Will lowering help my car sickness?

[kroy1968]

I've wanted a jeep for many years and finally have a 99 tj. It has at least a 4" lift on 35s. I can just get in it without looking too silly (I think) but the ride, while I really didn't think was that bad, is making car sick... and I've never had motion problems before.
I'm wondering lowering to, the correctly chosen, 2.5 inch lift and dropping to 33s will help. I know entry will be easier but is it possible to get a smoother ride. (I know it's a jeep and I'm not expecting a touring car)

 

[Midnight LJR]

Can you give us some more info?

What shocks are on it?

What tires and pressures are you running?

Can you post a photo of the steering linkages? When I got mine it had a drop pitman arm and would wander all over the place.

 

[kroy1968]

Running at 40psi. When I got it I had 3 cases of death wobble. Psi was at 22. With increase of pressure of had no wobble. Got to admit I know little to nothing about lifts so I appreciate the helpI'll attach some pictures

 

[TheBoogieman]

It looks like you have stock sway bar end links and shocks with BB spacers. Tire psi should be 25-26. Springs look bowed and shocks are too short. Looks like the steering box is leaking too. The ride must be horrible! Quality springs and shocks the correct length will greatly improve the ride, along with dropping the tire pressure drastically and doing a DIY front end alignment. I have a Zone 4.25" combo lift with 35s and my Jeep rides and steers great.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I think your ‘motion sickness’ is actually CO poisoning... your muffler and possibly other areas in the exhaust is full of holes, taking the exhaust into your cab.

I also see a ton of maintenance neglect... lots of zerks that are crusted/rusted over, leaking steering gear, shock pictured is damaged just above the mount, etc... you really need to get all that taken care of ASAP, especially the exhaust...

 

[kroy1968]

I think your ‘motion sickness’ is actually CO poisoning... your muffler and possibly other areas in the exhaust is full of holes, taking the exhaust into your cab.

I also see a ton of maintenance neglect... lots of zerks that are crusted/rusted over, leaking steering gear, shock pictured is damaged just above the mount, etc... you really need to get all that taken care of ASAP, especially the exhaust...

That's a thought. Just had a leak at manifold replaced and knew about the muffler but didn't consider that possibility. My engine is 4.3 chevy so was waiting to do duals after I decided what to do with the lift.

From responses sounds like a new lift is definitely in order

 

[kroy1968]

It looks like you have stock sway bar end links and shocks with BB spacers. Tire psi should be 25-26. Springs look bowed and shocks are too short. Looks like the steering box is leaking too. Quality springs and shocks the correct length will greatly improve the ride, along with dropping the tire pressure drastically and doing a DIY front end alignment. I have a Zone 4.25" combo lift with 35s and my Jeep rides and steers great.View attachment 192230

Thanks for that. I was really hoping for confirmation that a new lift would help me

 

[Westtown Willy]

I'm wondering lowering to, the correctly chosen, 2.5 inch lift and dropping to 33s will help. I know entry will be easier but is it possible to get a smoother ride.

that's basically what I have & it's perfect, drives like a dream and it sounds like you're short like me so it's a huge help. As for the smoother ride however that's not really so much related to the lift height as it is the lift quality.

 

[kroy1968]

that's basically what I have & it's perfect, drives like a dream and it sounds like you're short like me so it's a huge help. As for the smoother ride however that's not really so much related to the lift height as it is the lift quality.

Actually I'm 6 foot just fat and out of shape! What lift do you have that gives you your great ride?

 

[Westtown Willy]

Actually I'm 6 foot just fat and out of shape! What lift do you have that gives you your great ride?

hahaha, I'm 5'7 so the lower the better for me. My lift is coil only (3 inch front & 2 rear) with Rancho 5000 shocks & stock arms on 33x12.15s @26psi. That combination is tight, it corners like a dream & I often accelerate through turns for fun. One thing I could improve on & will in the future is going back to a more street friendly tire from the MTs I have on there now, but they're newish with around 5,000 miles on them so they'll be there for a while

 

[CharlesHS]

It's time to do a thorough inspection of the steering assembly and tie rods, control arms, trac bars and the shock absorbers. Any one of these could cause DW.
Surprised to see the stock controls arms and steering with 4" of lift and 35" tires.

