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EXCAV8TER · 04-21-2007, 05:21 PM

Installed F-codes on the rear today...WOW that EX corners like a corvette...no body roll, no sway and no more constant corrective steering. Huge improvement over stock..Didnt measure before hand..forgot, but after have a nose down rake...right at 39.5 inches from floor to fender in the front and 41.5 in the rear. I took new f- codes and added the bottom 3 leafs from the ex pack to the new springs..I did leave the snubber intact, ( friend of mine that replaced the bushings for me with new energy suspension bushings seemed to think it was an over load on the bottom rather than the top like an F350) I know thats debatable but we left them intact anyway...last thing left is bilstien shocks...It rides like a 500 mercedes benz! I love it....I will be towing a 31ft. travel trailer to the coast on Tuesday so I'll report back how it did...
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Chuck Saporito · 04-21-2007, 05:41 PM

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Installed F-codes on the rear today...WOW that EX corners like a corvette...no body roll, no sway and no more constant corrective steering. Huge improvement over stock..Didnt measure before hand..forgot, but after have a nose down rake...right at 39.5 inches from floor to fender in the front and 41.5 in the rear. I took new f- codes and added the bottom 3 leafs from the ex pack to the new springs..I did leave the snubber intact, ( friend of mine that replaced the bushings for me with new energy suspension bushings seemed to think it was an over load on the bottom rather than the top like an F350) I know thats debatable but we left them intact anyway...last thing left is bilstien shocks...It rides like a 500 mercedes benz! I love it....I will be towing a 31ft. travel trailer to the coast on Tuesday so I'll report back how it did...
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Yup, Corvette and a 500 Benz, just the two I would compare it too. Back here in reality, I'd say they handle more like an 8000lb brick controlled with a cheap video game joystick, modifying the suspension doesn't change the weight or length of the vehicle. At highway speeds pick two lanes and aim for the middle.

EXCAV8TER · 04-21-2007, 06:04 PM

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Installed F-codes on the rear today...WOW that EX corners like a corvette...no body roll, no sway and no more constant corrective steering. Huge improvement over stock..Didnt measure before hand..forgot, but after have a nose down rake...right at 39.5 inches from floor to fender in the front and 41.5 in the rear. I took new f- codes and added the bottom 3 leafs from the ex pack to the new springs..I did leave the snubber intact, ( friend of mine that replaced the bushings for me with new energy suspension bushings seemed to think it was an over load on the bottom rather than the top like an F350) I know thats debatable but we left them intact anyway...last thing left is bilstien shocks...It rides like a 500 mercedes benz! I love it....I will be towing a 31ft. travel trailer to the coast on Tuesday so I'll report back how it did...
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, Corvette and a 500 Benz, just the two I would compare it too. Back here in reality, I'd say they handle more like an 8000lb brick controlled with a cheap video game joystick, modifying the suspension doesn't change the weight or length of the vehicle. At highway speeds pick two lanes and aim for the middle.

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well if you werent so far up in yankeeland I would tell you to come and drive it so you could see how full of it you really are... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Im sorry to hear yours was such a hooptee..

caryt · 04-21-2007, 06:11 PM

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Installed F-codes on the rear today...WOW that EX corners like a corvette...no body roll, no sway and no more constant corrective steering. Huge improvement over stock..Didnt measure before hand..forgot, but after have a nose down rake...right at 39.5 inches from floor to fender in the front and 41.5 in the rear. I took new f- codes and added the bottom 3 leafs from the ex pack to the new springs..I did leave the snubber intact, ( friend of mine that replaced the bushings for me with new energy suspension bushings seemed to think it was an over load on the bottom rather than the top like an F350) I know thats debatable but we left them intact anyway...last thing left is bilstien shocks...It rides like a 500 mercedes benz! I love it....I will be towing a 31ft. travel trailer to the coast on Tuesday so I'll report back how it did...
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, Corvette and a 500 Benz, just the two I would compare it too. Back here in reality, I'd say they handle more like an 8000lb brick controlled with a cheap video game joystick, modifying the suspension doesn't change the weight or length of the vehicle. At highway speeds pick two lanes and aim for the middle.

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Spoken by a man with personal experence [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Cary

JMFINLEY · 04-21-2007, 06:52 PM

Hey Tom,
So when you switched to F-codes you added 3 of the old leafs, so now you have 8 leaf springs in the back??? Wow, that just seams like a lot of leaf springs for the rear. What did that do to your bottom flat leaf from the new F pack???

I just used the F-codes straight along with the cut wrap spring as spacer and couldn't be happier with the ride, and my bottom leaf touches on the front and floats up and down on the rear when going down the road empty. I think that is why the ride is so nice, it is definitely not a stiff ride.

EXCAV8TER · 04-21-2007, 07:26 PM

6 leafs and the snubber spring..so 7 I guess...Rides awesome to me....
what I got and heck maybe I didnt get it all...was a spring with 4 long leafs....added the bottom 3 off the ex pack and bolted it up..

I guess I should ask the kids if its smooth in the back...LOL handles and corners awesome.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Chuck Saporito · 04-22-2007, 02:49 AM

Hey, I know what you are doing is helping the problem, I just had to laugh about the Corvette/Benz comparison.

