Reverse perch, am i the first?

[BDRAG]

Hey all,

I have been fairly quiet of late, I have been lurking though. So the title of my post, REVERSE PERCH. Has anyone other than me gone back to the lowest OEM setting on the OEM shocks?

I installed a slightly used set of shocks because my rears were gone and the fronts were seeming to be right behind the rears. The new used set had 15K on them and were already at mid perch. As soon as I had TMX install the front shocks I noticed that the truck rode significantly rougher, some rattles appeared when you drive on the road over typical bumpy surfaces, ALL of the DFW area roads.

So I had gotten use to the new ride feel but I had this irritating rear dip, like the rear would react to dips and bumps more than the front. It felt like the truck was pivoting down in the rear making the rear feel soft. So instead of the truck just compressing the same front and rear when you hit a dip or bump it seemed like the ass end just dipped down. I never liked that feel. Also, the truck seemed to be effected severely by cross winds.

Part of my issue I think came when I got side swiped and it apparently moved the rear end around and miss aligned the front end. Got the truck fixed and had a 4 wheel alignment. The truck still wandered around at 70 mph. Felt like I was driving a Yaris rental car.

I picked up a 1/2 inch bolt in my left front tire on the way to work one day and had to buy a whole new set of 4 tires since the popped on and the rest of the set were just about done. I put Cooper SST's on. Boy did that make the existing drivability issues even more pronounced!

So I said SCREW IT! I drive my Raptor on the street 99.5 % of the time. I do not need the off road set up. I drive hard most of the time, taking turns and drifting sideways through the corners at 5:30 am on my way to work. Just the way I drive, LIKE SHIT! HAhaaaa.

With the truck at mid perch the drivability changed. No longer did the truck just lean over on the sway bar and set allowing me to then hammer through a turn. The truck would set some then the rear would then try and roll over more than the front and cause the rear to want to come around, caused over steer in my opinion. I drove it this way for 3 months, 4000 miles or so. Finally I am fed up with it. Its just not the truck I bought.

So today I went by TMX after BEGGING for them to do the FIRST REVERS PERCH EVER! HAhaaaa. Jason and Brandon tried to talk me out of it. I am SURE they think I am one stupid old fart. I am! HAhaaaa. So they did the work and it only took 30 minutes maybe? I then went and did a 20 minute test run out a 2 lane road I was very familiar with and have driven bikes and cars and my truck down for decades. There are some great tight switchbacks and some great new concrete high speed sweepers.

I went and TORE IT UP! I was hanging a tire off the inside of the corners in the dirt at times just like the good ole days before mid perch. I did 3 or 4 miles and made a u turn and went back through them again. The truck was back to its old self again. I went back west around the airport on the new concrete and was getting a 4 wheel drift in 4th gear at about 90 mph. The old Raptor was right at home again on the street. I am really happy with the return to OEM ride height. I know I am a silly bastard but in my opinion, FOR THE STREET, the comfy daily drive I am not a mid perch fan.

Now let me say this. I am not trying to **** anyone off with any of my personal preference for ride but I LOVE the smooshey OEM ride of the raptor. Just love it. It does everything I need it to do off road as is, STOCK. I survived the TRR1 and I know I will never see anything more brutal than that in my truck. That tells me I am just fine at stock setting.

In my opinion, if you are going to do just mid perch, don't waste your time. Go ahead and beef the rear up as well. Go with the latest and greatest Shock packages that are out there. Let TMX boy's or one of the other shops hook you up and do BOTH ENDS of the truck. Spend the money on it if you are doing all the off road stuff and more. If like me, driving on the street 99.5% of the time, enjoy the truck as it was built by Ford.

So far I have only put about 40 miles on it back at OEM ride height and I love it. My rattles are gone, the truck handle smoother and I am so happy that I went and had TMX do my REVERS PERCH! HAhaaaa. Really

Back to driving one of the few LOW RIDER RAPTORS around. HAhaaaaa.

BDRAG

 

[Hasty]

I'm about to follow in your footsteps. Since mid perch I've noticed the front and rear to be out of sync in dampening! I could see how one could easily out drive the rear suspensions ability now. Street manners are profoundly worse especially on the rebound. While going around a corner if one tire hits a pot hole I really need to hold onto the wheel, where as before modding the perch it would just suck it up with little feedback. For me and my use of the truck it's looking like bottom perch is where it's at!


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[TurboEd]

Thanks a lot for this thread. I must admit I have been frowning a bit towards the popularity of this mod. Looking at pics trying to understand. How is it that it looks and works better? Is the team of engineers that spent years to develop this truck so wrong?

LOL. I am kidding a bit but not doing this. You convinced me to stop wondering, thanks.

 

[BDRAG]

Since mid perch I've noticed the front and rear to be out of sync in dampening!

I must admit that the truck looks more the part with the front raised up. I was about to spend $$$$ on a set of Devers 1" rear sprigs. I felt this would help with the balance of the truck, get the rear in sync with the lifted and stiffer front end. Essentially by doing mid perch one is partially compressing the spring and forcing the compression ratio of the front to a higher pound or force required to compress the remaining spring length.

Talking with Jason at TMX during my un perch, we discussed the coarse we have driven out at Eagle Canyon raceway. I was asking if there were plans to smooth out the track coming to the start / finish line area. There is a dip in the highest speed portion of the track. My truck at OEM would just hammer the bump stops and rebound and jump sideway since this is all on a slight left handed 1/4 mile long down grade / dip / upgrade section.

