Rough Country 3" Lift Kit installed - Impressions and Advice wanted

[BCSLouKy]

I installed the the Rough Country 3" lift kit on my 2021 Expedition Limited. I have some impressions, and questions for the group. This is my first time lifting any vehicle I've ever owned, so please pardon my ignorance.

My setup: 2021 Expedition Limited, Fuel Offroad Krank 20x9, BFG T/A KO3 285/60/20. I went with the monotube front struts and kept the stock struts in the back.

Initial Impressions: I love the look, wheels look perfectly centered and the height is great. I did have some rubbing; in reverse it was really bad against the automatic running boards. I trimmed an inch off those and now it's fine. It still rubs a little bit on the front of the fender liner but only at the extreme ends of wheels travel.

The ride is rough... and it feels really squirly in turns if I hit a bump. When going over speed bumps, the rear end makes noise. It's not a clunk, but definitely different than stock. Should I worry about this or is it normal?

What can I do to improve the ride? Should I upgrade all the struts? Install sway bars?

Really I'm looking for any suggestions/advice.

Cheers!

 

[Deadman]

Anytime you raise a vehicle you make it more unstable. Thats y the manufacturer doesn't do it. You can maybe make it better with new struts and stuff, but don't expect it to be factory comfortable.

 

[Rednecked]

More tire less rim would help…

 

[apex96]

Get an alignment, ask them to take some castor out of the front now that it’s lifted. Taking castor out should slow the steering response and help make it feel less squirrelly over bumps in turns.

 

[Moeman]

I agree with the alignment, although I don't think caster is necessarily your problem. By leveling the vehicle, you've added caster, that's true. Result should be more on-center feel, but also more sensitivity to road crown. I think what' you're describing in corners is the changed damping of the front shocks maybe not responding to road inputs as well? Suspension dynamics are complex and an awful lot of development goes into it. By lifting you've changed all of your suspension and steering curves, so not too surprised to hear it's a compromise.

At least it's nice to look at

 

[Left Coast Geek]

If you want to go rock crawling, get a suitable vehicle. a 7000 lb 8 seat SUV ain't it.

 

[BrianA]

I had a RC on my 04 cummins. It road like a freight train. I learned a valuable lesson on leaving suspension stock going forward.

You will constantly be changing parts to try and get it to ride as it felt before.

Other issue being that RC is bottom of the barrel for lift kits.

 

[Dc2018]

I have had the same lift on my 2018 for a little over 2 years and 40k miles. I replaced the front struts with Ford f150 bilstein 5100s set to lowest setting and rear struts with expedition bilstein 5100s on the highest setting. I also installed hellwig swaybars front and rear with moog endlinks. The front is pretty stiff, you really feel imperfections in the road. But it's a very stable ride. The only issue I have still is a side to side wiggle in the rear when I'm full throttle above highway speeds.

 

[CDNRabbit]

If you want to go rock crawling, get a suitable vehicle. a 7000 lb 8 seat SUV ain't it.

View attachment 83687

Wait I was told everyone takes the wife and the kids rock crawling! ... I feel betrayed

 

[BCSLouKy]

I had a RC on my 04 cummins. It road like a freight train. I learned a valuable lesson on leaving suspension stock going forward.

You will constantly be changing parts to try and get it to ride as it felt before.

Other issue being that RC is bottom of the barrel for lift kits.

Other than ReadyLift, do you know what other lift kits are out there for the 4th Gen Expeditions, and how do they compare to RC?

What is about RC that earns them that reputation? Is it the quality of the struts? All the components from the kit looked to be great quality, the UCA and rear components all looked great.