2003 excursion lift and ride question SWAYS - Diesel Forum

kennymax · 11-16-2009, 01:56 AM

I just purchased a 2003 Excursion 7.3 liter 4X4 with 65K miles on it. It had som many upgrades on it I couldn't pass it up. It was neglected,but after tightening the bolts and cleaning the filters and lubing the part that needed to be lubed it runs and most importantly looks great.

Now the problem. It has a eight inch sky jacker platinum series coil over suspension in front that replaced the leaf springs and eight inch blocks in back. I had to change the drag link and bushings, tighten up the column and lube everythig up, but when I drive straight on the highway, it feels like a boat drifting and its hard to keep it straight.... not a lot of work, but work. I noticed in the rear there are no ladder bars, track bars, radius bars, sway bars, etc. It only has two shock abosorbers, both located on the BACK side of the differential.

What do I have to do to get this mammoth to drive more like a truck .. . a little more solid, stiff but just straight. Also, I have a boat that weighs 8500 lbs., will this truck pull it safely? P.S. It has 37 inch open countries on 22 nch wheels and it has been regeared. Thanking you in advance for any advice.

njneer1 · 11-16-2009, 09:18 AM

I have had lifted vehicles but never that high, so I can at least give this a bump up for some of the guys ride'n high to look at. IMHO the lift maybe OK.... but 8 inches on blocks alone cannot be good. I've never seen that without ladders etc. That has got to wind up the rear springs something terrible. I would say you need ladders or similiar and a sway. As for the steering wander, just about everyone I know has had to adjust the steering box. With your equipment, it would have to accelerate that problem.
Hopefully someone with some experience on this can offer some better info

hugestroke · 11-16-2009, 10:47 AM

the sway in the front is kind of normal with a lift thea big check the bushings in the track bar. and replace the blocks with some springs. when i did my lift i opted for the springs and that was the best thing it the world no sag at all when u hook up to any thing. also but a good anti sway bar on the thing and that will solve alot of your issue.

**caryt** · 11-16-2009, 01:41 PM

You need sway bars, rear modded B codes or Icon lift springs..get rid of the block and lastly correctly valved shocks..and coilovers.

kennymax · 11-17-2009, 01:09 AM

Thanks again.when you say coil overs.I have them in the front do you mean rear as well..I deffinatly want ladder bars.What about towing?

**caryt** · 11-17-2009, 02:28 PM

Saying get new Coilovers..King Bilstein etc not cheap skyjackers's. Rear get Icon springs, IMO Rize has best traction bars. Swaybars would help also.

kennymax · 11-19-2009, 02:34 AM

laughing my butt off.So I went to a few places and was told its as good as its gonna get .Then for what ever reason I checked the tire presssure.The max psi is 65#s and the tires were set at 60#s so i let the tires down to 50#s and now all problems are solved this truck rides and tracks so smooth......Thanks for all the quick responces.Next time i will trouble shoot then ask....