Jason said, his truck with the upgraded shocks, kings of whoever just suck up that bump and he keeps in the gas never letting off where at OEM settings it pounds my truck. I can understand this mod.

I your going to be doing any real off roading, the suspension mods will most likely be well worth the money. Do BOTH ENDS of the truck not just the front.

I know I am gonna get hammered for this and that but with more miles under my ass yesterday in my low rider Raptor, I AM HAPPY HAPPY like that damn song that's on every radio station right now! AHahaaa.

BDRAG

---------- Post added at 03:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 AM ----------

Thanks a lot for this thread. I must admit I have been frowning a bit towards the popularity of this mod. Looking at pics trying to understand. How is it that it looks and works better? Is the team of engineers that spent years to develop this truck so wrong?

LOL. I am kidding a bit but not doing this. You convinced me to stop wondering, thanks.

I suggest you hit a local raptor meet / lunch or whatever and see if someone with mid perch will let you drive their truck. I think you will feel the difference with immediately.

Wait till you do a suspension up grade is my suggestion to someone seeking more off road ability.

BDRAG

 

[ZBoater]

I'm considering mid perch only because I'm thinking of 37s. But the more I read the more I'm leaning towards keeping my 35s and leaving well enough alone. I love the street ride of my Raptor. I think it could use a bit larger tires, but mostly for cosmetic reasons for me. Thanks for posting.

 

[BDRAG]

mostly for cosmetic reasons for me.

The trucks look and ride bad ass with all the shocks and so on with the 37's. If you want off road ability and the looks spend the cash if ya have it. If you like the ride of the AS IS Raptor but want more look and off punch as far as ability, there are some great tire choices out there rather than the OEM BFG's.

THE BFG MUD is a great tire, the other tires I have seen up at TMX, the toyo's and the Nitto and a few others ALL LOOK GREAT on our trucks in 35's. I am currently on Cooper SST's which are way to aggressive for me as far as 99% of my driving but the work on the dirt. mud and in the deep water great. They won't make 20K the way I drive. They are all I could get at the time in 4 hours when I ruined a tire with a 1/2 - 3/4 " bolt I ran over.

BDRAG

 

[TheJoker]

BDRAG, You old fart!

I have to agree with you to some extent. I hated the squishy feel of the front on the stock settings. When in a turn, the nose would dip some what, and when braking, the front end would dip significantly. I also disliked the "skunk nose" stance.

Now at the mid perch setting the front end is firm (like a truck should be) and there is no dipping, unless you are braking Hard. The truck is looks level now, I'm not a fan of the nose high look which most pro "Baja" trucks have. This is still my DD.

As for the rear, you are right. It seems as though the rear is "soft" now. I've thought about upgrading the shocks but I really think the leaf spring should be upgraded, not the shocks. I do take it offroad as well as pulling trailers at times, so this would benefit me in the long run.

I would say, to each his own. But, for me, I LOVE the way the front feels (and looks) on the mid perch setting, and it works for how I use the vehicle. If you don't take the truck offroad, the mid perch probly isn't for you, and If you don't tow, the stock rear suspension is just fine.

I think this is a great disscussion and look forward to seeing more views on this topic.

Also, I'm going to 35" tires so the mid perch will help with clearance.

 

[Az Scooter]

I had mid perch but got the UTV springs in front, with WSI springs in back. Dropped it down to bottom perch, because the UTV/Geiser Bros. springs are longer. It drives amazing now. I also have the stock springs.
I have a paved road, just after I get off the freeway headed to my house. On mid perch there was a section that I could hit accelerating out of the corner, and it felt like I was going to roll. The way I am set up now, I just roll right through it. I love it.

 

[BDRAG]

BDRAG, You old fart!

As for the rear, you are right. It seems as though the rear is "soft" now. I've thought about upgrading the shocks but I really think the leaf spring should be upgraded, not the shocks. I do take it offroad as well as pulling trailers at times, so this would benefit me in the long run.

I would say, to each his own. But, for me, I LOVE the way the front feels (and looks) on the mid perch setting, and it works for how I use the vehicle. If you don't take the truck offroad, the mid perch probly isn't for you, and If you don't tow, the stock rear suspension is just fine.

So you did do something to the rear springs then? I also pull a small trainer on occasion and also stuff my Triumph 1200 Tiger in the rear. MAN O MAN does it squat the rear. The trailer not as bad as bike in the bed. I have also done both and the headlights point into the trees!

I think I will look into a set of overload air bags if they are out there. If I am towing I will not be doing any AT SPEED off roading. As long as the air bags do not interfere with the normal travel when not inflated.

Also, if I am not mistaken, if you are to run 37" tires your gonna have to beat the body seams flat at the rear of the front fender well and may tear up or have to mod the inner fender well liner?

BDRAG

 

[Mad Max]

I'm mid-perched and I find that the front end response is perfect to my driving style...hated the nose dive on the stock setting. Now I need to focus my attention to the rear of the truck...visually it sits almost level, however, by the time I add a little cargo in the bed and even hook up to a 12' trailer, the rear end sinks lower than the front. I'm leaning towards adding a leaf spring to the pack to get the rear end back up. I don't want to use a bag system (yet), because I want the rear to be raised around an inch higher when unloaded...to give it almost the same raked look as factory.