I know this is a truck but I'm tired of the ride quality. I only have 36,000 miles. I've replaced all shocks with monroe. What stinks is I feel and hear (much rattling going on in the front end) every bump and it hurts so to speak. I replaced both sway bar links and 1 ball joint. I believe the rattling is now coming from the tie rod ends (I hope anyway). I am running 20'' ram wheels with 265/50 tires.

Besides fixing the "normal" wear n' tear parts, is there anything else I can do to get a better ride quality? I drive in my friends F150 and another's Yukon, and I'm in heaven. Would 18'' wheels be better? Or is this just the way it is?

Thanks.

 

Well the 05 is not know for its ride quality, but i would make sure any bushings you change and joints you change out make sure they are greasable and grease them every 3,000 or every oil change. The outer tie rides being worn will make the handeling and ride quality bad. The inner tie rods technically shouldn't ever wear due to they are sealed and oiled inside the rack and pinon.

 

The wheels really arent helping matters, 18s would help... More sidewall will def help out for sure I bet your friends have more rubber than you on those beasts

 

Any time you get bigger rims and less tire wall, your ride isnt going to be as comforting. A big sidewall absorbs some of the minor bumps along with some of the noise from the bumps. My moms car has low profile tires on aluminum alloy rims and you feel every imperfection in the road, plus its a car. I could never drive something like that on a daily basis. For my truck though, Im running the stock 16" rims with 28" tires and my dad always compliments the ride and feel of it. I also have stock shocks and struts and just rolled over to 100k. Only a ball joint in the front has been replaced so far. Im pretty happy with ride quality in my 05 for being a pickup truck. Your 20" rims are your main problem, IMO. But sometimes things that make your truck "cool" are worth a little discomfort. If it were me, I would sacrafice the comfort for the rims. Just my .02.

 

I was thinking the rims were probably the main reason especially since most other parts are newer. Maybe I'll try the 16's again for awhile just to see but you're right, it does look sweet with 20s. I like the newer 18s so maybe that is an option for me. Thanks.

 

Did you also replace the sway bar bushings? Mine was making quite a racket when those were wearing out.

 

The front end on my 05 is making all kinds of noise after this rough winter too. I know it needs new shocks so I will be ordering the ranchos. It also makes all kinds of squeaks, creaks, pops, and groans now. I need to bring it in to my mechanic to have it checked out~

 

Mine is doing the same thing... I was checking it out today and i think i found the problem... My upper controll arm is creeking everytime my truck moves, its driving me crazy!

 

Those arent too bad if you can replace them yourself. You can get an upper control arm and ball joint for less that $100 from Oreily. The problem I have with finding the clunks and creeks in my front end is narrowing down the source of the noise or making it do the same clunk while its parked.

 

Tracking down the noises is always the frustrating part. Ever since getting my MBRP exhaust on I occasionally hear something rattle, it's only at a very certain RPM and pitch that I don't hit often and I've already confirmed it's not the exhaust. Something is being vibrated by that particular tone and rattling but I haven't been able to track it down yet, it's especially hard since I can only get it to do it while driving.