Smoother suspension suggestions (without lifting)

[funnynicknamehere]

FX4. Rides fine, but the front-to-back bouncing is annoying. The headrest will smack the back of my head three or four times going over a bump. Even just going down the highway I'll get love taps from the headrest.

Rear shocks? Eibach/fox? Switch to global leaf pack? Both? I don't want to lift the truck at all, just get rid of that fore-aft rocking and have the smoothest ride possible. 97% on-road use. I don't want to feel and be jarred going over every crack in the road.

And please tell me WHY option X is better than option Y. "It rides better" isn't very informative. Use descriptive words and tell us why it rides better. Less jarring, corners better, feel less bumps in the road, great at 45mph off road but sucks on highway, etc.

I will say that opinions comparing different brands are far more valuable and constructive. If you've only tried one brand, your opinion doesn't really mean much. Kids think mcdonalds is amazing because they've never had a steakhouse burger. Once you've had both and compare them...then I'll listen to your suggestion on where to go for lunch.

UPDATE:
I got the Eibach pro truck rears (only rears because they're easy to do)...did exactly what I wanted, took away 80% of the headrest-head-slapping front to back motion. I understand what others say now, it rides much better. Rocks less side to side in turns as well. Smoother (despite being 'firm'. I was worried reading that in reviews, but firm somehow translates to smooth with these).
Rear end doesn't "ker-thunkity" over things like before but rather just...well... makes more of a dulled thump. Couldn't think of a more creative way to say that.

Anyways. I didn't think I was the "discernible driver" type. But my inexperienced ass can feel how the stock front suspension is now not in sync/tune with the rear. It IS better, for sure. For the price and ease, worth it.
But of course, now I gotta spend more money and get the fronts done lol. And I'll be dreaming about doing the rear springs. If just one part of the system made this much difference...as much as my cheap-ass hate's spending money, I am excited to see how much better this thing will ride once I do more.

Now, my truck experience has only been 80's and 90's models, with the occasional 2010s f250 work truck. So lets face it, all those ride like shit and handled the same. Stock, the Ranger was already wayyyy above in ride quality. Rears just upped the ante.

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[Frenchy]

Just get a complete set of Bilstein 4600 shocks and struts. Clear designed as OEM replacements I will help control the truck a lot better.

 

[Tom_C]

It may be hard to find anyone who has tried multiple options.

I have an FX4 and replaced the rears only with eibach protruck 2.0, only because the bilsteins were out of stock. The bouncy bouncy reduced a lot. Of course the front still bounces a bit, but overall it doesn't rock as much and is acceptable to me. If/when I need to replace anything I will probably put bilstein 4600s all around.

 

[Dereku]

Wildtrack leafs provide no lift, tremors offer a little lift but will help. Bilstein all around is probably your best bet. I want tremor leafs and a 1 inch level in the front. I dont want a lift but I want a nice ride.

 

[dozxab]

There are a few on here that have used multiple brands. Most of us, only one. I have an FX4 that I wanted a better ride from. I replaced them at 12K for an upgrade and to level it a bit (3/4”). I went with Eibach ProTrucks and they are better than I expected. . There is a twisty mountain road I run twice a week, then a few miles down a fire road. I find myself going 5 MPH faster on the paved section and the dirt is much smoother too. Went from crawling down the fire road to having to watch my speed as it is only a car and a half wide. There is a side street I make a right from on to a fast moving 3 lane and the potholes used to make the truck dance. Now I pull out and don't worry about it. I went with Fox on my Jeep and off road is great but paved road cornering suffered a little. These guys test the daylights out of everything the sell and have some great articles. https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/news/leveling-strut-comparison-bilstein-vs-eibach-vs-fox

 

[RangerPNW]

FX4. Rides fine, but the front-to-back bouncing is annoying. The headrest will smack the back of my head three or four times going over a bump. Even just going down the highway I'll get love taps from the headrest.

Rear shocks? Eibach/fox? Switch to global leaf pack? Both? I don't want to lift the truck at all, just get rid of that fore-aft rocking and have the smoothest ride possible. 97% on-road use. I don't want to feel and be jarred going over every crack in the road.

And please tell me WHY option X is better than option Y. "It rides better" isn't very informative. Use descriptive words and tell us why it rides better. Less jarring, corners better, feel less bumps in the road, great at 45mph off road but sucks on highway, etc.

I will say that opinions comparing different brands are far more valuable and constructive. If you've only tried one brand, your opinion doesn't really mean much. Kids think mcdonalds is amazing because they've never had a steakhouse burger. Once you've had both and compare them...then I'll listen to your suggestion on where to go for lunch.

I think any rear shock you throw on there is going to be an upgrade, unless you go real cheap and get Rancho... which I wouldn't... Initially i threw on Fox 2.0's in the rear only as i snagged them from someone on here a few years back. Instantly i noticed the bouncing you mentioned reduced significantly, as i mostly saw it on speed bumps and big undulations on the freeway. I even initially had a mild case of motion sickness with the OEM stuff. After swapping the rears, instantly better and happier.

I would recommend the Fox's, with two caveats. You don't mind having to get them rebuilt (almost cheaper to replace unless you do it yourself), and you dont' haul heavy loads a lot. If towing/hauling is more your thing then Bilstein 4600 or Eibach's would be my recommendation.

