Nellie Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I bought a new 2014 Edge Limited 2wd, V6, with 18"wheels about a year ago. It now has 17,000 miles. It's ride is very harsh and it's suspension in very stiff. It doesn't droop at all in the rear end even with a very heavy load back there. Is this harsh ride normal? Can it be fixed. Dealer says it's simply because of the short wheelbase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I have been told that shipping blocks are no longer used in the springs while transporting modern vehicles, so that is probably not the issue. Since you have 18" wheels, that's not really a factor either. No reason why the springs/shocks would be locked in place either, except during transport. When you test-drove it, was it stiff back then? How much of a load have you tried in the cargo area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Didn't test drive the one we bought. Had to order it to get the spec we wanted. We didn't notice the harsh ride on the one we test drove, but then we weren't operating of a particularly rough segment of raod either. I've had maybe 300 lb in the luggage compartment, and another time maybe 200 lbs and towing a trailer with considerable tongue weight too. I will say that it rides better with a load in the back, but that's a gas mileage killer and is not the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) Double check to make sure there are no blocks in the springs. Doubtful but easy to check. Then check the air pressure in the tires. Also - what was your previous vehicle? If you were driving something like a Buick then the Edge will probably feel a lot stiffer. Edited January 26, 2015 by akirby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Alignment checked/done any time recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omar302 Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Did you check that the tires are not over inflated? Manufacturer recommendation is 35 psi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I keep tires at manufacturer's recommended pressure. It rode rough from the time it was new so I don't think it is alignment. As I mentioned, it now has 17,000 miles and I see no unusual tire wear. Previous vehicle was a 2002 Toyots Sienna with 265,000 miles. it's wheelbase is only 3" longer than that of the Edge. Wife has it on the road now, so can't double check right now for spring blocks but sure I or dealer would have seen them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishx65 Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Nature of the beast with 2011+ Edges. My 2010 Edge and 13 Lincoln MKX have way softer suspensions then my 2011 SEL. I'm definitely gonna try softer shocks in the back this summer. Back years ago I replaced the shocks on a brand new 2003 F150 FX4 with Sensatracs and it made a huge difference. It's really easy to tell how a vehicle rides when you live in Michigan!!!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm in Iowa. Easy to tell here too this time of year with all the potholes and frost heaving! I looked again at all four corners of the suspension. Visually, all looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishx65 Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 You can get 2 Monroe Sensatracs for the rear for around $60.00 at Advance Auto. These are just shocks not struts so I'm guessing it's a pretty easy job to replace them. Hardest part would be getting to the top mounts which are probably behind the rear interior panels. I'm approaching 50,000 on my 11 so I'm probably gonna switch mine out in the spring and see how she rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Amybody have a spec as to how much the rear end should drop with how much weight in the rear. Of course, where that weight is located must be defined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Young Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Did your Edge come with a trailer Hitch? If so, maybe the towing package has stiffer rear springs? Just something to think about. We had a 2013 Edge Limited and traded it in for a 2014 Edge Limited, both had the 20 inch wheels. Our 2014 Edge Limited rides so much smoother than the 2013 did, according to Ford they were no changes between the 2013 and the 2014 model years, but i say they were Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Yes, I ordered it with the factory trailer hitch. Dealership says suspension is the same, hitch or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbwt Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Keep in mind tire and rim size also make a difference. Unsprung weight increase from the very large rims then add low profile tires that can not absorb the bumps like the small rim with larger tire set up. You give up ride quality for the look not to mention tire life/mileage and even gas mileage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 As I previously mentioned, we opted fpr the 18" wheels instead of the 20" for that reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimp Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Last year I replaced the original Michelin tires with Bridgestone's at 45,000 miles. They really took some of the stiffness out of the ride and I rarely think about it anymore. I assume that improvement was due to a softer sidewall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Yep, I'm running Michelins. Something else to look into. Next time I'm in for an oil change I'm going to ask the parts guy to check and see if the '14 Edges with factory trailer hitch have the same rear springs and shocks as those without the hitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) I did some checking on the on-line Ford parts bookk. So long as it's a '14 or '15 Edge, FWD, 3.5l, V-6, the rear springs and shocks are the same. Lincoln MKX is the same too. Now, this is replacement service parts information. I suppose what's used on the assembly line might be different, but kind of doubt it. Oh yes, almost forgot, the main reason for posting this is to point out that there's no mention of rear springs or shocks being different depending on the presence of a factory installed ttailer hitch. Edited February 16, 2015 by Nellie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted March 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 OK, now a follow up by originator of thread. MY '14 edge is now 5 years old and a bit over 100.000 miles. At about 95,000 the OEM Michlin tires needed replaced as winter was coming. I went shopping for something to take out the harsh ride and road noise. I ended up with Goodyear Assurance Comfort Tread tires. I simply couldn't believe the change in the vehicle! Much less road noise. Much better ride. I finally like the vehicle. Oh, in 100,000 miles it has been absolutely trouble free. Yes, I had to do regular maintenance items, including a new bttery, resetting the HVAC computer so the driver got heat, and do the capless fuel filler/check engine light procedure. With google and the internet I soon figured how to do both myself at zero expense. Each took a couple minutes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 10, 2019 Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 95,000 miles on one set of tires??? What are you driving on, marshmallows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted March 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 Honest to God truth. I suppose that had something to do with why they were so noisy and so rough riding. I run then @ 36 psi cold. Whey wore very evenly, rotated evry 7,500 at oil changes, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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