OP
Just to verify, are you suggesting I increase the sprung weight of the Jeep? If so how do I go about doing that since I have steel fenders, heavy bumpers, and a full-size spare as of now?
Rough ride (I am at a loss at this point)
- Thread starter Blake Stamper
- Start date
Just to verify, are you suggesting I increase the sprung weight of the Jeep? If so how do I go about doing that since I have steel fenders, heavy bumpers, and a full-size spare as of now?
OP
I asked for verification because it doesn't sound right to me either
OP
OP
@mrblaine could I pick your brain on what you perceive the real issue is? I know I don't even have a margin of the knowledge you have when it comes to Jeeps, and we all have to start somewhere but I am at a loss on what I'm missing, there are plenty of people with much lighter Jeeps than mine who say theirs rides like a dream? What's the difference?
Looking at your pics, do those skyjacker arms have just a poly bushing frame and axle side?
I’m not familiar with those arms, but if what I’m seeing is correct and there is no weird method allowing them to twist, those arms aren’t doing you any favors in the ride department.
I’m not familiar with those arms, but if what I’m seeing is correct and there is no weird method allowing them to twist, those arms aren’t doing you any favors in the ride department.
When properly installed bushing material should not have an effect on ride. The question I would have would be if those control arms/track bars etc. were tightened when the Jeep was on the ground or in the air? Clevite bushings and those poly bushings on those SJ arms could be in bind and that is never good. Easy enough to fix by loosening all the suspension bolts while the Jeep is on the ground, bouce it a few times to make sure everything is settled and then tighten everything back up. This is a really common problem when shops install suspensions while the Jeep is on a lift and they do not take the extra time to do it right.
And also welcome to 4 popper life. The suggestion that springs do not matter is not entirely accurate when you have significantly less weight over the front axle compared to the six banger which all aftermarket TJ springs cater too. Typically the problem is that you usually gain an extra inch of lift compared to a 4.0. The ride will also be a bit firmer but not should NOT be bone rattling which points me back to control arm bushings being bound up.
OP
If it does indeed ride very rough with the shocks pulled, you have a problem that is not spring or shock related and you need to figure out what that is. We run into the same issues when folks run too much shock on the back of an empty TJ. It is very hard to valve them soft enough to dial out the harshness. I'd pull the shocks and find a short safe place to test what is going on while you check things.
OP
Okay so update, loosened to suspension and jumped on the bumper to try to get the suspension to seat before I re-torqued everything and I noticed the suspension only moved maybe 2in, I’m gonna pull shocks and see if there’s a change
OP
Pulled the shocks, it was a lot less stiffer, are there any other light valves shocks I could try? I’ve used both ranches and the black maxs
OP
I'm leaning towards wrong springs. If you had 5 ton springs, the axle would basically be bolted to the frame and you would have a rough ride. The springs wouldn't oscillate so your shocks wouldn't do anything. Your springs may not be 5 tons, but that doesn't mean they aren't too heavy for your jeep.
FWIW, I had this problem with my Jeep. I said “it rides like a meat wagon” on local roads. I got the rs5000x shocks and they were absolutely trash for me. I threw them in a closet and sold them later since I had painted them black and couldn’t return them (lesson learned). The ips fox shocks were valved too stiff and the adjustable rs9000x were not good but not as horrible (too bouncy on the softest settings). I was at 24 psi with 35s and plenty of up/down travel. Sway bar removed and antirock installed. RE 3.5” and Currie 4”.
I rode in Chris’s last rig that was outboarded and found my answer. I saved up and had Blaine outboard my Jeep with tuned Fox shocks and never looked back. There is no comparison. I am extremely happy.
Edit: If your rig is too stiff for you without any shocks, then my post has no value to you. My rig does not ride stiff without the shocks.
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OP
OP
Also I do think going through and torqing all the suspension helped, I also went through and manual cycled the shock from full extension to full compression, still not amazing by any means but it did feel better
Have you driven with the shocks removed since doing this?
If the ride is no longer stiff with the shocks removed, then u have made progress towards isolating the remaining problem (shocks could be too stiff after all).
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OP
Another update, toqued the rear, no change but it was worth trying anyways, I did notice something today though, I was a 4x4 event and I went on this large rock, and my tire hardly squished at all, I’m at 25 psi, for those lighter rigs out there that have ran the stt pros, did y’all notice a stiffer ride compared to like a Ko2? Anyways haven’t had time to pull front and rear shocks but thought I’d update the current progression
OP