Poor hiway ride

[dshockley]

Alright guys,



My wife and I took the new W-250 home this weekend (300 miles). The hiway ride lacks quite a bit to be desired. What have you guys tried to smooth the ride. Now I now I'll probably get a lot of comments about how it is a real truck and the ride is just part of it, but I am not new to older trucks. I used to drive a '77 F-250 and it was deffinately smoother than this truck. Mom's second gen. one ton 4*4 is also much smoother. I have had a few thoughts, new springs, better shocks(shocks are new), airbags or... I know that some of you have addressed this somehow. Dads gas W-250 also rides very rough.



Otherwise the truck did terrific. 20mpg and just set the cruise on 75mph. It was a great trip with the exception of being jerked back down to the seat by the seatbelt after being catapulted out by each bump in the road.



Thanks for any ideas,

Dan

 

[Old Smoky]

HOLD ON!

If you think highway driving is fun, try driving for hours on rocks the size of 5 gallon buckets. Be sure to keep the windows up, and your seatbelt fastened tight, so you don't get bucked out!



I went from the stock 235/85/16s to 285/75/16s, and that really seemed to help. Also, a new set of shocks smoothed things out. Some have tried better shackles, and airbags, but I have no information on these. I am sure you could get some custom sprig packs that would really help. Good luck.



Mike

 

[JFitzgerald]

Hook a 12K lb. gooseneck in the bed. Mine rides great that way! Seriously though, these trucks are just not going to ride that great unless they're loaded, or you do major suspension mods.



Mine rides hard empty, but not as harsh as some other trucks I have had. It also has the nice bucket seats which are very comfortable. Maybe check tire pressure and see if your front springs are sagging to the point that you're bouncing on the bumpstops. My fronts are sagging a bit, and this is after the previous owner had them re-arched and had a leaf added. If you're not hauling a load, you could try a lower tire pressure, and let the tires be your "springs".

 

[Case500D]

Rancho Shocks

Dan,



Glad to hear you got a "new" truck. I put a set of RS9000 Rancho shocks on my truck and really like the ride. It even met my wifes approval (her '94 is smooth). I know there are other brands of shocks, but I really like being able to adjust the Rancho's for different aplications. When doing road driving I put the rears on 1 and the fronts on 3. When I pull a trailer, I put the rears on 5 and it takes most of the seesaw motion out that is normal with a bumper pull trailer. The shocks would be the cheapest place to start. Hope that helps.



Jeremy

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

dshockley,

Have you given thought to a 2nd gen front seat ? I have a set of air ride air bags(I got rid of the OEM overload springs) good set of gas shocks, and a 2nd gen front seat. It rides better ,but no caddy ride here ! Of course I also have a 170" plus wheel base that helps too .

Kyle

 

[dshockley]

Thanks for that input. I did look at the distance between the bumpstop and the spring in the front and it is only about 1". I thought that was odd, but I looked at dad's 93 gasser and it was exactly the same spacing. I think that it may be hitting the bumpstop on some of the bigger bumps. Now I am back to the same question: Do I add Airbags up front, or re-arch the springs, or get a lift kit?



The trip home was not as rough, I guess that I am just getting used to it.



Dan

 

[Steve Graham]

The only way to smooth out the ride is to change the springs out on the front leaf springs. I did this on my 92 W250 many years ago by installing a set of Skyjacker 2" spring on the front. The factory spring rate is not very progressive, so the ride is harsh. Skyjacker takes care of this by using more thiner and tapered leafs and also uses a plastic bearing between the leafs. If you don't care for the lift they used to sell a 0-1" set of springs to just soften up the ride.

Enjoy the "new" truck!



Steve

 

[dshockley]

Lift kits

What lift kits have people used and what input would you all have? Is the skyjacker the best? I was thinking that maybe national spring would be the best because they take weights (frnt, rear and total) in addition to your input about ride character and use to custom design leaf packs. However if the results have been good with others than maybe that is the way to go (cheaper).



Thanks for all your input.

Dan

 

[MJawsman]

National Spring is a great company for replacement springs. That is if you wish to pay for custom springs. Otherwise I'd suggest the Skyjacker or Superlift replacement front springs. You don't necessarily have to go taller (a true lift kit), but you could. The plus with these springs is that the spring rate is much softer and if you want to keep your stock height, you can. Couple that with new shocks and you'll be amazed at the difference.

 

[Steve Graham]

I couldn't agree more. I have the SJ's in the front and a custom set of National's in the rear. The differance in cost is about twice what you would pay for the SJ's. Both sets have been holding up well over the last 9 years.



Steve

 

[boatpuller]

Skyjacker Softrides, the only way to go. It keeps the bumpstop about 2-3 inches up and levels the truck, the ride change is incredible over stock, I think the stocks springs allowed the axle to hit the stops way to much. I have the 2 1/2" lift springs on the front only and now the truck sits level.



Caleb

 

[MMiller]

When my truck was new My dad put on a Kelderman air ride suspesion on the rear, that helped alot. Go to Kelderman.com to look at some pics. I hope that it still works. The kelderman unit does not increase load carring capacity it just takes the initial shock out of the ride.



