i've actually had my 6" fabtech lift on for a while now but i can't take the ride any more. every little pot hole or crack in the road i feel and yes its been like this since the lift was installed. what would be causing this horrible ride besides the shocks? i wouldn't think that brand new shocks would ride that crappy but maybe i'm wrong. i'm using the shocks that came with the lift kit also. the truck is a 99 4wd, any suggestions are welcome, thanks


Justin

 

Checked your tire pressure lately?

 

as a matter of fact just checked them tonight when i had it on the hoist.

 

Heavier wheel and tires will sometimes make the ride worse. i know mine is. More weight getting thrown in the hole.

 

thats just the thing, i had the same tire and wheel setup prior to installing the 6" suspension lift so thats why i don't think it has anything to do with the tires.

 

But the ride was so bad I put it back down. My problem was the lift decreased my front end spring rates and resulted in a much stiffer suspension.
Before the lift my truck rode almost like a car. After the lift it drove like a cheap truck and I could feel the ride in my kidneys.
I usually dont slow down for speed bumps and train tracks but I was beginning to avoiding manhole covers.
Shocks dampen bumps but you really ride on the springs.

The harsher ride may be something many just live with.

 

When I installed my lift, I also had a horrible ride. I installed some Edelbrock resi shocks, and a set of Skyjacker 6" leaf srpings (to get rid of the lift blocks, to help prevent axle wrap and wheel hop). I have been told several times, by people who ride with me, that they are surprised at how good the ride is with 38" tires. I feel for ya and highly recommend adding at least the resi shocks.

 

yah i was thinking about just getting some bilstein shocks up front to see if that does it and figure out if that really is the problem. i might just have to do that. how much did you pay for the edelbrock schocks?

 

Man am I sorry to hear that. I just installed an RCD lift on my truck. The ride is pretty decent. I would consider getting some bilstein shocks. I heard that the fabtech lift itself was the best, but the shocks are really rough. Good luck!

 

i appreciate it man, looks like i'll be investing in some new schocks very soon.

 

Off the top of my head I wanna say they were around $180 or so each. Not cheap, but well worth it. I put one on each corner. I also looked into the bilsteins, but they are more expensive than the Edlebrocks, and I have no complaints from mine. Well worth the money IMO.

 

I run a Fabtech on my rig and went trough the same thing. First, I went to Bilstein 5100's, but the rears were way, way too short. Bought longer Bilstein 5150's to replace 'em and it transformed my rig from a bucking bronco, back to a truck. Now it still doesn't ride like a Cadillac, but 100% better than it was. When you do buy new shocks, be sure that what you get is actually the length you need.

 

so you are running 5150's both front and rear or just rear? i was looking into the 5100's for the front but i don't wanna get them and have it do the same thing.

 

da wolf, do you remember where you purchased your shocks from and do you have any pics of them?

 

This is the only pic I have of my shocks. It is from the front passenger side. Sorry for the shoty quality, but I took it with my camera phone.



I bought mine from 4wheelparts. You WILL have to get adapters to change your shocks. The ones you have mounted now have needle point tops. You will need an adapter to change the shock mount to be able to install an eye topped shock. Call 4wheelparts and let them know you need that adapter. And they should be able to help ya out. If you look close enough in the pic above my A-arm and under my shock hose, you can see a shiny metal U bracket that the shock is mounted to. I also removed my shock boot cause it was rubbing against my half shaft boot.