lowering with ride quality

[SS_Dave]

For anyone that's lowered 1", maybe 1.25", but likely just 1 and feels like they have ride quality just as good as stock or maybe even better, what is your setup? Springs, Springs and struts, coilovers, etcetera.

[cdb95z28]

For better ride quality, you must "time" the bushings. This involves all the suspension joints that have rubber bushings, anti roll bar mounts included. Loosen each joint at static ride height so the rubber resets to a neutral position then retighten the joint. If this is not done, the rubber joint is in a state of bind which creates stiffness in the joint that is not desired.

[Pearlj10]

I had hotchkis 1” lowering springs front and rear with a hodgepodge of SS, 1LE, and ZL1 parts including:
- SS shocks, struts, LCAs, rear sway bar link
- 1LE front sway bar/links
- 1LE strut tower bar
- 1LE/ZL1 rear sway bar
- 1LE rear shock mounting plates
- Poly front radius bar inserts and rear cradle inserts
- Z28 rear UCAs

The ride was very good and those FE4 shocks are quite comfortable. Handling is really good, too!

I just upgraded to Bilstein B6 struts and shocks with the same Hotchkis springs and added Detroit Speed rear sway bar (stiffest setting), LCAs, toe links, and trailing arms. The Detroit Speed parts are phenomenal. I also added the Hotchkis cross brace when doing the B6 and DS upgrades. Wow. It handles much better. The one thing I didn’t expect is power getting to the ground so much better. Shaved about two tenths of the 0-60 and feels much better on the butt dyno.

But you’re asking about the suspension mods and comfort. I think that the 1st suspension setup that I list above was very smooth and better than my ‘11 OEM stuff. I wouldn’t hesitate to go with a nice set of drop springs and some GM high performance suspension goodies to go with them if you want performance and comfort. All the mods I just did increased the NVH but mainly because the tightness of it all is resulting in rear interior trim rattles that I never heard before. I haven’t tried to find the source yet. The B6 struts are phenomenal and do not add ride height to V6 or SS models (but do to 1LE models due to the OEM strut design of those).

[bertie]

Originally Posted by Pearlj10

I had hotchkis 1” lowering springs front and rear with a hodgepodge of SS, 1LE, and ZL1 parts including:
- SS shocks, struts, LCAs, rear sway bar link
- 1LE front sway bar/links
- 1LE strut tower bar
- 1LE/ZL1 rear sway bar
- 1LE rear shock mounting plates
- Poly front radius bar inserts and rear cradle inserts
- Z28 rear UCAs

The ride was very good and those FE4 shocks are quite comfortable. Handling is really good, too!

I just upgraded to Bilstein B6 struts and shocks with the same Hotchkis springs and added Detroit Speed rear sway bar (stiffest setting), LCAs, toe links, and trailing arms. The Detroit Speed parts are phenomenal. I also added the Hotchkis cross brace when doing the B6 and DS upgrades. Wow. It handles much better. The one thing I didn’t expect is power getting to the ground so much better. Shaved about two tenths of the 0-60 and feels much better on the butt dyno.

But you’re asking about the suspension mods and comfort. I think that the 1st suspension setup that I list above was very smooth and better than my ‘11 OEM stuff. I wouldn’t hesitate to go with a nice set of drop springs and some GM high performance suspension goodies to go with them if you want performance and comfort. All the mods I just did increased the NVH but mainly because the tightness of it all is resulting in rear interior trim rattles that I never heard before. I haven’t tried to find the source yet. The B6 struts are phenomenal and do not add ride height to V6 or SS models (but do to 1LE models due to the OEM strut design of those).

That sounds like a great set up! We'll start working on my friend's new SS project after we installed the rotors and motiv wheels on the F-150 this week. Gonna check Hotchick stuffs soon.