I've had two Excursions, a 2002 7.3 and a 2005 6.0. The 2002 handled about as bad as it can get, possibly worse. The porpising could be called dangerous. The 2005 was slightly better, but still couldn't be called even normal. I liked a lot of things about the Excursions (I sure wouldn't have spent 90K on them for nothing) but handling was not one of them. I tried blistiens and larger stabalizers on the '02, by '05 I wouldn't waste the money other then to replace the worthless
shocks they came with, why did they go cheap there?

I also own an'86 Feiro GT, '02 Mustang GT and an '07 BMW X5 so I know what good handling feels like.

boertje · 04-22-2007, 11:34 AM

Before I did any suspension mods on the X I was afraid to take curves marked at 50mph at 50. Then I put the Helwig sway bar on and taking curves was much improved. The wander was an irritation compared to my old 99 burb which handled much better. When pulling a trailer the wander almost made driving the X feel dangerous. The porpoising was another irritant and driving over bumps and feeling the front end bottom out on those concrete type bump stops...well the whole thing was not acceptable. I am glad there are forums such as these. They are a wealth of experience and great ideas.
With the Helwig sway bar the stability in taking curves 20mph over the posted speed is easy. With the V code and F code springs, the front end no longer bottoms out (I also changed the bump stops to the newer style) and the ride for my passengers in the rear of the X has become softer yet solid. I have replaced all the shocks to bilstein and also replaced the steering stabilizer to a procomm.
All I can say is that after all the mods are finished I would do it again had I to start over but I would not have waited so long for this improved ride. Also the X now rides and handles better than my 04 4X4 GMC duramax. The best part is that my wife is even more pleased with the changes to the X and the resulting improved handling and ride than I am and for me...it is the best report card marks one can get.

EXCAV8TER · 04-23-2007, 12:24 AM

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Hey, I know what you are doing is helping the problem, I just had to laugh about the Corvette/Benz comparison.

I've had two Excursions, a 2002 7.3 and a 2005 6.0. The 2002 handled about as bad as it can get, possibly worse. The porpising could be called dangerous. The 2005 was slightly better, but still couldn't be called even normal. I liked a lot of things about the Excursions (I sure wouldn't have spent 90K on them for nothing) but handling was not one of them. I tried blistiens and larger stabalizers on the '02, by '05 I wouldn't waste the money other then to replace the worthless
shocks they came with, why did they go cheap there?

I also own an'86 Feiro GT, '02 Mustang GT and an '07 BMW X5 so I know what good handling feels like.

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Let me first apologize for being smug..it was uncalled for.
It seems you have had some really crappy experience with the EX. I have probably missed several posts from you in the past and dont have a clue as to the extent of your experiences...I have to say that the difference for me has been in the springs..the shocks have helped and the sway bar of course...but the springs are where its at for me..
Yes absolutely I was off with the corvette / benz statement but I can tell you that it handles extremely well after the work I have done to it...If you look at the horizon and the hood as you corner and believe me i have pushed it hard...the hood stays flat in a hard curve...I know that the 13.5" wide wheels help that aspect tremendously as well.I also added the double shock steering stabilizer... When I hit a bump and even over bridges that used to cause crazy undulations in stock form...the springs dampen the bump and goes immediately flat again...its great and I love this truck!
Its a shame you had enough to get rid of yours..that sucks!
Hope that new beamer serves you well...
Peace
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

coldair · 04-23-2007, 07:27 AM

I only drove my X's from the dealer to the 4x4 shop which was about a 1/2 a mile. they installed cheap lift kits like super lift or rough country, that only lasted for about 6 months they I went to donahoe racing kit with deaver springs and I never feared going into a turn at any speed

Soaggydogg · 04-29-2007, 02:37 AM

I bought mine modified but it now has V's, B's, LandYot Radius rods, Hellwig front & rear sway bars, Bilsteins and a single Rancho steering stab shock and it does ok. I need to drive a bone stock one but then again it wouldn't be any fun either.

Benjoman · 04-29-2007, 04:48 PM

I'm almost back from a 6000mi. trip, south Florida to Las Vegas and back. Pulling my 6000lb. TT all the way. I did the V and F swap shortly after buying my EX. Also added rear helwig sway bar and Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. This was my first trip towing with the EX. Also added a Hensley Arrow hitch and tried it for the first time. Everything has worked very well. No being pushed around by passing Semis. No wandering to speak of. The ride has been very good. The part of the ride that I attribute to springs is great. One part of the ride I am not totally satisfied with is sharp bumps such as potholes or seams in the pavement. Those are harsher than desirable and I suspect it is partly due to the stock tires on the EX and I am keeping the pressure pretty high for towing. I hope to get some new tires before long after I get home. The 7.3PSD has provided between 11 and 12 mpg cruising between 60 and 70 mph. I have checked the mpg by hand and I also have a Scan Guage which plugs into the OBD output and provides more info than I know what to do with: mpg, mph fuel temp, inlet air temp, gal used, gal remaing, average speed, etc., etc. The overhead computer has not been reset since departure and currently reads 11.4mpg. There has probably been several hundred miles out of the 6K without the trailer attached, but it was city driving such as in Las Vegas. I tow in OD 99% of the time. Hope this hasn't been too long and boring, but may answer some questions some of you have asked. My F springs are unmodified as purchased from the Dealer. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Ben