White95’s ‘23 F-150 “Abominable”

ju015dd

Moderator
Staff
SN95 Supporter
Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Messages
5,726
Reaction score
3,585
Location
tallahassee, fl
Do they salt/sand/brine the roads in the areas of the country that dont usually get snow?
Sand over this way only on the interstate and key bridges. We just don't have or need the equipment and personnel to do so. Hasn't snowed like this in the panhandle of florida in like almost 70 years. Been a wild ride that I am ready to have melt and go back to normal....lol
 
OP
OP
white95

white95

Apex Junky
Admin
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
21,152
Reaction score
10,177
Location
Prairieville, LA
As you’ve noticed, I’ve had a bit of an internal struggle the past couple months with this truck. In the short term, I am going to install some shock extenders in an attempt to regain some shock travel. The idea is to lessen the rear suspension’s ‘demented see-saw’ antics and regain some ride quality. In the coming months, I will be reversing course and revamping the suspension with an emphasis on light off-roading in mind. Nothing like what @duh09 does with his shit.

IMG_3600.jpeg

IMG_3698.jpeg

IMG_3694.jpeg

IMG_3693.jpeg

IMG_3728.jpeg

IMG_3730.jpeg

IMG_3726.jpeg

^ What I have in mind will be somewhere along these lines. A mild front level (2.5”) using quality lift struts and leaving the rear factory with matching shocks. No leveling pucks or Rough Country stuff. In all likelihood, 33” tires and will be using my current wheels for now. Several lightweight 17” wheels available and I just need to decide on some.

IMG_6206.jpeg

If you recall, it sat quite tall in the rear as delivered. That said, I’m not really worried about the truck suddenly becoming a slug. It went a best of 11.77 @ 117 last year with stock height on 31” tires. Don’t see why it wouldn’t run low 12’s/high 11’s on 33’s.

…and I can still bolt on more go-faster parts :cool:
 
OP
OP
white95

white95

Apex Junky
Admin
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
21,152
Reaction score
10,177
Location
Prairieville, LA
A set of Fox 2.0 drop shocks popped up in my local Facebook marketplace. I’m going to pick these up after work and give them a shot. These are said to be the go to for anybody wanting their lowered truck to ride better.

We’ll see about that.
 

ttocs

Forum's #1 poster
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
34,641
Reaction score
6,460
Location
Evansville Indiana
just imagine all the ass you would get driving around like that?! I am really really afraid to know what kind but I am sure there would be more than you could shake a stick at.....
 
OP
OP
white95

white95

Apex Junky
Admin
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
21,152
Reaction score
10,177
Location
Prairieville, LA
Made a full weight pass with about 1/4 tank of 93 to see what it would do;

IMG_3752.png

Woke up early and elected to swap the shocks. Did the RH side first because I knew the LH side would fight me. The install was quick but the LH side didn’t disappoint. Needed to use an impact so I just waited until this evening to finish up. Set the remaining Viking to full soft and set out to work. The SRA didn’t know what to do. The damping characteristics between the two shocks was totally different but it was impossible to gauge pros/cons.

Couldn’t resist seeing how it would act and I made a dragy pull. This was full weight, full tank of E85 and still runs pretty decent;

IMG_3761.png

Weight reduction really helps!

Fast forward to this evening and I knocked the driver side out in about 20-25 minutes using proper tools.

IMG_3776.jpeg

This meant totally dropping the lower traction bar mount. No surprises here. The u-bolts are quite long and have to be removed to extract the lower shock bolt.

IMG_3777.jpeg

Buttoned it up and set out for a quick test drive. The roads nearby the house have mostly been resurfaced over the last 5 years. Sent my initial thoughts to my friend Reed, “It still rides like a lowered truck, but it doesn't have the crash/bang and stupid choppy BS that it did before. That Westlake torture cruise is gonna tell me everything I need to know about it tomorrow.“

He also has a lowered F150 and we used to carpool. The “Westlake Torture cruise” is what he called our 100 mile round trip commute. It’s a mix of fresh asphalt, jointed concrete, washboard-like rippled country road, big dips, potholes, uneven lanes; you name it.

So, I’ll report back after that tomorrow.
 

duh09

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Apr 23, 2008
Messages
9,768
Reaction score
993
Location
Memphis-ish
As you’ve noticed, I’ve had a bit of an internal struggle the past couple months with this truck. In the short term, I am going to install some shock extenders in an attempt to regain some shock travel. The idea is to lessen the rear suspension’s ‘demented see-saw’ antics and regain some ride quality. In the coming months, I will be reversing course and revamping the suspension with an emphasis on light off-roading in mind. Nothing like what @duh09 does with his shit.




If you recall, it sat quite tall in the rear as delivered. That said, I’m not really worried about the truck suddenly becoming a slug. It went a best of 11.77 @ 117 last year with stock height on 31” tires. Don’t see why it wouldn’t run low 12’s/high 11’s on 33’s.

…and I can still bolt on more go-faster parts :cool:


You just think you don't want to hit the stuff I hit... and then you watch me do it and you go "if that idiot can do it..."
 
OP
OP
white95

white95

Apex Junky
Admin
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
21,152
Reaction score
10,177
Location
Prairieville, LA
Round 3:

This evening, I installed the shock relocation kit.

IMG_4001.jpeg

The inboard bolt on the left rear interfered with the u-bolt and I’ll swipe a shorter one from work tomorrow.

IMG_4002.jpeg

IMG_4003.jpeg

I know I owe you guys an assessment after switching shocks but I’ll leave you with this statement from my wife:

“Except for when it was stock, this is the best ride since you did all the work to it”, said Tiffiny

I’ll give an update after my ride to work tomorrow.
 
OP
OP
white95

white95

Apex Junky
Admin
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
21,152
Reaction score
10,177
Location
Prairieville, LA
Found another example but with way too small of a tire.

375747598_3197014447265440_2085359057419374566_n.jpg

375734116_3197014433932108_1004354754096284244_n.jpg

Stock sized, 275/55r20, is going to be the route I take. These will become my daily driver wheels and that size is one of the most common in the US. Easily replaceable should the need arise.

414739132_10159480780945894_444979572582963361_n.jpg
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
78,179
Messages
1,521,693
Members
15,537
Latest member
isceood

Members online

Top