Did the FX4 suspension change??

[keystone112]

So, my first Ranger is a 2019 XL FX4 SCLB. I have over 150k miles on it. I'll be selling it in a few weeks. It has a RC 2.5" level and is on 265/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2s. The ride is terrible. I've heard some people mention the Ranger "bounce". Mine doesn't have a bounce, it has a wobble. Very harsh and uncomfortable.

What I didn't expect is that my new (to me) 2023 XLT FX4 SCLB has a very smooth, comfortable ride. No wobble at all. It is on the factory 18" wheels and Hankook tires. Full factory suspension, no level. I looked at the shocks and they don't appear to be FX4 branded. Not sure if that is just the black out package or if they are different shocks.

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[Jmarler]

On the 6g rangers I know the fx4 is better. Not sure if they started that late in 5g. I test drove a lariat 2026 and it was pretty good.

 

[TruckBox]

Isn't the branding on the shocks fairly minimal?

I've driven an FX4 and it felt no noticeably different than either non-FX4 Ranger I've owned. Smooth and not boaty.

Nitto's unbalanced af or not rotated enough?

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Isn't the branding on the shocks fairly minimal?

I've driven an FX4 and it felt no noticeably different than either non-FX4 Ranger I've owned. Smooth and not boaty.

Nitto's unbalanced af or not rotated enough?

The branding on my FX4 shocks was very bold.

Silver shock body with bold black and red FX4 logo.

The looked nice, but they sucked.

 

[ScarzRanger21(2.0)]

Have you ever changed the shocks on your 2019? At 150k miles, I’d expect those things to be shot… Over the 2019-23 models, Ford tuned the Fx4 shocks a bit to make the ride better.

 

[keystone112]

I changed the rear shocks. Just Monroe I think. It didn’t make any difference that I could notice.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Blackout Package? Do your shocks look like the black one in the foreground of this pic?

If so, they might be standard OEM, non-FX4 shocks. Maybe the previous owner didn’t like the “bouncy” ride of the FX4 suspension and swapped them out?

Photo Credit: @subquark
Dave, how are you and Soupie doing?

 

[keystone112]

Yes, mine look like the black ones.

 

[subquark]

Blackout Package? Do your shocks look like the black one in the foreground of this pic?

If so, they might be standard OEM, non-FX4 shocks. Maybe the previous owner didn’t like the “bouncy” ride of the FX4 suspension and swapped them out?

Photo Credit: @subquark
Dave, how are you and Soupie doing?

Hey there! That OEM black shock is at least double the weight of the aftermarket one.

And you said it! It's incredibly bouncy on potholed New England roads, but the Bilstein made a decent difference.

It's still Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on slow corners with holes, but I no longer lose my teeth! =D

 

[Dereku]

You are comparing clapped out FX4 shocks (which are garbage new) to much newer FX4 or regular shocks lol.

Thats like comparing a pogo stick to a shock.

In the truck world we are all shock snobs, sorry but its true. Daily drivers, work trucks, heavy haul, off road, rock crawlers, doesnt matter we all have opinions on this. Dont really see this in any other vehicle.

 

[RK Racing]

My buddy and I both have 2023 FX4 lariats. We were both surprised that our stock shocks did not have any FX4 stickers on there. Yet the rest of the FX4 package, stickers and the rest of it was all on there….. 3” & 6”……… tires coming…..lol.

 

[Glocker]

Hahahaha! Damn this takes mr back. When I got my FX4 Ranger back in 2019 I was excited about the suspension. But I learned pretty quickly it sucked so bad! Hahahaha! Putting the Eibach lift kit made the rear of the truck so much better.

 

[dozxab]

I can't speak to the new models but....

• My stock 2022 FX4 shocks were all black.
• My stock FX4 shocks gave a terrible ride, replaced at 10k miles, rear was 75% of the improvement
• Rough Country is well known for their…ummm, should we say, quality? Most on my Jeep forum rage about RC.
• Lift struts will give a much better result
• I went with Eibachs and they are better than I expected. Improved handling on the twisty mountain road that I run twice a week and handling over fire roads and pot holes is vastly improved. Every speed up to the 80’s is smooth, controlled and comfortable.

As with any vehicle, improvements are made over the years but given the RC puck (?) lift, you may be comparing apples to pot roast.

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