FX4 suspension harshness

[Jwilson570]

We recently purchased a 2025 2.7 Lariat with the FX4 package. When we went shopping we weren’t really interested in the FX4 suspension but couldn’t find a non FX4 with the electronic locking diff. That said we are finding the ride to be very good on smooth roads but harsh (jiggly) on roads with patches, expansion joints and even minor potholes.
We are coming out of a F150 3.5 King Ranch with 6.5’ box (non FX4). I recognize that we’re giving up almost 30” of wheelbase but the Ranger has higher profile tires (F150 was 275/55x20) so that should help smooth out the ride. We’re not noticing much pitching just harshness.
When I look at the Ford website they say the FX4 has ”off road tuned shocks”, what does that mean in terms of on road ride? What else did they change with the FX4, spring rates?
This is annoying enough to consider selling our current vehicle and getting a new one without the FX4, IF that will fix the issue.
TIA

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[CACTUSGREYFX4]

Mine's nice and smooth unless it's really bumpy then I slow down a bit.

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

Have you checked the tire pressures? Don't know about the other trims, but some Ranger Raptor owners reported tires overinflated from the dealer. On top of that, some of us are running a couple pounds under the recommended 39psi. Really smoothed out the Raptor's ride.

 

[purdyd]

Have you checked the tire pressures? Don't know about the other trims, but some Ranger Raptor owners reported tires overinflated from the dealer. On top of that, some of us are running a couple pounds under the recommended 39psi. Really smoothed out the Raptor's ride.

My lariat tire pressure is specced at 30 psi. it came from the dealer at 36 psi, for some reason

I understand it comes off the rail car at 40? psi.

I agree I would check tire pressure first.

I don't know if there is a consensus on how stiff the FX4 package is versus without

on the 5Gen I have read people thought the FX4 was a little mushy?

I feel it is a bit stiffer, say compared to a car on small bumps but it handles the larger stuff very well.

That is what I would expect in a light off road tuned package.

 

[TractorFixer]

In my opinion, the ride is probably just the difference between the F150 and Ranger. As you noted, F150 has a longer wheelbase, but is also wider.

I have both an '18 F150 Lariat and '24 Ranger XLT FX4. I have no complaints on the Ranger's ride, but hands down the F150 is smoother and rides better.

 

[CoryB]

My F-150 STX rode much better than my Ranger FX4 does. But it was so much bigger that it’s to be expected. Kinda like comparing the ride of a Cadillac to a Chevette.

 

[Intercontinental_Ranger]

How many miles do you have on the Ranger?

My XLT FX4 was a weird combination of bouncy and stiff - don’t know how else to describe it - enough that my wife and son got motion sickness on the first drive.

after the first 4K miles I guess it broke in and is now much smoother.

this is on British roads, sometimes comparable to south side of Chicago.

 

[VehicleNanny]

My Ranger had the base suspension, and it was fairly stiff. Take a look at payload for Ranger vs Frontier and you'll see why...Ranger is heavily sprung. As others have mentioned, try playing with tire pressure. My Ranger had a 38 psi recommendation. I ran between 30-32 for the right balance.

 

[landiscarrier]

I’m in a RR now but when I bought/had a 19 Ranger Lariat FX4 I thought the ride was very harsh. I changed the rear shocks to Eibach’s and it really helped.

 

[DutchRanger]

My fx4 came off the lot 45psi. I lowered it to 38.

 

[simonsays]

Coming from a 2022 Tremor with fox suspension, I find my new 2025 FX4 kind of stiff. Can't wait to swap it for Eibach 2.0.

 

[Stu x 4]

My fx4 came off the lot 45psi. I lowered it to 38.

Same here.

 

[BtheCarGuy]

Have you checked the tire pressures? Don't know about the other trims, but some Ranger Raptor owners reported tires overinflated from the dealer. On top of that, some of us are running a couple pounds under the recommended 39psi. Really smoothed out the Raptor's ride.

That’s a really good point. On my FX-4 the door placard says 30 PSI, however mine was set at 38 when I bought it. I then set it back to 30. When I took it in for the recalls, upon returning I checked my app and it said 38 again. WTH. The dealer must have reset it! Overall I think the truck rides plush. My buddy has an Expedition with 22” wheels and it rides like a dozer, completely unacceptable (I’d swap out those rims immediately). My wife has a ‘26 Explorer ST-Line (“fake ST” we call it) company car, and I would characterize its suspension as harsh by comparison.

 

[Stu x 4]

That’s a really good point. On my FX-4 the door placard says 30 PSI, however mine was set at 38 when I bought it. I then set it back to 30. When I took it in for the recalls, upon returning I checked my app and it said 38 again. WTH. The dealer must have reset it! Overall I think the truck rides plush. My buddy has an Expedition with 22” wheels and it rides like a dozer, completely unacceptable (I’d swap out those rims immediately). My wife has a ‘26 Explorer ST-Line (“fake ST” we call it) company car, and I would characterize its suspension as harsh by comparison.

When I took mine in for airbag recall, had the dealer rotate and balance my tires. It also came back at 38.

 

[Winn]

We recently purchased a 2025 2.7 Lariat with the FX4 package. When we went shopping we weren’t really interested in the FX4 suspension but couldn’t find a non FX4 with the electronic locking diff. That said we are finding the ride to be very good on smooth roads but harsh (jiggly) on roads with patches, expansion joints and even minor potholes.
We are coming out of a F150 3.5 King Ranch with 6.5’ box (non FX4). I recognize that we’re giving up almost 30” of wheelbase but the Ranger has higher profile tires (F150 was 275/55x20) so that should help smooth out the ride. We’re not noticing much pitching just harshness.
When I look at the Ford website they say the FX4 has ”off road tuned shocks”, what does that mean in terms of on road ride? What else did they change with the FX4, spring rates?
This is annoying enough to consider selling our current vehicle and getting a new one without the FX4, IF that will fix the issue.
TIA

I was looking for a 25 Ranger Lariat a year ago and wanted the standard suspension. Not finding much in stock I test drove a FX4. After 3 blocks on a rough city street, I decided the stiff ride was not for me. I did find a Lariat without the FX$ and bought it.

Having said the above, the standard suspension still rides rougher than the GMC runner up trucks I was looking at and rougher than the 2021 Honda Ridgeline I was coming out of. The Ranger is better for me that the other two but ride quality is not one of the features for me. I do not off roading.

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