ST to Platinum Suspension Change

[Dfuture]

Anyone have a clue on how pricey it might be to convert the springs and struts from an ST to Platinum OEM set up? Not looking to change the stance, just softer ride

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Anyone have a clue on how pricey it might be to convert the springs and struts from an ST to Platinum OEM set up? Not looking to change the stance, just softer ride

Depends on where you get everything from. Shouldn’t be too pricey though. Honestly, I don’t think you’ll notice that much of a softer ride with the Platinums suspension, I just read a post where someone’s family owns both, and even he said it was barely noticeable.

 

[powerboatr]

i just looked up ford springs and struts for the plat and ST and king ranch with 3.0
for 2023 my car they are the same part number
with police models and smaller engine ones having different part numbers
this was on ford parts website
the king ranch and plat come with 20"wheels vice the 21s we have
i am thinking the harsher ride is the 21 wheels with short sidewalls
i test drove a 23 king ranch with 3.0 and it was very different in ride

 

[Franz01234]

As I also wanted a softer ride I tried a few different things with my suspension setup.
The Platinum Suspension is only about 10% softer so you wont notice a difference that is worth it in my opinion.

I tried changing the shocks only from the original ones to some softer ones from the RWD 2.3L base model with the blue sticker. I was not really satisfied.
What I noticed was that the ride was more comfortable but it was underdamped. After a bump the car would complete 2 full up and down motions until finally settled. That is not acceptable for me.

So my solution was to purchase the adjustable dampers from TEIN in Japan (VSALC-B1DS2) to be able to dial in the damping force.
Second mod I did was to get the less stiff sway bars from the base model. That increases comfort but causes more body roll in fast corners.
The last part of my solution was to get the H&R lift springs as they have a lower spring rate my stock springs.
!! Please note that I have the 400+ lb heavier PHEV version so the lift springs dont actually lift my vehicle and only reduce spring rate. Your mileage may vary. !!
As the spring rate is a major factor in ride quality, getting softer springs will do the most for you in terms reducing harshness.

I also switched to 18 inch wheels to increase the tire sidewall.

The end result for me was significantly improved ride quality especially around town with the obvious drawbacks of softer suspension on the backroads while driving fast.

For my driving profile it was worth the ~1500$ in parts for significantly improved comfort. As the shocks are adjustable you can set them to stiffer than factory if you want a stiffer ride on occasion.

 

[UNBROKEN]

i just looked up ford springs and struts for the plat and ST and king ranch with 3.0
for 2023 my car they are the same part number
with police models and smaller engine ones having different part numbers
this was on ford parts website
the king ranch and plat come with 20"wheels vice the 21s we have
i am thinking the harsher ride is the 21 wheels with short sidewalls
i test drove a 23 king ranch with 3.0 and it was very different in ride

Incorrect. The ST shocks and struts are 8% firmer than other models except PIU’s which are rumored but not proven to be a hair firmer than the ST parts.

 

[powerboatr]

Must be a suffix
I thought they would be different
But kept coming up same pn
I could see different valving in struts and shocks, from a ride standpoint. But parts kept identifying same vehicle fitment

Ours rides good on highway, but surface streets here are brutal

Thank s

 

[DaveG ST]

i just looked up ford springs and struts for the plat and ST and king ranch with 3.0
for 2023 my car they are the same part number
with police models and smaller engine ones having different part numbers
this was on ford parts website
the king ranch and plat come with 20"wheels vice the 21s we have
i am thinking the harsher ride is the 21 wheels with short sidewalls
i test drove a 23 king ranch with 3.0 and it was very different in ride

The Platinum uses a 21" wheel different from the ST and uses the same exact tire as the ST with 21" wheels. Early Platinums used basically the same wheel, just that it was chrome.

 

[DaveG ST]

One thing you could try is lowering your tire pressure a bit. Many dealers and tire shops will set your pressure on the higher side to keep that pesky TPMS light from coming on as it gets cold outside. A few lbs different can make your ride harsher.

 

[powerboatr]

I did just that
to 32 lbs
Can't really blame the car for horrible roads,

 

[dsga1]

great insight. thanks. We have ST with the 20in wheels.

Specific to SPRING replacement: did you consider a coil spring with variable rate?

thx

As I also wanted a softer ride I tried a few different things with my suspension setup.
The Platinum Suspension is only about 10% softer so you wont notice a difference that is worth it in my opinion.

I tried changing the shocks only from the original ones to some softer ones from the RWD 2.3L base model with the blue sticker. I was not really satisfied.
What I noticed was that the ride was more comfortable but it was underdamped. After a bump the car would complete 2 full up and down motions until finally settled. That is not acceptable for me.

So my solution was to purchase the adjustable dampers from TEIN in Japan (VSALC-B1DS2) to be able to dial in the damping force.
Second mod I did was to get the less stiff sway bars from the base model. That increases comfort but causes more body roll in fast corners.
The last part of my solution was to get the H&R lift springs as they have a lower spring rate my stock springs.
!! Please note that I have the 400+ lb heavier PHEV version so the lift springs dont actually lift my vehicle and only reduce spring rate. Your mileage may vary. !!
As the spring rate is a major factor in ride quality, getting softer springs will do the most for you in terms reducing harshness.

I also switched to 18 inch wheels to increase the tire sidewall.

The end result for me was significantly improved ride quality especially around town with the obvious drawbacks of softer suspension on the backroads while driving fast.

For my driving profile it was worth the ~1500$ in parts for significantly improved comfort. As the shocks are adjustable you can set them to stiffer than factory if you want a stiffer ride on occasion.

 

[MikeyP]

Did anyone else catch in @Franz01234 post above he used Tein dampers? I searched the PN he gave, and they aren't listed at all on Tein USA but I saw them pop up on a Japanese parts store from England, equal to $760. Tein EnduraPro Plus Shock Absorber Kit For Ford EXPLORER U625 VSALC-B1DS2

I checked Tein Japan and they show up there but for the 2.3L. I was going to call Tein USA in Downey CA to see if they could get this PN from Europe. I was also going to check with the company above and see if they ship to the US.