 

[Tim H.]

FX4. Rides fine, but the front-to-back bouncing is annoying. The headrest will smack the back of my head three or four times going over a bump. Even just going down the highway I'll get love taps from the headrest.

Rear shocks? Eibach/fox? Switch to global leaf pack? Both? I don't want to lift the truck at all, just get rid of that fore-aft rocking and have the smoothest ride possible. 97% on-road use. I don't want to feel and be jarred going over every crack in the road.

And please tell me WHY option X is better than option Y. "It rides better" isn't very informative. Use descriptive words and tell us why it rides better. Less jarring, corners better, feel less bumps in the road, great at 45mph off road but sucks on highway, etc.

I will say that opinions comparing different brands are far more valuable and constructive. If you've only tried one brand, your opinion doesn't really mean much. Kids think mcdonalds is amazing because they've never had a steakhouse burger. Once you've had both and compare them...then I'll listen to your suggestion on where to go for lunch.

That is why I didn’t buy a FX4. I don’t go off road and the ride plus the extra cost was too much for me.

 

[Cabose-1]

Well i have driven a 1980 f250, rough, had a dodge 2000?? Rough, had a 2020 ranger and 2022 ranger and own a 2024 ranger, so lots of trucks,

They all drove like trucks.
My grand marquis drove like a dream.
Escalade drove like a dream too.
Dont know what to tell you. Use my trucks for truck stuff. Use the other cars for mpg and nice ride.

 

[COblue]

Fox 2.0 rear shocks were great in stopping the side to side rocking (hitting a ditch/dip off camber), firmer front shocks stopped the brake dive as the OEM fronts are too soft.

OME leaf springs were maybe as impactful as Fox 2.0 all around. Much better flex and bump absorption it seems. Also better for towing heavy, less squat and doesn't smack the bump stops hard when hitting bumps on the highway.

Stiffer valved shocks and coilovers help on road and off, getting rid of the wallowy feel and excessive body roll/pitch. Much more planted and takes speed bumps and pot holes well.

Eibach seems slightly stiffer than Fox from what I've seen. Deavers might flex more than OME but they're more expensive.

You're already here, so I'd gather someone like you would benefit from any suspension upgrades. Bilstein, eibach, fox, etc are just different flavors and they all taste better than OEM ?

 

[Frenchy]

Fox 2.0 rear shocks were great in stopping the side to side rocking (hitting a ditch/dip off camber), firmer front shocks stopped the brake dive as the OEM fronts are too soft.

OME leaf springs were maybe as impactful as Fox 2.0 all around. Much better flex and bump absorption it seems. Also better for towing heavy, less squat and doesn't smack the bump stops hard when hitting bumps on the highway.

Stiffer valved shocks and coilovers help on road and off, getting rid of the wallowy feel and excessive body roll/pitch. Much more planted and takes speed bumps and pot holes well.

Eibach seems slightly stiffer than Fox from what I've seen. Deavers might flex more than OME but they're more expensive.

You're already here, so I'd gather someone like you would benefit from any suspension upgrades. Bilstein, eibach, fox, etc are just different flavors and they all taste better than OEM ?

Deevers are a whole lot thicker thanks to having 800 leaves in one pack and most likely don't flex near as much as the OME

 

[COblue]

Deevers are a whole lot thicker thanks to having 800 leaves in one pack and most likely don't flex near as much as the OME

Lotta thin leaves flex better than a couple thick leaves, but go on.

 

[Frenchy]

Lotta thin leaves flex better than a couple thick leaves, but go on.

You know I did take measurement many years ago on how much flex you could get with Old Man EMU And yet everyone who tries to say diva will flex more has yet to even bring up a measurement. Until we have that we can't say for sure

 

[COblue]

You know I did take measurement many years ago on how much flex you could get with Old Man EMU And yet everyone who tries to say diva will flex more has yet to even bring up a measurement. Until we have that we can't say for sure

Cool. How does one measure flex?

 

[Frenchy]

Cool. How does one measure flex?

Seriously?! Even you should know this one. Assuming you don't have one of the OffRoad Flex Ramps that sometimes go to car shows, you simply start jacking up a front tire until the rear tire on the same side starts to come off the ground. It's that easy. At that point you get the measurements front the top of each tire to the top of the fender well.

In pictures below you can see an example if you were to simply drive up a good rock and get the same results. This was with 32's and the Old Man EMU Nitrocharger Sport lift(yes that includes the leafs).

 

[Fordstanger]

I went with the Fox 2.0 coils/shocks up front and Bilstein 5100s in the rear. No regrets, got rid of all the annoying bouncy ride. Caveat I did it at the same time with tires and wheels. Part of my improvement came from the extra mass and sidewall from the BFG 285/70s. I am sure the front and rear shocks was at least 80% of the improvement. Truck now rides soooo much better. Solid now like I think it should be from the factory.

My opinion is based on F250s, F350s, F150s, SR5 Toyotas, Jeeps, Land Rovers, etc from circa 60's to 2000's.

It is not perfect, but feels like a new truck. Sad I waited until my 19 Fx4 had 60K+ on it before I made the mods. I daily this truck 80 miles a day so understand not so much off road. My off road is limited to once a year Outer Banks adventures. Wish I had more to offer but that is my .02

Hope this helps.

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