already reduced the amount of bottom damper by 2" of the factory shocks. Again, just thinking out loud.

 

[janitorjohnson]

Those are good ideas. I will try that.

 

[jonrjen]

Those are good ideas. I will try that.

Let me know if that helps out any. I may need your feedback once I get my Air Lift bags installed on mine.

By the way, I have been meaning to tell you....Great looking truck. The White and black contrast is a perfect balance on your truck.

 

[janitorjohnson]

Let me know if that helps out any. I may need your feedback once I get my Air Lift bags installed on mine.

By the way, I have been meaning to tell you....Great looking truck. The White and black contrast is a perfect balance on your truck.

Thank you for the compliment. I'm still looking for the proper head/taillights to further add to the look.

I've tried the stems out and it improves with the small bumps but big bumps acts like bottoming out.

 

[Bendapole]

I am playing a similar game with the Firestones. Did you trim the U-Bolts on the bottom bracket? Mine hit the upper bracket.
Mine is 4X4 OffRoad with GroundForce 2" shackles with shim. The spacer block has been removed.
Bilstein 2wd shocks.
I am pretty happy now at 7 PSI.

 

[janitorjohnson]

I am playing a similar game with the Firestones. Did you trim the U-Bolts on the bottom bracket? Mine hit the upper bracket.
Mine is 4X4 OffRoad with GroundForce 2" shackles with shim. The spacer block has been removed.
Bilstein 2wd shocks.
I am pretty happy now at 7 PSI.

Wait, let me see if I understand.... You went lower on your 4x4? I'm not saying I'm against that at all... in fact I'd consider it as I wouldn't need the ground clearance and I am a fan of the lower level look. Not slammed either as it's not practical. You think the bilsteins made any sort of an improvement?

 

[prime81]

You may look at the load lifter 5000, has an internal jouncer which I would think would help.

LoadLifter 5000 ULTIMATE Towing Air Spring with a Jounce Bumper Inside | Air Lift Company

 

[Bendapole]

Sorry for the delay.. The Bilsteins are way better than the Ford Offroad Package shocks ( I think they are the standard F150 shock anyway). I changed at 4000 miles. I was never a fan of the rake on the stock truck. I am basically at your ride height. and perfectly level. I am going to remove the airbags next week and make a couple of mods to them. I will let you know how they work.

 

[Sundie]

Really stupid question: when you lowered your truck, did you tell the place you ordered your airbags that? If you say "i have this truck", they're going to send you the appropriate height bags. Bags are internally bump stopped (i believe) so your description of "bottoming out" is probably accurate. You may need shorter bags.

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[janitorjohnson]

So I called Firestone and the second I mentioned that I was lowered guess what...... he says, "That's your problem and your not going to fix that ever." That kinda stinks. The only thing I could think of doing now is to put the truck back up to stock height in the back and level it out by bringing the front up.

 

[Sundie]

If you've stuck with your stock springs (and gone with a lowering shackle, for instance) , you *may* be able to get a load spring inserted. But again, inform the people you're ordering from that you've lowered your truck before ordering.

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