Is there anywhere I can get a 20% softer spring from stock? I never tow or haul and just trying to soften the ride front and rear. Way too stiff for my liking. Might need to go custom Eibach's?

 

 

I've seen the new Belltech/ KW adjustable coilovers, but the primary spring is shorter than OEM so it is most certainly stiffer. A call into Belltech yielded a confused "tech" guy and no answers to my spring rate questions. And it is also well known that the valving in the Belltech adjustable struts are stiffer than stock. Numerous accounts of that. The rear is just a clusterf*ck. Going 4-link and c-notch and 175 in/lb springs and QA1 double adjustables.

 

If you are not wanting to alter ride height then going softer will require measuring actual spring force at that specific amount of compression. Eibach could then help you with a softer but longer spring that will keep ride height in tact. Of course you would then need to check for coil bind at full compression. That said: Are you certain that your issue is spring rate related and not damping? Id give careful consideration to damping, tire sizing, and unsprung weight before changing the spring.

 

 

How are you substantiating that statement? The valving, although adjustable, could start out stiffer than stock and work its way up, but not down. Ie. the softest setting on the shock is still firmer than a stock 2wd shock.

If I knew of a front strut that had softer compression than a stock 2wd shock, I would start there, and I'd likely run a DJM arm and leave the spring alone.

My goal is to lower the truck around a 2/4 or if I have to a 3/5, or even leave it at stock 2wd height, and have it ride as comfortably as possible, with no consideration to towing or hauling. Whatever setup I end up, I'll use an adjustable rear shock, which from my experience with other 4wd performance trucks, allows me to stiffen the rear suspension considerably to dial in anti-squat on launch, when using drag radials at all four corners.

So my goal is a 10 second 4wd street/ strip truck that rides excessively comfortably on the street, does not tow or haul, and has the ability in the rear to tighten up the dampeners to aid in 60ft times. I can always use limiting straps in the front which I have done on other torsion bar 4wd street/ strip trucks in the past (99-07 Silverado pickups).

 

 

My apologies, I certainly don't know everything. And the information about the Belltech/KW coilover strut having the ability to be adjusted for compression settings softer than stock is great news. I guess I'm not sure what I would do as far as the spring that comes on that strut. Since the primary spring is quite a bit shorter than the factory spring, the spring rate is likely in the 600 in/lb range, like VAS setups up their Vikings at. Overall, I've always suspicious of aftermarket suspension companies that claim to improve "ride and handling" at the same time, their two favorite words. Usually, everything is stiffened up to the point of knocking your fillings out, which no doubt helps handling on perfectly smooth pavement, at the expense of compliance on rough roads. It seems that for most platforms, there is a hole in the market, where a comfort setup could be released. I know these trucks are very oversprung from the factory so that Ford can win the payload and tow wars.

 

You didn't state what motor, cab, or bed you have. If you are willing to drop a little, maybe see if the base 6 or 2.7 eco on a short bed regular cab comes with a lighter spring or different shocks?

 

It's a 5.0, rcsb, 4wd. I believe the 2wd Eco's have the lightest spring, but I've driven one and they're still quite stiff.