Hi guys
Just joined the F150 forum from all the way at the other end of the world down in New Zealand.
Recently received delivery on my 2019 Lariat 4x4, 3.5l ecoboost late last year. The truck has been converted to right hand drive here in NZ. Before leaving the states we had the belltech performance lowering kit installed along with 24” rims and low profile tires. While I love the look and stance of the truck the ride quality is terrible. The truck picks up every bump in the road and the whole truck shudders and shakes when going over any average sized bump. I knew that potentially lowering the truck on big rims with low profiles would slightly stiffen the ride up but certainly wasn’t expecting anything this harsh. I’ve read plenty of reviews and watched plenty of you tube videos raving about the fantastic ride quality on the belltech lowering system. To me it feels like the issue is more in the front of the truck as there’s plenty of play in the rear suspension when bouncing on the tow ball but the front is rock solid when you try plush down on it. I’m thinking the front is hitting the bumps hard and causing the whole truck the shake and shudder. Would replacing the front heavy duty red front performance coil overs with the lowered belltech adjustable struts and factory springs soften the ride while still keeping the same Lowered height?
I’ll try to post some pics and really appreciate any help or advice
Thanks

 

I have the belltech adjustable coilovers my truck rides like a dream. What tires are you running. On 24’s the quality tire effects the ride a lot.

 

I’m running Nitto 420s so its on decent rubber. I’ve discounted the tires being the issue as I put the standard 18” factory rims and tires on the other week but it made very little difference to the ride quality. I’m totally lost to be honest. I’ve search forums and YouTube for months and its been Almost impossible to find anyone that is unhappy with their ride of an F150 on a lowered belltech setup. Hard being on the other side of the world where F150s are extremely rare. If i cant find a solution I’m trading it on a Supersnake...lol

 

I know you said the front, but the belltech rear shocks are awful compared to fox or bilstein. Looks like your hitting the bump stops also in the rear axle. Mine has much shorter bump stops.

I would go over the front an make sure all the bolts are tight. Especially lower control bolts. Some alignment shops fail to get them tight enough and that would cause you to feel more play in the front.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm not so sure it is the front now and I'm wondering if the back is the issue. There's definitely something not right. The shuddering is that bad that the passenger seat shakes (if there's no one sitting in it) and the seat belt buckle bangs on the centre console!!
I've contacted belltech asking if I went to their standard lowering kit and ran the factory springs on the adjustable strut, would that make a difference? They didnt think so and they said they dont have any ride quality issues with coil over performance setips. We jacked the front of the truck up over the weekend and it doesnt seem like theres much travel in the front struts....

 

I seem to recall reading many threads where people disliked the Belltech rear shocks.

If it were me, I’d try changing out the rear shocks first to see if that helps, as thats the easiest and cheapest of the trial options at the moment (between front suspension, rear shocks, tires)

Also, just note that soft/play in the back isn’t necessarily a good thing. The OEM rear has a lot of play if you jump up and down on the rear bumper.......and almost everyone changes them out cause they’re not a good match for the truck itself.

I just had a brand new f150 loaner while mine was in the shop, and the loaner truck definitely seemed to have more “oscillations” when going over bumps/etc than my truck seems to have (I’ve got fox rear shocks, no blocks, and a rear sway bar).

OEM tends to be what you’re describing too....lots of shuttering/shakes. Upgraded rear shocks tend to be more firm but also tend to be a “single oscillation and done” type of impact, if that makes sense.

Pretty truck BTW

 

Thanks again.
Ive taken onboard these comments and after driving the truck today with these things in mind I’m now thinking is definitely more of a rear shock problem. Makes a lot more sense and those oscillations do feel like they are coming from the rear. Especially with no load the rear of the truck is far more likely to shake and shudder.
Also noticed that there is a vibration around 30-35mph, feels like badly balanced wheels....

 

Damaged in shipping?

 

The vibration is from your pinion angle. You can download the tremec tool box app and it has a digital angle finder. I had to end up with 2.5 degree shims for mine to be vibration free. All trucks are different.


I would trim the bump stops or get new smaller ones , new shocks fox or bilstein and use the tool to figure out driveline angles and get correct shim.

Truck looks good , I like the air designs Body kit!!

 

Thanks for all your advice guys, really appreciate it.
I'm convinced now its a problem in the rear. In going over some bumps this morning a slower speeds - the front, whilst firm, absorbed the bump and when the rear of the truck when over it shuddered and oscillated.
Sounds like Fox or Bilstein's in the rear are the way to go. Does anyone happen to know the series or part numbers of these shocks? I've had a look at their websites and it wasn't clear to me which ones are the ones I need.
Being at the other end of the world I really don't want to order the wrong ones...

Happy with the air design kit although the side skirts are pretty flimsy and we had to get them reinforced with extra brackets to keep them perfectly straight. Just the Leer 750 hardlid still to be installed, which arrived from the US last week.
Once the suspension is sorted I'll be a happy man. It's been a 16 month process from ordering a build truck the US, body kit and wheels done in the US, huge delay getting the truck out due to a 'stink bug' delay, shipped to NZ, Covid 19, and a 4 week conversion from LHD to RHD.
I know these trucks are a dime a dozen in the States but it's a hugely costly project once it's finished up over here with the cost of shipping, taxes and conversion! Still once you driven an amercian truck, you'd never go back to driving and Japanese ute...haha