C5backup
C5backup
Well, at this point, I have now owned a total of four of the 92 through 95 F150 XLT LWB regular cab trucks, if you count my current one. That would include an XLT F150 4x4, that I ordered new in 1994. I did order it with the rear stabilizer and was fairly impressed with the handling that truck offered. I am mainly refering to the handling around corners at a bit over the recomended speed without carrying a load and having the truck feel quite level and in full control of the vehicle. They have all had the 7" alloy wheels and 31 or 32" x 11.5 or 12.5 tires, a leveling kit up front and usually new shocks on all four corners. The 1994 truck was brand new and the other 4 have had various miles on the clock. The 94 truck was new and DID handle quite well and each one after that always seemed to be satisfactory in the handling area even though they had various miles on the clock... some exceeding 120,00 miles.
While assembling my curent truck, I had opted to put off replacing most of the front end parts because they appeared to have quite a lot of life left in them.
I had not put 100 miles on my current truck before it went under the knife and I don't recall the manors of that truck to be out of the ordinary at that time. While upgrading the truck with a 351- E4OD-and the rear differential, (incl the OEM stabilizer bar), from a tight low mile 94 donor truck... I also did replace the shocks and installed the OEM rear stabilizer bar. I also installed a front end leveling kit and a new set of Yokahoma 32x12.5 Geolander skins on all four corners..
That project took about 18 months before it saw the road again, recently.
Now, I am not going to say it handles like a bowl of jello, but I am disappointed in how it reacts on the road.
I guess that driving that C-5 Corvette all of these years has just raised the bar for my driving expectations....... Naw, not really.... I just seem to recall a much more responsive, better handling truck/s with basically the same setup. I guess I would describe the way that it feels now is that I seems to feel like I have an additional 3 or 400 lbs or so in the bed.....and no...I do weigh about the same as before. I don't expect a road racer just a better feeling of control than it gives at this point. Even at 55 miles an hour around a long sweeping corner it tends to sway.
I noticed there are several mounting holes at the frame for the rear stabilizer bar. how do you determine the correct ones and does it make much difference in the trucks handling manors, without a load? I have not found much ink on what is right or how much good they really do and under what circomstance?
My hunch is that I need to go to a better front shock and maybe play with the stabilizer adjustments in the rear.... How do you determine the best setting for that stabilizer?
BTW, I set my tire pressure up to 50psi, (max setting), and it helped a bit but I lost some in the ride quality.
I have never had to in the past with my other trucks, but I would even consider a front sway bar, if I would gain much in the stability department.
Any thoughts, comments, and suggestions would be appreciated.
While assembling my curent truck, I had opted to put off replacing most of the front end parts because they appeared to have quite a lot of life left in them.
I had not put 100 miles on my current truck before it went under the knife and I don't recall the manors of that truck to be out of the ordinary at that time. While upgrading the truck with a 351- E4OD-and the rear differential, (incl the OEM stabilizer bar), from a tight low mile 94 donor truck... I also did replace the shocks and installed the OEM rear stabilizer bar. I also installed a front end leveling kit and a new set of Yokahoma 32x12.5 Geolander skins on all four corners..
That project took about 18 months before it saw the road again, recently.
Now, I am not going to say it handles like a bowl of jello, but I am disappointed in how it reacts on the road.
I guess that driving that C-5 Corvette all of these years has just raised the bar for my driving expectations....... Naw, not really.... I just seem to recall a much more responsive, better handling truck/s with basically the same setup. I guess I would describe the way that it feels now is that I seems to feel like I have an additional 3 or 400 lbs or so in the bed.....and no...I do weigh about the same as before. I don't expect a road racer just a better feeling of control than it gives at this point. Even at 55 miles an hour around a long sweeping corner it tends to sway.
I noticed there are several mounting holes at the frame for the rear stabilizer bar. how do you determine the correct ones and does it make much difference in the trucks handling manors, without a load? I have not found much ink on what is right or how much good they really do and under what circomstance?
My hunch is that I need to go to a better front shock and maybe play with the stabilizer adjustments in the rear.... How do you determine the best setting for that stabilizer?
BTW, I set my tire pressure up to 50psi, (max setting), and it helped a bit but I lost some in the ride quality.
I have never had to in the past with my other trucks, but I would even consider a front sway bar, if I would gain much in the stability department.
Any thoughts, comments, and suggestions would be appreciated.
and buy some tires and wheels that actually match-each-other 
