Has anyone towed with the V and B change? - Diesel Forum

leros · 02-20-2007, 12:55 PM

I just did install on Sunday, took me from 9am to 4:30pm by myself on my slanted driveway. I did remove my airbags and prep and paint my springs on Sat. Had to use alot of 4X8 blocks on my jacks to get it up high enough (I'm assuming because of my 4.5 lift).

Anyway I haven't been able to drive it a whole lot since the change, but have noticed a much better ride in the rear over bumps. What I really want to know, has anyone towed with their Ex after this spring change? I don't recall reading about anyone raving about the handling while towing after the spring swap. This was my main reason for doing the swap. I am looking forward to hooking up my trailer and being able to tow with just one hand on the wheel! Are my expectations too high?

housedad · 02-20-2007, 02:37 PM

I've towed my utility trailer, abotu 3000 lbs,, and I notice that the trailer moves more and the truck less. The Ex barely know it is there.

I took my travel trailer out last week for a test spin. 31 foot Mallard @ 7000 lbs as towed. Handles well. The rear is pinned and no slipping around. I did not ever notice how much the trailer was pushing the truck untill I towed it last week with the new springs. The trailer follows the truck now, and the truck is now the boss!!

leros · 02-20-2007, 07:15 PM

That's good to hear, my trailer is around 9K and I'm all over the place. Not much fun in the wind, and a passing trailer or big rig, WHATCH OUT! Looking forward to hooking up.

Stewart_H · 03-12-2007, 07:01 PM

I did the spring swap/upgrade before purchasing our 4-horse bumper pull, but I can tell you this: Towing the 4-horse trailer is easier, steers and tracks better with the spring upgrade, than compared to towing our 2-horse bumper pull with the old OEM springs.

Stewart

leros · 03-12-2007, 09:19 PM

I wish I could rave about NOT having the squirrely handling that we all experienced with the stock springs after doing the V/B upgrade. But to me, it feels about the same. It rides smoother especially in the rear. But driving down the freeway at 70 it still wanders. The dealer adjusted my steering box about a year ago because of my complaining and that helped a little. I was really hoping the spring change would have helped more.

I haven't hooked up the trailer yet but I'm thinking that it will be the same as it was before the spring change. I'm glad to hear yours is towing better though.

GARYB2 · 03-13-2007, 12:07 PM

I am noticing the same thing. I did the spring swap and added the rear helwig bar and still is squirrely. smoother but squirrely and wants to lean to the passenger side for some reason. This is on a 2000 X with 110,000 miles. Any suggestions?

ldmc · 03-13-2007, 07:31 PM

leros,

Have you replaced your shocks and steering stablizer yet? I have not gone the spring route yet. But I have changed my rear sway bar to the 30mm, shocks and steering stablizer, those have made a difference. I'm thinking about changing the springs to the V and F code to help with the rear end sage and the little of wandering that I have left. I still may try and adjust my steering box.

leros · 03-13-2007, 09:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
leros,

Have you replaced your shocks and steering stablizer yet? I have not gone the spring route yet. But I have changed my rear sway bar to the 30mm, shocks and steering stablizer, those have made a difference. I'm thinking about changing the springs to the V and F code to help with the rear end sage and the little of wandering that I have left. I still may try and adjust my steering box.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I'm running the Donahoe Sig series shocks, I just finished building and welding a bracket for a King Steering Stabilizer 3/4" piston, and I have the Helwig 31.5 mm rear swaybar. I haven't installed the Stabilizer yet because it's being rebuilt. I was thinking of installing one of THESE, a little pricey but I spoke with someone that had one on his 250 and loves it. He's running 40" tires, he can turn it at a standstill with one finger and it's rock solid on the freeway.

WannabePSD · 03-13-2007, 11:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I am noticing the same thing. I did the spring swap and added the rear helwig bar and still is squirrely. smoother but squirrely and wants to lean to the passenger side for some reason. This is on a 2000 X with 110,000 miles. Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're leaning to one side because the leaf's from the truck you are using has the tank on one side. Mine does the same thing.

Stewart_H · 03-14-2007, 12:25 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe Landyots radius rods?

I'm about to put on a panhard bar in a few weeks to see if it tightens up the handling a tad more.

Stewart

leros · 03-14-2007, 01:03 AM

Stewart, what is a "panhard bar"?

Yes I thought about the radius rods but came accross some pretty trick ones at a meeting from another site I went to. I took some pictures, I'll try and post them tonight if I can. They are pretty nice and run about $330.

Stewart_H · 03-14-2007, 05:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Stewart, what is a "panhard bar"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Explanation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard_rod

And a couple reference pictures here:
http://usera.imagecave.com/napachris...F1633-copy.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...f/17110234.jpg

Note, the above pictures are not of an Excursion. They are from F150 Lightings and are for posted for familiarization only.

Basically, and in a nutshell, panhard bars help with lateral stability when cornering.

Stewart

leros · 03-14-2007, 01:10 PM

Thanks Stewart for the info. I might build one of those it looks pretty easy to make.

Below are a few pictures of some really nice trackbars that I saw on an F-250 at a gathering. You have to drop the front of the spring to install the supplied bushing and they are made per your spring specs. The u-bolts are changed because a bottom plate is added. The company is out here in Lancaster Calif. and has specialized in drag cars. The guy that owned this truck said he has seen them on alot of Duramax trucks but never a Ford. Like I said above, the cost is about $330 and about a week to build them. Wondering if they would work like the Landyots?

CalTracs 1
CalTracs 2
CalTracs 3
CalTracs 4

ldmc · 03-14-2007, 01:48 PM

Ok now you all are scaring me. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] I thought I had my mind made up on changing my springs for handling and squating issues to the V and F codes. But now I'm not sure, with a couple of you still having wandering issues after the change. And I don't want to have to buy the radius rods also. Limited budget.

So is this an issue with the unmodified B's first stage to soft for the weight of the X?

Is anyone with the unmodified F's having the same issue.

Sorry Leros if I'm jacking your post. But I thought this would be a good place to put it with your questions.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

leros · 03-14-2007, 02:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry Leros if I'm jacking your post. But I thought this would be a good place to put it with your questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

No worries at all, this is a discussion on how the Ex handles after the spring change, I asked about towing.

Don't be confused, do the change for the smoother ride alone. I'm just trying to see if others that did the change are still experiencing the wandering or is it just mine? It seems like I read post after post about no more wandering and a better ride. I got the better ride but she still wanders. I might hookup the trailer this weekend and drive the freeways and see how it tows.