I have a 99 f150 sport 4x4 (see sig) and i tend to drive it more like a sports car than a 4x4 truck. So.... my question is, what can i do to this truck to make it better controlled in the corners, and "ease its pain" from my torment of it?

thanx

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1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4
Flareside
4.6 Triton V-8
Manual Transmission
Captains Chairs
Button-down Tonneau Cover
Webasto Sunroof
Spray-on Bed-liner
Xenon Fog and Headlights
Blackwidow Car Alarm
Window Tint
Wet Okole Seats (ALL)
2 10" Kicker CompVR's
on Fosgate 360a2
Kicker Components Front
& Fosgate 5x7 Rear
on Fosgate 200a4
Blaupunkt Muchen Deck

 

Sell it, and purchase a lightning! Just kidding, I've read that some are installing some kind of rear stableizer(sp) and report that it really helps in the corners. I don't know much about it but I'm sure if hang around alot more people will help you. Sorry I'm not more knowledgeable.

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• 2000 F-150 XLT
• 5.4 LITER TRITON V8
• 4X4 OFF ROAD PACKAGE
• SHORT BED EXTENDED CAB
• BRIGHT RED CLEARCOAT
• DARK GRAPHITE GRAY INTERIOR
• 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC W / MANUAL 4X4 SHIFTER
• 3" PERFORMANCE ACCESSORIES BODY LIFT
• 33X12.50X16.50 BFGOODRICH ALL-TERRIAN KO'S
• AMERICAN RACING BAJA'S 16.50X9.75 RIMS
• FORD SOFT TONNEAU COVER
• BLACK POWDER COATED STERLING EQUIPMENT NERF BARS

• IMAGE #1 • IMAGE#2 • IMAGE#3 •

 

There is not a lot you can do. it is a 4wd truck with a HIGH center of gravity.

Some simple things would be to get wider tires, maybe even lower profile (but that would be stupid in a 4x4). Urethane bushings in the control arms will help. Good aftermarket shocks. Look for aftermarket sway bars.

 

If your happy with the present suspension and just want better handling, switch to a larger swaybar in the front, and add a swaybar to the rear. In the case of a 4WD I would recommend installing the rear swaybar in the over the axle position, as to not restrict your ground clearance. Most performance swaybars come with poly bushings, just be sure to use a little silicone grease on the install to prevent squeaking.

I chose a Steeda tubular front bar and a hellwig rear. Both came with poly bushings and my 3 inch lifted supercab has a shell on the back and still handles better than alot of cars, and I drive it like I stole it....

I'm sure someone else can feed you some shock information, I havent been there yet.

Good luck..

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Terry Deaton
99 F150 XLT, 2WD, 4.6, S/C, S/B, Superchip, K&N FIPK, FMS 9mm, +4s, Nerfs, Leer Top, Cow Catcher W/Bright A$$ Lights, True Duals with hi flow cats, 275 Dunlops with 3.08 gears, fat swaybars, Steeda front and Hellwig rear, Fabtech spindles with 2 inch blocks, B/E Performance Shift kit.
Coming Soon: 4.10s and Auburn Diff.
96 SVT COBRA (almost stock)
98 AERO black w/lotsa chrome
Speed Kills, drive a Chevy and live forever.



[This message has been edited by TREADMARKS (edited 10-27-2000).]

 

I guess you could also drop it. Belltech makes a 4x4 drop kit. Someone on this board has one. Otherwise i would say to get new sway bars and some performance shocks such as the Edelbrocks or Bilstein and then maybe some performance tires. But the only true way to increase cornering would be to lower the center of gravity. Good luck on this one!

 

Hey Coolsvile
My truck is similar to yours except I have a Automatic.
What size tires do you have?
I put some 275/60HR-17 tires on 17x8 rims they are about 3 inches wider than the stock tires,but the same overal diamiter of the stock tires. This alone really helped the handeling, then I put Edelbrook shocks on that helped it a little more.
I put my stock tires back on during the winter.
Here is a pic with the wider tires


[This message has been edited by Don C (edited 10-27-2000).]

 

actually, i should be upgradin to 265/70 r17 tomorrow (goin with yokohama geolander a/t+) supposedly it goin to give me better traction on and off the road, we'll see though

------------------
1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4
Flareside
4.6 Triton V-8
Manual Transmission
Captains Chairs
Button-down Tonneau Cover
Webasto Sunroof
Spray-on Bed-liner
Xenon Fog and Headlights
Blackwidow Car Alarm
Window Tint
Wet Okole Seats (ALL)
2 10" Kicker CompVR's
on Fosgate 360a2
Kicker Components Front
& Fosgate 5x7 Rear
on Fosgate 200a4
Blaupunkt Muchen Deck

 

thanx for all the help!
see, what makes my situation weired is that i still love to take my truck on some off-roadin adventures from time to time, otherwise i would lower it and go with higher performance tires. i am sorta stuck at the cross roads right now!!

but, i will be lookin into the shocks (rancho rs9000's seem to be good) and the sway bars and the bushings, but i was also wonderin about traction bars and the stabilizers that u add on to the leaf springs? dont really grasp that concept to well.

ne ways, thanx everyone

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1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4
Flareside
4.6 Triton V-8
Manual Transmission
Captains Chairs
Button-down Tonneau Cover
Webasto Sunroof
Spray-on Bed-liner
Xenon Fog and Headlights
Blackwidow Car Alarm
Window Tint
Wet Okole Seats (ALL)
2 10" Kicker CompVR's
on Fosgate 360a2
Kicker Components Front
& Fosgate 5x7 Rear
on Fosgate 200a4
Blaupunkt Muchen Deck

 

Buy a Mustang

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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