Agile Quigley RIP - horrible ride??

[fattmann]

1998 E-150 Club Wagon (5.4L) (short body)
Full Quigley running gear (Dana 44 front, Dana 60 rear)
Agile RIP (all 4 shocks, sway bar drop kit)
Replaced OEM: axle side sway bar bushings, coil spring (CC880)
Stock (as far as I know) rear leaf packs with Quigley ~4" block
Front weight: 3660
Rear weight: 2800
Total weight: 6460

I have a 1998 E-150 Club Wagon with four captains chairs, no bench seats. The existing cheapo shocks were completely hosed, and it felt like a cartoon when you hit any appreciable bump in the road with how it rocked back and forth on essentially the springs alone. Constant WHAMs on the bump stops, etc. I knew the suspension needed a refresh.

I just finished the install of a partial Agile Quigley RIP kit. After speaking with the Agile team, due to the low weight of my van, I opted for only the four custom valved shocks, and the sway bar lowering bracket kit. I bought the Moog CC880 front coil spring (not the S variant) as they expressed concern of the low front end weight with the 5.4L that the S variant would be far too stiff. Similarly we opted not to go with the add-a-leaves in the rear. I have no plans to run this rig loaded down like an overlander rig. Just a simple, empty, daily driver. I also replaced the axle side way bar bushings.

Overall - the ride is just horrible. While the oscillating bounciness from before is much better - the shocks seem so stiff that every paving cut feels like you're bottoming out on the bump stops. It seriously feels like the front shocks are doing little to nothing to dampen anything on the road. My mother has a stock 2004 E-350 XLT EB that rides like a Cadillac in comparison. Before, my van cruised like a dream on the highway and was only rough on real bumpy side roads and dirt roads. Now - it is uncomfortable to drive on the highway - let alone any other roads.

Attached is an image of the front passenger shock (and spring). I suspect there's only ~3-4" of the shock's shaft between the eyelet assembly and the main shock body. Does this look normal? I was initally worried that there simply wasn't any up-travel on the shock the way it is installed. I know Agile's spec only has 6" of travel, but didn't think it would bottom out with the very little up-travel the Quiley setup provides. I plan on pulling the shocks again and removing the boots for better visibility while I sort things out. I have just under 2" (~1 7/8") from axle to bumpstop, which I read is typical and I expected.

I guess I'm looking for insight as to why I might be having such a horrible ride. I went from feeling like no shocks and only spring bounce, to seriously feeling like my axles are connected with stiff rubber and no springs at all. Is my van just simply too light for the Agile's custom valving? That's the only thing I can think of.

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

[REDOVAL]

Just a quick thought from looking at the image....the shock is incorrect for the vehicle as it appears to be nearly fully collapsed at ride height. If there's not enough available shock shaft exposed for bump travel the ride will be anything but desirable and they won't last long. Again...just an observation

Scott

[fattmann]

Originally Posted by REDOVAL

Just a quick thought from looking at the image....the shock is incorrect for the vehicle as it appears to be nearly fully collapsed at ride height. If there's not enough available shock shaft exposed for bump travel the ride will be anything but desirable and they won't last long. Again...just an observation

Scott

This is the main concern I had off the bat. Because I can't SEE the shaft w the boot I didn't want to jump to conclusions.

The Agile team was amazing to work with - I don't want anyone to think I'm bashing their products or recommendations.

I know I didn't install the wrong shocks on the front as I followed not only Agiles order sheet and part numbers, but also because the rear ones were inherently much longer and noticeably so.

[geoffff]

> My mother has a stock 2004 E-350 XLT EB that rides like a Cadillac in comparison

Not surprising. That's going to be 2WD -- so independent front suspension, and probably a lot more up-travel than the 1⅞" you have. A solid axle 4x4 with <2" up-travel isn't going to ride as nice as a 2WD on the bumps.


I wouldn't be surprised if those shocks are wrong, but don't get your hopes up too much for a nice ride even with the correct shocks.

My 2004 Sportsmobile 4x4 had the same very short up-travel (just under 2"), and I had to be very conscious of keeping it slow on rough roads or I would hit my bump stops.

[carringb]

You can cut the zip tie from the boot then slide it up the body.

I also suspect it’s too long for that setup. I’ve never seen the RIP installed on a pre-‘07 E150 before. If somebody in the shop isn’t super experienced with the E-series, they maybe didn’t know the earlier E150s are a true half-ton unlike the 07+ E150s which are a 3/4-ton.

The good news is, your front axle weight is nearly identical to an extended-body E350 5.4L, so they probably aren’t far off on the spring rate or valving.

The are likely way too stiff for the rear axle weight. You may need to find something tuned for an F150 for the rear end.

[Twoxentrix]

A set of Sumo’s to replace your bump stops will certainly help alleviate any spine discomfort - cushions the front suspension as it compresses, opposed to the van body having to tolerate those hard compression impacts.

[fattmann]

Originally Posted by geoffff

> My mother has a stock 2004 E-350 XLT EB that rides like a Cadillac in comparison

Not surprising. That's going to be 2WD -- so independent front suspension, and probably a lot more up-travel than the 1⅞" you have. A solid axle 4x4 with <2" up-travel isn't going to ride as nice as a 2WD on the bumps.

I wouldn't be surprised if those shocks are wrong, but don't get your hopes up too much for a nice ride even with the correct shocks.

My 2004 Sportsmobile 4x4 had the same very short up-travel (just under 2"), and I had to be very conscious of keeping it slow on rough roads or I would hit my bump stops.

Makes sense on the 2WD IFS part. I just wasn't expecting it to be so much worse than no shocks at all!!

[fattmann]

Originally Posted by carringb

You can cut the zip tie from the boot then slide it up the body.

I also suspect it’s too long for that setup. I’ve never seen the RIP installed on a pre-‘07 E150 before. If somebody in the shop isn’t super experienced with the E-series, they maybe didn’t know the earlier E150s are a true half-ton unlike the 07+ E150s which are a 3/4-ton.

The good news is, your front axle weight is nearly identical to an extended-body E350 5.4L, so they probably aren’t far off on the spring rate or valving.

The are likely way too stiff for the rear axle weight. You may need to find something tuned for an F150 for the rear end.

I do plan on messing with the boot this evening - good call on just sliding it up - will start there.

Interesting note on the pre-'07. I certainly gave Agile the year, but didn't think about the chassis difference in that way - I bet the person I worked with didn't either.

I was going to try and load up a few hundred pounds in the rear to see if that feels any different. I know when I had my '87 shorty with a dually Dana 70 (fellow connoisseur I see!) and mystery shocks, it road so much better loaded down with some commercial walk-behind mowers.

If I do end up swapping the shocks out I hope I can get a few bucks for them! I had to press in new eyelet bushings to match the larger shock stud mounting my axle has, ended up marring the aluminum a bit

[fattmann]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

A set of Sumo’s to replace your bump stops will certainly help alleviate any spine discomfort - cushions the front suspension as it compresses, opposed to the van body having to tolerate those hard compression impacts.

I've heard about these a bit from lurking on the forums here... Will definitely be something I look at down the road. For a few hundred bucks tho I have a few other things I need to address first.

Do you have a specific model/line to recommend from Sumo? I'll be doing some research!

[Twoxentrix]

This will explain the differences in the Sumo colors (3 types based on weight):
https://superspringsinternational.com/sumosprings/

As far as identifying what you need, I would call them for advise (I’d think you should choose the ‘blue’ since your Van is so much lighter than most, unless your plans are to build out)