FordExcursions.com Forums
KevinsOffroad
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 5/15/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
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 Posted:7/7/2005 22:26 |
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Hey there, Guys. Posted this over at DieselStop also, but wanted to get some thoughts from you guys. Here is the skinny:
My truck rides like Hell. It seems to studder and shake when I hit bumps in the road, more so in the front than in the rear. It almost seems like I'm bottoming out the suspension but without a loud "bang" due to the "shifty-ness" of the front end. Here's the details:
98k on my 2wd so far. Picked it up with 93k
- Replaced front shocks with Bilsteins
- Replaced rear shocks with MX6
- Running 40psi of pressure f/r
- Swapped out my front sway bar bushings with Energy greasables
- 265/75 Goodyear tires with fair amount of tread left
- No abuse to the truck that I can find underneath (very little dust/dirt collected behind body panels and the tail-lights, so I don't think it's been offroad much, if at all)
I'm wondering if there are some rubber parts on the 2wd that need to be replaced every few years or so. If so, can you guys tell me WHAT you changed out and what made the most difference? I have a shop with a hoist and can handle whatever needs to be done...I just don't know where to start since it just rides so badly. Part numbers? Any suggestions?
It's embarrassing when your clapped-out 140k + mile mid-90s Chevy 1-ton utility bed truck with a broken bench seat rides noticably better than my super-premium luxurious land-yacht with leather captains chairs!! Thanks for your assistance in this VERY frustrating issue I'm having!
Very Sincerely,
Kevin |
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David Rush
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• Greenville, SC, USA |
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• Registered on 4/11/2004 |
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• 233 posts |
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 Posted:7/8/2005 08:11 |
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I assume you are speaking of hitting a bump and heading in  a different direction as well as smashing your head on the window when you hit something causing lateral torque ie. a driveway into a parking lot... Check out our member Landyot--he makes "radius rods"--wonderful little devices which will keep your X on track. Also a Hellwig antisway bar for the rear is the other icing on the cake. You'll love both of these as they are regarded as a "Must Have" modifications for the X.
Good luck
David |
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KevinsOffroad
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 5/15/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
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Posted:7/8/2005 10:16 |
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Hi David-
Not really, actually. The Ex seems to drive reasonably well straight forward. I'm not getting a lane-changing force when the rear hits stuff for some reason. What I'm getting is akin to having the front axle welded directly to the frame or something. In other words, the front suspension is not doing it's job of "suspending" the rig, allowing the tires to move through their range of motion and absorb the bumps in the road.
I contacted LandYot about the radius arms, and may still go through with the purchase after I get this front end taken care of. I have also purchased an Addco rear sway bar, which was like 2mm or so smaller than the Hellwig bar. I don't like the head-rocking back and forth of a really stiff rear sway bar when you come out of driveways, so I elected to go with the Addco, which is still about 3 weeks out on backorder, but will get installed shortly after it arrives.
I did replace the front sway bar bushings with Energy Suspension greasable ones, and though it made a noticable difference around corners (truck doesn't lean as much now), it didn't cure my jarring.
Again, I don't think that the problem is in the rear. When going over railroad tracks, the front acts very different than the rear does. Normally the rear would be stiffer, no? In my case, not the case. I'd really like to source some MX6 adjustable shocks for the front to see if they help. Maybe I rec'd a bad set of Bilsteins or something, but since it was worse with the factory shocks on there, my guess is that it's *SOMETHING* else...my only thought was the rubber isolation bushings in the A-arms.
Anyone selling a service manual on CD by chance? Even a used paper one would be good.
Kevin |
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E. Long
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
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Posted:7/8/2005 13:18 |
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| Quote: | | Again, I don't think that the problem is in the rear. When going over railroad tracks, the front acts very different than the rear does. Normally the rear would be stiffer, no? In my case, not the case. I'd really like to source some MX6 adjustable shocks for the front to see if they help. Maybe I rec'd a bad set of Bilsteins or something, but since it was worse with the factory shocks on there, my guess is that it's *SOMETHING* else...my only thought was the rubber isolation bushings in the A-arms. |
Kevin,
I'm wondering if one of the front shocks is seized up. Unfortunately, I know nothing about the 2WD Excursions, so I can't really offer up anything else than the obvious. Maybe try disconnect the shocks at the top of the shock tower and drive it around the block to see if it handles any differently when riding on just the springs. I had both of my rear shocks break bolts and I ran several hundred highway miles without rear shocks and it was floaty as hell, definitely not jarring!