 

[cpwolf]

I’m not sure about motion sickness, but carbon monoxide poisoning causes dizziness, nausea, and death as well. I’d either get that fixed ASAP, or get a battery powered carbon monoxide detector in my Jeep right then.

I don’t think anyone actually stated they think 4” and 35 is your problem, it’s that it isn’t down right. You have stock arms, so there’s no way you have an SYE, so it probably has vibes from your rear shaft, you’re riding at 40 psi which has got to be rough as hell, it has old worn out shocks and on and on.
Not trying to bash your ride, but it isn’t set up properly to run those tires, and might not even properly run 33’s. You need to look at the lift thread, and make out a plan. 2.5” lift you can absolutely have a great ride, but you can on 35’s as well, the tire size isn’t the issue, it’s the components to properly set up whatever you’ve chosen to go with on your Tj.

 

[kroy1968]

It's time to do a thorough inspection of the steering assembly and tie rods, control arms, trac bars and the shock absorbers. Any one of these could cause DW.
Surprised to see the stock controls arms and steering with 4" of lift and 35" tires.

Guy that restored this was a paint and body man... not a mechanic. Interior and body were done well... very well but the rest is just posing. I'll take care of that.

 

[Wildman]

I've wanted a jeep for many years and finally have a 99 tj. It has at least a 4" lift on 35s. I can just get in it without looking too silly (I think).

I had 33" tires on my TJ when I came back from Iraq and about 2-3 weeks after I was able to drive it again I went and got 35" tires installed. What's so funny about this is that I was on crutches after being shot in the leg and had no weight bearing for 6 months. Seeing me trying to climb in and out of my TJ on crutches made people stop and watch.
It was an even bigger production when I had to put my wheelchair in the back first.
So I wouldn't worry too much about how you look or think you look getting in and out of it.
On a more logical standpoint, going back to 33" tires will help TONS for a daily driver Jeep plus makes less wear and tear on the rig. So unless you are hitting trails that NEED 35" tires going back to 33" tires is a reasonable thing to do.

 

[kroy1968]

That's impressive and thank you for your service.

Definitely going to 33s to protect the jeep after I change out the lift. Its a bit of a poser jeep with the Rubicon sticker on it. It has Dana 35 and dana 30 and I know 35s aren't good for it

 

[Wildman]

That's impressive and thank you for your service.

Definitely going to 33s to protect the jeep after I change out the lift. Its a bit of a poser jeep with the Rubicon sticker on it. It has Dana 35 and dana 30 and I know 35s aren't good for it

Thanks.

A Dana 35 is okay for 33" tires and you will be okay. You can buy stronger axle shafts if you are worried about it but they only increase strength by 10%.

 

[Chris]

40 psi

Well there’s a huge part of the problem right there. Try 26 psi to start with.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I've never heard of a driver getting car sick, because the driver knows what movement to expect since they're controlling what the vehicle does. Passengers usually have better luck if they're looking forward through the windshield instead of reading a book.​

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Motion sickness happens when the acceleration detected by your inner ear doesn't match what your brain expects based on what you're seeing. Your body thinks you've been poisoned and thinks it needs to expel something. If you're getting sick as the driver and this isn't something that's happened to you in other vehicles I would start looking into the carbon monoxide theory. The only time I've ever experienced something like that was when my mini cooper had an exhaust leak at the turbo outlet flange.​

 

[kroy1968]

I've never heard of a driver getting car sick, because the driver knows what movement to expect since they're controlling what the vehicle does. Passengers usually have better luck if they're looking forward through the windshield instead of reading a book.​

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Motion sickness happens when the acceleration detected by your inner ear doesn't match what your brain expects based on what you're seeing. Your body thinks you've been poisoned and thinks it needs to expel something. If you're getting sick as the driver and this isn't something that's happened to you in other vehicles I would start looking into the carbon monoxide theory. The only time I've ever experienced something like that was when my mini cooper had an exhaust leak at the turbo outlet flange.​

As odd as co2 poisoning in an open air vehicle I know there's certainly a way for air currents to do it. This theory makes me feel better as I've never gotten sick on any amusement ride, boat, or vehicle...i am getting older though

 

[kroy1968]

40 psi

Well there’s a huge part of the problem right there. Try 26 psi to start with.

Problem there is that with psi in the 20s I had death wobble. At the higher psi I've yet to have wobble.
Per other responses I'm going to replace the lift.