Too soft front suspension

[Ddozier234]

Hi All,

I hope all of you are safe and making the best of the unexpected down time. I recently traded my 2016 F-350 gasser for a 2018 F-350 diesel. I pulled my Cardinal 3150rl for the first time on Friday. The front bounced a little too much for my taste. The previous owner of the 2018 F-350 installed A Ready Lift spacer above the front coil springs and after market front shocks. The rear is still factory. The ride of the truck unloaded is perfect. But when I hook up to my 5 wheel, the truck becomes harder to control. So I’m wondering if installing stiffer adjustable front shocks would help? Or should I go totally back to factory?

[pilotpip]

I'd remove the spacer first. Spring preload is ramped up because of it and could be affecting the "bouncy" feeling. If the front shocks are adjustable, drop them to stock ride hight as well.

[drc343]

Had same problem. I got a 2015 3500 Ram dually came with front 2.5 inch spacer. Took out spacer problem fixed.

[upflying]

Return your front suspension back to stock.

[NMWildcat]

Lots of folks around here install leveling kits to the front of their tow vehicles. Usually to accommodate larger tires. I just happen to like the way it looks.
I haven't heard anyone complain about bouncing. I think the first thing I would try is replacing the shocks. Might look at Bilstein 5100s which are made specifically for vehicles with up to 2.5" of lift and/or bigger tires and rims.
The other option, of course, is to remove the leveling kit if you don't need it for tires, or just don't like it. It sure sounds like weak or incorrect shocks to me though, so you might need new shocks either way. Good thing about the 5100s is that the same shock will fit stock or lifted (up to a point).

[acadianbob]

I can't imagine that your springs are insufficient. My front axle weight doesn't change when we hook up our fifth wheel. I'd pull the spacer. If that isn't sufficient, the new shocks might be in order. Check to see if the replacement shocks have a valve setting to change. Some are adjustable.

[Tundra 2014]

Take it back to stock 1st. Add steering stabilizer if needed. I have a 2019 SRW-adding steering stabilizer to control bump steer when pulling.

[NMWildcat]

Adding a steering stabilizer should not have any affect on bounce.
Changing shocks is probably the cheapest thing to change first. If it does not have the affect you are looking for, then go to the cost of having the leveling kit removed and the front end realigned.

[Tundra 2014]

Original post stated "Hard to Control when hooked to 5th wheel". Front stabilizer will help on bump steer and control. With a solid front axel, Fords are known to have this problem. Mush better than it was on the earlier F-350s. The 09' I drove could put a lot of shock into your hands. Not near the problem w/ front coil springs or where the truck does not sit as high.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Tundra 2014

Original post stated "Hard to Control when hooked to 5th wheel". Front stabilizer will help on bump steer and control. With a solid front axel, Fords are known to have this problem. Mush better than it was on the earlier F-350s. The 09' I drove could put a lot of shock into your hands. Not near the problem w/ front coil springs or where the truck does not sit as high.

I agree, steering stabilizer helps with the Ford 'death wobble' and bump steer. But it doesn't help with bounce the OP was worried about.
Both options, shocks and steering stabilizer, are fairly cheap to try. And I would try both before removing the leveling kit and possibly finding you still need to replace shocks or add steering stabilizer.
So we can both be correct and helpful.

[rad_jr]

Not sure whether the caster angle is adjustable on your truck, but adding/removing leveling blocks will affect the caster, which can cause control issues...this will be exacerbated if the rear sags at all with your trailer hooked. up.

If the suspension bushings are anything like a Jeep (again...not familiar with the front suspension on your truck), adding/removing leveling blocks without loosening & re-tightening suspension arms will pre-load the bushings, causing them to "fight" the damping action of the shocks, which could contribute to the bouncing/control issues that you're experiencing....