Been getting to know my 2002 Overland V8, and the biggest issue I have with it is the ride quality. I've been driving a 2003 Escape for the last year, and suddenly being back in something higher with solid axles is a bit of a shock!
Is there anything I can do to improve the ride quality so that I'm not feeling every tiny imperfection in the road surface and there's less side-to-side sway over bumps? I realise it's never going to ride as well as anything with independent suspension and rack steering, but if there's any improvement to be squeezed out of it that doesn't cost $$$, I'm all ears.
I understand that the Overland is about 1" higher than the regular WJ due to Up Country suspension - would switching back to standard WJ ride height improve anything?
Get better shocks and maybe thicker swaybars and replace worn bushings and coil isolators.
Maybe replace tie rod ends and steering damper to firm up the steering, ball joints too if they are loose. Lowering 1" won't make much if any difference.
These rigs are dependent upon 16 rubber bushings, and a ball joint on the rear upper A-arm, to hold the axles steady. Some have reported that replacing all of the bushings in the control arms and front track bar, as well as that ball joint out back made a tremendous improvement in the ride of their WJ. If yours haven't ever been replaced, then they're 14 years old and probably a bit worn and hardened.
Don't toss away the factory Up Country springs - they improve handling vs the stock springs.
I'd recommend starting with new shocks but how many miles do you have on your Jeep? Might be time to replace the coil spring isolators and as was mentioned in another post, some bushings and the A-arm balljoint. Have you visually inspected the control arm bushings etc for signs of degradation?
A friend (and I believe madderthanmax, a poster on here) replaced all their rubber bushing with polyurethane ones for a much tighter ride. That combined with quality dampers should improve things. However, although I've never driven one so equipped I've heard that the poly bushes can cause an increase in NVH (noise, harshness, vibration). He giveth with one hand, takes away with the other!! I only replaced my front upper arm bushes with poly (thanks for those max!).....never noticed any extra noise with just those.
It's got 88,600 genuine miles on it, and I'm only the second owner (it looks in absolutely mint condition - people can't believe it's 14 years old), so I guess there's a good chance that most of the suspension parts are still the factory originals.
I haven't had a chance to unbolt any of the control arms etc to get a proper look at the state of the bushings. It feels pretty tight to drive, it just seems to react to every damn lump or bump in the road with a rapid "wallow" kind of movement.
Kolak, what shocks would you recommend? As mentioned I don't want to spend $$$ and it will never be wheeled, I just to want to improve its ride as it's my DD.
That ball joint on the rear upper control arm is what keeps the axle from moving (much!) from side to side. If it is worn then you'll really feel the wiggle as the axle shifts around.
Just remember, no matter what you do and how much money you spend on it, it will never ride "great". Its a solid front and rear axle Jeep, it is what it is. Don't get me wrong, I love both of my Jeeps, but they will never ride like a front and rear independent suspension vehicle. As far as cheap shocks, the Bilstein 4600 are ok at best, that's what I have on my wj. Anything more than that, you are going to have to spend some serious coin.
The factory Up Country shocks are a high pressure monotube shock and so are the Bilstein 4600 series. They're a bit of an upgrade too, owing to their digressive valving curve. PM me for pricing
I really like the ride of the Rough Country N2.0s. They feel nice, but not Cadillac "floaty" on pavement. I've had them on for two years and have to say it still has been one of my favorite mods on my '00 WJ. Mine was rocking and rolling badly on the four factory shocks after 206K. I researched different brands and prices and figured I'd try them. Especially since they back their warranty. I paid $160.00/ $20.00 shipping from an ebay seller and installed them myself. My WJ also got treated to an IRO adjustable trac bar, new drag link and TREs because the factory ones were shot( and I have a 3" lift in the front), and new front lower control arms from Kolak. All that stuff that I just listed made vast improvements in the handling, but I saw the biggest difference in body control when I replaced my broken upper rear ball joint. That test drive was the moment I realized why these things were damn near $40,000 brand new.
Go outside and push sideways on the rear of your WJ. Give it a few rocks back and forth. If you hear a soft clunk, that ball joint is probably worn out. Other than that, you've got a pretty decent ride for a 4x4 vehicle. Several weeks ago, I test drove two 04 WJs. One was a Rocky Mountain edition with just under 74K original miles, and the other was a Freedom edition with right at 98K on the clock. Both handled, steered, and rode exactly like my WJ, so I knew I was doing something right. Those RC N2.0s were a great buy for me.
Just discovered that I *don't* have Up Country suspension. I thought it was standard on Overlands, but apparently that was only within the USA. I just checked my build sheet and it confirms that I have "Normal Duty Suspension".
I rocked the back end, and no clunks. Could I test the ball joint by trying to pry the A-arm upwards while the wheels are on the ground? Presumably there should be no vertical movement in it?
And will those Bilstein 4600s work on standard suspension, or are they intended for use with Up Country springs?
So I think it was the case of some not liking the UC springs so they made it an option to change them for standard. When people bought their overlands at the dealer, they just ticked every box and inadvertently removed their UC pack.
All CRDs have the UC springs because of that brick of an engine being so much heavier than the petrols. My HO has the UC skid plates that my Limited did not, but has stock springs. I want to try a WG with UC springs as I'm thinking about fitting some when mine need replacing!
Cold air intake, Bilstein 4600, thicker swaybars and exhaust. All of these will improve highway driving as I have made all these upgrades. Huge difference.
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