I'm ready to drive this truck off a bridge?
I have a 2003 Ford Ranger and I recently have installed new shocks, tie rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, sway bar bushings and wheel bearings and this truck is STILL hitting every crack in the road as if it was a curb. It feels like it just slams into these cracks and feels like there's no shocks under this truck. I'm afraid that this is eventually going to do damage to all these new parts that was installed. I'm just lost on what to replace next. Any ideas?
Haha I know that feeling! I drive a Tojo, which is exactly the same. You just need to remind yourself it is a truck not a Lexus. The suspension is very stiff because it is designed to work when fully loaded up with literally a ton of stuff in the tray. Obviously being empty there's not enough mass to compress the springs so it rides bumps very poorly. You have an option of carrying round a couple hundred lbs of gear in the tray as ballast, going to a softer spring (which will compromise load carrying) or just learn to enjoy the rough ride as "character". It's a "man's" vehicle after all. The suspension etc is heavy duty, built to cope when fully loaded, you won't damage it easily, so don't sweat the undercarriage.
How much pressure are you running in your tires? If it's more than 35 PSI, this may be the problem.
It's a Ford Ranger… Nothing you can do
Tires with softer compound. Whatever you do, don't underinflate the tires. You probably are not old enough to remember but when all these huge SUVs were becoming popular all the former car drivers who were buying them complained about the hard ride to the dealers. Of course they had a hard ride, they were built on a truck chassis. The dealers told them to underinflate their tires or had their mechaniocs do it. This caused all kids of of handling problems and sudden, explosive blowouts. Of course a tire will blow out when it is 10 Lbs under pressure when you go out on the freeway in your giant car, loaded full of brats, dogs and groceries and drive at 85 mph. Boom! Then the thing flips and kills everyone. There were all kinds of lawsuits. The ambulance chasers had a field day. Ford and Firestone took a huge hit.
THAT A GOOD IDEA DO IT
I remember one time someone I know bought heavy duty shocks and the car road really stiff so he replaced the shocks with cheaper lighter duty shocks and it road nice.
I have had a couple of Rangers and do not remember they road rough.
The truck is fine. The driver needs fixed.
It's a TRUCK which means it is not going to drive like a Lexus. You want a smooth driving vehicle, don't drive a freaking truck.
Here's the thing, everything you have done will have FIRMED up the suspension. Worn shocks ride "soft", but let the car wallow around. Good shocks are firm, create resistance to the suspension moving, and actually make the ride harder.
But the main reason it rides like a Truck, is because it is a truck. It's actually built to haul or tow stuff, and when it's loaded up it needs a heavy duty suspension. Down side of this is that when it's empty and you are just using it to commute, it rides like it's a truck.
If you need 4WD AND comfort, then go and trade it on a Lexus RX300 or similar. Not so good for hauling heavy loads, but it's large and comfortable.
SHOCKS are not suspension. They are correctly dampers. The suspension is by the springs.
Has this changed at some point or has it always been like this?
It may well have heavy duty springs fitted.
Leaf springs can stiffen with age. The leaves are supposed to slide over each other. Corrosion restricts this movement.
Trucks are built to carry loads.
Try putting a load in it and see if it rides better.
Look at getting the springs replaced.
Have you checked the spearing eye bushes?
Is the truck hitting the bump stops?
Getting the right springs is where you need to go.
It is a truck. It will not ride or handle like a car. It is a work vehicle.
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