Wife looking for better ride!

[tractorface]

Maybe I should let her go! Nah she would probably take the half that is paid for. Anyway, I am looking into improving the ride on my CTD. Looked at the Kelderman setup, does it work? Is it worth the$$$:--)

Any other ideas. I would like to make the truck ride smoother so I can have some peace and quiet.

Thanks

 

[paccool]

This will draw some incoming!!



Get rid of the Bilsteins on the front end. I had them on my 93 and they made a real harsh ride. Took em off and put on Monroe gasmatics. Much smother ride. Mine is a 2x4 and a first gen so the difference may not be as noticable on your 99. If you do any off road driving, the Bilsteins will be much better for that.



Stan

 

[EricBu12]

also look for the velvet ride shackles... ... ... Softens the rear ride while not compromising load capabilities

 

[Seed Guy]

LWB or SWB we have both in the family and it makes a huge difference. Also my skyjacker D25 springs make the front end of my truck float along like a caddy fleetwood.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by Seed Guy

LWB or SWB we have both in the family and it makes a huge difference. Also my skyjacker D25 springs make the front end of my truck float along like a caddy fleetwood.

Seed Guy, OK I'll bite... . what is the difference, besides 2 ft. ?

 

[Elite1]

Tractor face, "Wife looking for better ride!"... ... . man did you set yourself up for some good comebacks, but I better not!

 

[tractorface]

wife comments

Yeah, I thought that would raise a few eyebrows.

I agree the Bilsteins make the truck ride like a rock, but they keep the bouncing front end in check nicely. I never drive off road, only use 4wd in the snow and at an occasional muddy campsite. Truck is SWB (gotta be able to walk around it in the garage).

I will look up velvet ride shackles. Thanks for the tip

Seed Guy

So skyjacker front springs seem to help. What shock are you running with those?

Sounds like maybe I can get a little nicer ride without breaking the bank.



Hey we all would like a better ride from time to time

 

[JSmith]

I have the Monroe gasmatics on my truck. Never again,these shocks suck

 

[paccool]

JSmith, thats why I said what I did about the difference between the 1st and 2nd gen trucks. They work good on my truck but the front suspension is almost like no suspension, is real harsh compared to the second gens. and the Monroes made it much smoother. Get a little more "bounce" from them when on rolling type payment but on these crappy concrete freeways we have here with the expansion joints and truck damage they are not as harsh as the Bilsteins. If I had a 4x4 I would probably want the Bilsteins back.



Stan

 

[Extreme1]

What tire pressure are you running?

 

[Forrest]

The Rancho 9000 adjustables really helped soften the ride.

 

[paccool]

Extreme1, if that question is for me, I'm running about 50# normally, pump em on up when towing the trailer.



Stan

 

[Seed Guy]

SWBs just ride rougher period. And yes the Skyjackers do help, they take a lot of the jaring out of the front end. Currently i am running stock shocks. Dont know what im going to next. I did get a DT trac bar because my front axle was off center pretty bad. Now its as solid as can be.

 

[Dane]

We're in the same boat er... truck. My BOMBs have been suspension and I finally got a smooth ride, but it took some experimenting to get it right. The wifey used to make funny noises and unhappy faces when we were driving bumpy roads.



I tried - Roadmasters, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Bilstein shocks, tire pressure, Velvet ride shackles, bigger tires, new springs and weight in the bed.



Conclusion:



Roadmasters -

mostly helped traction, very small ride improvement.



Edelbrock IAS shocks -

Don't waste your money.



Bilstein shocks -

BIG improvement.



Velvet ride shackles -

BIG improvement, BUT only on the smaller bumps. Once they lock out the harsh stock ride is back.



Bigger tires - BIG improvement, they soak up the bumps and you can vary the air pressure to change the ride/handling.



Different springs - BIGGEST improvement of all, but you have to replace all 4 corners, not just the front. I went with the Skyjacker 2. 5" leveling/lift kit and dual shocks up front.



Bedslide -

Added 150 lbs to the bed and makes life easy.





The combo that worked for me - Bilsteins, Bigger tires (305-70-16), Skyjacker springs on all 4 corners, Velvet ride shackles and the weight of the bedslide in the truck bed. The difference is huge compared to stock and best of all the wifey likes riding in the truck now I asked her if she wanted a step to get into the cab as it now sits level with the rear of the truck and she said - "No I get my exercise getting in and out of the truck"

 

[lschultz]

tractorface you know that as long as you have a female around you are never really going to have any peace and quite. Things a man will do so he don't have to listen to:-{} Been there done that and didn't do what I should of and still paying for it:{