2024 Raptor R On-road Handling Issues

[themattstevens]

Evening all. I'm about a month into owning a 2024 Raptor R and I naturally LOVE the engine (not sure Ford got the transmission tuning right... but that's another topic...). I'm coming off of a 2019 Gen2 on 35's to the Gen 3 with 37's. I expected some compromises on road - but my truck has HUGE amounts of body roll and when I hit the gas hard (or brake hard...) the nose/rear climbs and dives to the point where things can get scary in a hurry. I always run in Sport mode when onroad, and it IS "better" than normal or offroad/Baja, but my truck handles no where close as well as my Gen2 on 35's. I was always amazed on the 2019 and how something that big, with that much tire sidewall and that much suspension travel could corner so well and control the body roll so tightly, yet NOT be rough. Kind of expected the Gen 3 to remain close - but isn't (in my opinion).

Is this a "known thing" and I should have done more homework? Any ideas/options to help improve??

Thanks for listening to my whining...

 

[Xiaofeng Mu]

Sounds like it’s not expected. I owned a ‘21 35 and a ‘23 R. Didn’t notice any difference though.

 

[shigman]

Evening all. I'm about a month into owning a 2024 Raptor R and I naturally LOVE the engine (not sure Ford got the transmission tuning right... but that's another topic...). I'm coming off of a 2019 Gen2 on 35's to the Gen 3 with 37's. I expected some compromises on road - but my truck has HUGE amounts of body roll and when I hit the gas hard (or brake hard...) the nose/rear climbs and dives to the point where things can get scary in a hurry. I always run in Sport mode when onroad, and it IS "better" than normal or offroad/Baja, but my truck handles no where close as well as my Gen2 on 35's. I was always amazed on the 2019 and how something that big, with that much tire sidewall and that much suspension travel could corner so well and control the body roll so tightly, yet NOT be rough. Kind of expected the Gen 3 to remain close - but isn't (in my opinion).

Is this a "known thing" and I should have done more homework? Any ideas/options to help improve??

Thanks for listening to my whining...

My 2020 on 35s had less roll, dive, and squat with deavers especially than my 2023 on 35s by quite a bit. I know what you mean. I feel I’d be a little more comfortable hustling the gen 2 on the road than the gen 3. My gen 2 also had FRS so might be a little apples and oranges. To me the gen 3 handles and rides like I always expected a Raptor to ride….the gen 2 was stiffer than I was expecting, but it did control its motions pretty well.

 

[broadwayline]

Buy a mustang - raptor isn’t for you.

 

[MDJAK]

while I'm not fortunate enough to own an R, I've had 3 Gen2s and a Gen3, all 35s.
The only difference I notice is how much better the coil overs are than the old suspension, stays straight on bumpy curves, etc.

One thing, slightly OT, but can't find the thread, that I noticed after reading that thread and initially thinking they are nuts, is when I put in in park, the damn truck rocks back and forth like a swing.

 

[GEN3LV]

Sounds like you may have something going on with your shocks my 24R does not have a issues like that at all. Coming out of a 22 35 truck the R is not as light feeling but handles exceptional well when in Sport of Baja.

 

[themattstevens]

while I'm not fortunate enough to own an R, I've had 3 Gen2s and a Gen3, all 35s.
The only difference I notice is how much better the coil overs are than the old suspension, stays straight on bumpy curves, etc.

One thing, slightly OT, but can't find the thread, that I noticed after reading that thread and initially thinking they are nuts, is when I put in in park, the damn truck rocks back and forth like a swing.

Noticed the same - especially when backing up to hitch to a trailer ... get in right position to lower the trailer tongue, put in park, let off the brake and get a solid 1/2"-3/4" roll. Oh well - still love the truck.

 

[themattstevens]

Buy a mustang - raptor isn’t for you.

Perhaps - but I don't agree that I have to give up good road manners to have excellent off-road capabilities. My Gen2 handles great ... will keep digging in. Thanks for reading my post tho.

 

[MDJAK]

Noticed the same - especially when backing up to hitch to a trailer ... get in right position to lower the trailer tongue, put in park, let off the brake and get a solid 1/2"-3/4" roll. Oh well - still love the truck.

Yep, same. But e-brake fixes that.

 

[Dudebrodude]

Leafs versus coil rear end makes a huge difference. The leaf springs limit body roll quite a bit, but that impacts articulation and how free the rear end travels. When Ford made the switch to coil spring and 5 link, the body roll compromise came with it for the added benefits in every other situation. My TRX did it quite a bit and my 24 R feels similar but I haven't really been hard on the truck since it has only 100 miles so far.

The body roll you're talking about is to be expected with a coil rear end offroad truck. Watch any prerunner or race vehicle entering a corner and they look like they're on their side.

If you want to eliminate it, sway bars would be the answer.