Like what was said above when I put the Skyjacker SOFTRIDE springs up front 2. 5 inch lift that helped the ride VERY MUCH. The only draw back is the fact that the truck looks good empty (nice and level) but when towing the tail drops about 2 inchs, like it was designed to do to the overload springs. I then put on some air lift bags on the rear springs to level out the truck loaded.



The next suspension upgrade I am going to do is get the 8 inch Skyjacker Softrides for the rear, do away with the lift block for a good ride, less wheel hop, and suspension wrap up, and then re design the mounts of the air lift bags to carry the load when pulling my trailer. I think at that time I will remove the Kelderman unit.



If I owned your truck I would call skyjacker and have them send all the springs for your truck. front and rear, to level it, and make it ride nice, and do away with the large lift block in the rear. Then I would get the Air Lift bags or the Firestone air bags to carry the loads if you intend to tow or haul with the truck. I do Know the skyjacker kits will not haul the loads like the stock setup, the rear end will squat substantially loaded.



Hope this helps! Godd luck with the first gen!

 

[WyoJim]

You might try moving to another state. Illinois has the worst roads of any state I have been in. A Sherman tank would be appropiate in Ill.

 

[dshockley]

MMiller,



I don't see how eliminating the lift block will help it to ride smoother. I do see how it will help to curb axle wrap, however anytime you add more arch to a spring, it will have a stiffer ride. By increasing the arch by 6 inches, you will notice a much stiffer ride. I am not saying that it would not have benifits to justifiy doing so, just that a smoother ride would not be one of them.



Thanks for your input and I am leaning toward installing 2. 5" skyjacker springs on all four corners.



Thanks

Dan

 

[JFitzgerald]

Originally posted by dshockley

MMiller,



anytime you add more arch to a spring, it will have a stiffer ride. By increasing the arch by 6 inches, you will notice a much stiffer ride. I am not saying that it would not have benifits to justifiy doing so, just that a smoother ride would not be one of them.



Thanks

Dan

Dan,



You just haven't tried Skyjackers' soft ride springs yet. I do understand what you are saying about arched springs. I could not believe the difference the SJ's make. I replaced all four leaf packs on a '78 3/4 ton Chevy with 4" SJ's and was very impressed with the improvement in ride quality over stock, no-lift springs. SJ has their "stuff" together. The best part was it still handled a big load without badly sagging. I used that truck to haul many heaping loads of oak firewood... Seriously, I would suggest you try to take a ride in someone's truck that has the SJ's to see for yourself. Unless there is some big difference between the Dodge & Chevy applications, I think you will be impressed. I plan to go with SJ's sometime on at least the front.

 

[dshockley]

I understand that lift springs can improve the ride over stock. That is not the question. I am just not understanding how an improvement in ride could be realized when comparing a 0-2. 5" skyjacker spring and lift block with a 6" spring and no lift block. The reason that lift blocks are used from the factory is to elminate excessive arch. The 6" spring undoubtedly is stiffer than the 2. 5" when comparing Skyjacker to Skyjacker. I agree that the factory doesn't always call the shots right I am just questioning the "need" to remove the lift block to improve ride. Maybe if he races his truck and is concerned about wheelhop then I can begin to see a "need". That was all I was questioning. I am onboard with the skyjacker springs. I will probably be ordering the 2. 5" springs soon. What tires will fit with the 2. 5" lift?



Thanks for all the input,

Dan

 

[JFitzgerald]

Now I understand better what you are saying, Dan. Maybe the best thing is to talk to SJ directly. The person I talked to was knowledgeable and helpful, part of the reason I bought their system. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[MMiller]

Thank you Jfitgerald.



I have talked to many Dodge Guys with the Skyjackers in the rear without the lift blocks and they can't say enough about the ride. All of them have been a little discouraged with the load carring it they tow a heavy gooseneck trailer or slide in campers. I don't know what you will be towing or hauling and how often, but almost all the guys I talked to have added air bags for thier loads.



As for the arch you must also ask your self if the front springs in your truck were like mine in the fact they were nearly flat as in no ach how come they ride so cruddy stock, but the skyjackers with more arch ride alot better. Not meaning to be a smart butt or anything, but spring technology has come along way. I can't explain it but in the three years of daily driving, weekend four wheeling, and the extra wieght of not only the cummins but the 300# bumper on the front these springs have not settled very much if at all!!!

 

[dshockley]

Originally posted by MMiller

Not meaning to be a smart butt or anything, but spring technology has come along way.

I agree. It seems to me though, that if the 6" SJ spring makes such a difference then the 2. 5" would be that much better. Lots of good things have happened in leaf spring design however the physics that causes an arched spring to be rough has not. I guess that it seems to me maybe the folks with 6" SJ springs attribute more of the credit to the 6" setup than is due. It would be very interesting for someone to use the 2. 5 springs on all four corners and then switch out to the 6" springs in the rear. My guess would be a deterioration in ride though still much better than stock.



Well, I am done being stubborn. Thanks for the great information and I will let you all know how it turns out.



Dan

 

[csnider]

These Skyjacker soft rides sound like what I need... . My front leafs are sagging a bit and I don't have much clearence to the rubber dampner and I could use a smoother ride. . Were do you get these springs?Do they still make em for first gens/ and also the guys with the 2-2 1/2" lift . is this about the right highth to level things out?... ... Part#'s... . Thanks ..... Chuck