Running boards / change ride

[Kays Supply]

Does anyone have any idea how adding running boards to a Ford F 150 crew cab could make the ride feel much rougher? I built running boards for the local police Swat team. They are clamped over the frame. No welding . They attach at three points from the front door, to just at the bed. They are made from light angle and expanded metal. We know they will just have to live with the ride, but I can't imagine how it could effect the ride as much as it has. If anything, the added weight should help.

 

[Dmace]

Sounds like you accidently strengthened the frame. Ha ha!

 

[dodge man]

I can't imagine store bought running boards would affect the ride, they aren't that heavy.

 

[Kays Supply]

These are for three men on each side to ride on tactically. They are about 100# each.

 

[amigauser]

When I added running boards to a Chevy Trailblazer they definately affected the ride. I think they caused the frame to have less give as it made the vehicle want to slide more easily in turns (especially when it was wet outside) and the ride became rougher. The ones on my Ford Expedition did not make any difference so it may depend on the vehicle.

 

[Diamondpilot]

When I added running boards to a Chevy Trailblazer they definately affected the ride. I think they caused the frame to have less give as it made the vehicle want to slide more easily in turns (especially when it was wet outside) and the ride became rougher. The ones on my Ford Expedition did not make any difference so it may depend on the vehicle.

I think this has a lot to do with the frames. Ford seen stiffer from the get go while GM always seen to incorporate some flex into the design until the 2011 models or so.

Chris

 

[wolfpack2]

Some pictures of how they attach would help. Do they attach to the cab at all or just the frame? If they are clamped to the frame and attached to the body, it would reduce the effectiveness of the body isolation bushings and degrade the ride quality. if they do not attache to the body, then it would be caused by the change in stiffness as other have suggested. These new trucks are highly tuned to the different bending frequencies of the body, frame and suspension to provide the great ride quality we all love. Unfortunate, any small changes we make can cause an imbalance in that tuning and degrade the ride quality.

 

[Kays Supply]

I clamped them only to the frame. No holes no welding. I made sure there was no contact with the body. The vehicle has loose fitting body bushings.

 

[jeffsw6]

Is it more like a vibration problem than a radical altering of the way it rides? I would like to see a few pictures.

 

[timswi]

Unless the running boards are made out of 1/4" plate, there's no way it will impact flex or anything else...They are hanging nearly 8"+ outside the frame.

When I was building muscle cars, the only way to stop flex on unibodies was to directly attach the frame connectors in a straight line...Think about this for a minute....

Full frame?...Nothing mattered unless you got into the rear suspension geometry.

Just speaking from experience...Many may disagree.

 

[Kays Supply]

I am looking for my camera. It is one of those small ones and I have let it get under something in my truck. I'll be working on the rear board this week and hope to get some pictures then.

 

[dodge man]

I just put nerf bars on my Dodge, I don't see any way it would alter the stifness of the frame or truck in any way. I don't know the weight of mine, but both sides total has to be about 60 pounds or less. On a heavy vehicle, I don't see that making much difference.

 

[jeffsw6]

It can change the way road vibrations are conducted from one end of the vehicle to the other. The body mounts are like a vibration filter and the smart automotive engineers who design the vehicle spend lots of time figuring out the best way to eliminate unpleasant road vibrations.

My gut says it is fixable by changing the mounts or making the running board and mounts discrete parts that fit together like a tube with bolts, and fill the vehicle side of the tube (or both) with rubber or something.

If you have ever played drums you may know that really nice drum kits have expensive hardware for holding the drums off the ground, which are basically over-priced metal tubes. The nice ones have vibration-damping plastic parts inside of the tubes, and this actually makes a huge difference in getting rid of unwanted resonances from the kit hardware. The concept here is the same, those running boards are probably making low-frequency vibration that is not filtered out by the body mounts, but it can probably be eliminated.

 

[RobertN]

You mean like these guys?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncRgAnwDkn8]Animal/Buddy Rich Drum Battle - YouTube[/ame]

If you have ever played drums you may know that really nice drum kits have expensive hardware for holding the drums off the ground, which are basically over-priced metal tubes. The nice ones have vibration-damping plastic parts inside of the tubes, and this actually makes a huge difference in getting rid of unwanted resonances from the kit hardware.

 

[Kays Supply]

Found the camera. Now I just have to get my son to hold still long enough to get some pictures.