The front bumpstock looks like its making regular contact with the axle pad. Do you get 12" (stock)measuring the springs compressed height? Minus the upper rubber isolator.
Brutally Harsh Ride - Out of Ideas
- Thread starter BDiddy
- Start date
The front bumpstock looks like its making regular contact with the axle pad. Do you get 12" (stock)measuring the springs compressed height? Minus the upper rubber isolator.
There's not enough space between the bottom spring perch and bump stop, they're likely running into each other even on minor dips in the road.
Measure the gap between the steel cup and the axle pad. That will keep people from guessing. I would expect about 3.5", give or take a bit, on a stock TJ.
Measure the springs, too.
OP
OP
OP
Did you have stock 15" or 16" wheels? What did you end up doing for tires and shocks?
You can eliminate the shocks as the problem by eliminating the shocks. 
Remove the shocks and take a short drive. It will be very springy-bouncy, but you should be able to tell if that harshness is gone.
Remove the shocks and take a short drive. It will be very springy-bouncy, but you should be able to tell if that harshness is gone.
Honeybadger
Member
Good. This is neither a spring nor a bump stop problem.
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
Maybe you are hitting the jounce bumpers and maybe they've gotten hard.
You could pull them out to test.
You could pull them out to test.
I would not spend money on new tires... from the way you describe it you have more going on than just tires.
OP
@macleanflood @bucky @Jerry Bransford You recommended airing down, are you suggesting cold tire pressure or after warmed up? I'm assuming cold but don't want to make assumptions. For example I dropped them down to 25 psi while cold in the garage and took a test drive on lunch. After returning they're back up to about 27.5 psi.
Air pressure varies by its temperature so it's to be expected cold air pressure would go up higher once the tire has been driven on for any distance. I don't think I suggested a lower air pressure though.
deadbeat son
TJ Addict
You appear to have the optional 16” wheels that were available on the Sahara. Are those stock? And if so, what was the stock tire size, and what was the recommended inflation for that particular OEM tire (on sticker below driver’s door)?
OP
Yep they're stock optional 16" wheels. Came with 225/70r16 Michelin LTX tires. I know this because the original spare was on the back when I bought it. However, the door sticker only states for 15" wheels which is: 30x9.5x15 @ 29psi
It came to me with 4 big bald load range E Toyo Open Countrys on it. 265/75r16 if I recall correctly. Changed them to these 225/70r16 KO2s a couple weeks after I bought it 2 years ago. Been riding on these KO2s since. The idea was to get back to the stock size and I chose these tires in load range C based on everything I've read on the forum.
OP
You can eliminate the shocks as the problem by eliminating the shocks.
This is a genius idea. How dangerous is it? Do I need to worry if I take it around town and down a highway exit?
OP
Ah yeah my mistake. You just mentioned running your 35s at 25 psi.
Last edited:
You missed my advice to people like you. Post pics of your Jeep, then sell it to me for $3500 and free shipping to Va. Problem solved.
P.S. Say hello to your brother P Diddy.
there you go again BOOGIE !
I just don’t think the PO’s going to get THAT much better ride quality. IMHO, some people aren’t Jeep people. Others are and accept that it’s not ever going to drive like a Camry without a ton of $$$$$ and work thrown at it.. I see this guy as a Jeep guy. You’ll live. Maybe a few broken teeth here and there from the chatter.
Of course you need to worry. I did say short drive. Your Jeep will bob and sway weirdly. But you'll learn exactly how the shocks effect "ride quality".