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Doug Loper
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• Byron Center, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 9/26/2003 |
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• 114 posts |
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Posted:7/8/2005 20:50 |
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I uesd to get the same thing from mine. I figured out on mine that it was Ford expert engineering that left 1/2 inch of travel between frame and bumpstops. I used to just about slam my head into side window when going into drive at work. I solved it with a 6 inch lift. Of course that is not the solution for everyone...lol. Good luck. 
2000 X V-10
Mods: 6" Revtek lift
35" M/T Baja Claw Radials
16" x 10" Eagle Alloy Rims
Superlifts Truspeed Calibrator
Pioneer DVD surround sound system.
SilverStar 9007
Clear front corners. |
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KevinsOffroad
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 5/15/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
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Posted:7/10/2005 16:43 |
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Thanks for the tip, Eric. I've been thinking about trying out some other shocks in the front, just to see if the shocks are problematic. I know they are both telescoping, however, so the binding suggestion isn't applicable.
I'm frustrated. Thanks for the suggestions.
Kevin
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KevinsOffroad
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 5/15/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
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Posted:7/10/2005 16:45 |
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LOL! I guess I could do that too. I really wanted to make this easy, lol. Adding a lift is going to cut into my fuel economy a little, but if that makes the ride more manageable, it might be a price I'm willing to pay. I guess I just need to spend a little more time with it and see what's up. I guess I was hoping someone here would have a magic bullet or something, lol.
Thanks,
Kevin
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David Rush
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• Greenville, SC, USA |
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• Registered on 4/11/2004 |
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• 233 posts |
• 1
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Posted:7/10/2005 22:52 |
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Hey Kev,
Just a thought. You may want to get the anti-sway bar installed first before you do anything else. The X is a very stiff rig. When the anti sway bar is installed, you in essence move the flex point (lateral) more toward the front of the frame. The X's leaf springs are modified F 250 springs with a plate to mount them higher off the axle--increases liklihood of spring wrap.. That nasty shudder sounds like the "spring wrap" I experienced which was eliminated by the radius rods. SHudder often comes from the combo spring wrap and the abscence of an AS-Bar.The anti-sway bar stabillizes the rear end. Most of the time that I ran the X without the as-bar. if you hit the right bump-it felt like a freaking earthquake hit the truck. There is an additional extension, I believe, that beefs up the springs a little but probably not enough for a 4 ton vehicle. Unless you are just a glutton for punishment (as I have known to have been on occasion  ), I really would wait before doing anything else. You still may want to consider the Helwig AS-bar. The sway bar will help the driveway rocking--not make it worse. The later model X's have AS-bars on them--about 30% less thickness than the Helwig--that ought to tell you something. Skinny must be cheap and offer minimum improvement if the factory uses them.I think these two modifcations will eliminate most of your complaint.
Good luck
David
PS_I got a service manual on CD off of eBay for about $10--actually pretty decent |
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KevinsOffroad
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 5/15/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
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Posted:7/12/2005 04:03 |
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| Quote: | Hey Kev,
Just a thought. You may want to get the anti-sway bar installed first before you do anything else. The X is a very stiff rig. When the anti sway bar is installed, you in essence move the flex point (lateral) more toward the front of the frame. The X's leaf springs are modified F 250 springs with a plate to mount them higher off the axle--increases liklihood of spring wrap.. That nasty shudder sounds like the "spring wrap" I experienced which was eliminated by the radius rods. SHudder often comes from the combo spring wrap and the abscence of an AS-Bar.The anti-sway bar stabillizes the rear end. Most of the time that I ran the X without the as-bar. if you hit the right bump-it felt like a freaking earthquake hit the truck. There is an additional extension, I believe, that beefs up the springs a little but probably not enough for a 4 ton vehicle. Unless you are just a glutton for punishment (as I have known to have been on occasion ), I really would wait before doing anything else. You still may want to consider the Helwig AS-bar. The sway bar will help the driveway rocking--not make it worse. The later model X's have AS-bars on them--about 30% less thickness than the Helwig--that ought to tell you something. Skinny must be cheap and offer minimum improvement if the factory uses them.I think these two modifcations will eliminate most of your complaint.
Good luck
David
PS_I got a service manual on CD off of eBay for about $10--actually pretty decent |
Excellent info, David! Thanks so very much!! I'll take your advice and wait for the rear Addco to arrive. Makes perfect sense, now that I think about it, that the front springs are asked to work harder with the rear bar on. The Addco was about $40 less expensive than the Hellwig, and a little thinner, as I like a heavy bar in the front and a medium bar in the rear, in my experience. I may upgrade the front as well, then.
Anyway, sounds like good advice! I really appreciate you dropping some thoughts!
Kevin
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