Shock question

[skclark]

I'm the proud new owner of an 82 CJ7. I have a question regarding the effects of the shocks on a lifted jeep with 33s. The jeep bounces pretty bad over any bump or dip in the road. My wife isn't so crazy about riding in my new found love after hitting a dip just before an overpass on the highway and feeling her seatbelt hold her in!

Is this just the way things are in a vehicle this old with tires this big or would a good set of shocks smooth out the ride? Couldn't tell you what kind of shocks I have right now. The previous owner sprayed bed liner all over them (and every thing else including grease and dirt).

[Mike Romain]

Lots of folks put rancho 5000 shocks on because they are easy to get for a lift. They are made for a full sized trucks and will literally knock fillings out of teeth on a light Jeep. They are white with red boots.

A plain 'not' gas charged shock is supposed to be the best.

[80cj]

There are tons of posts on this forum about hard riding Jeeps so do a search. One of the most frequent suggestions is to be sure your shackles are not over tightened. Shackles that are too tight will not work back and forth, thus allowing the springs to flex over bumps, etc. The brand of lift springs will have a bearing on ride quality also. Pro Comp springs have the reputation of being very stiff riding. Tire inflation pressure will also affect the ride. I recently installed a set of Doetschtech 3000 series hydraulic shocks and they seemed to have softened up the ride on my CJ-5.

[gmakra]

Could be your spring packs are rusted together in which case the shocks wouldn't do anything. Have a friend jump up and down on the bumper while watching your suspension. If nothing flex or moves it probably the spring pack. You could take them apart and wire brush the rust of and reassemble with never seize.

Also check your shackle bolts if they dont turn easily with a wrench then you have binding. Loosen them up a bit and see how that effects your ride.

[skclark]

Once again you guys have come through. I will check all this out tonight. I wasn't really sure what to search for. Bouncy as my wife says didn't return much...

I bet the leaf springs are seized together and the shackles don't move. I read a thread on steering wheel alignment as well. Mine points to 2 o'clock. I'm hoping its just a simple adjustment of the draglink as described here.

Basic Jeep Front End Alignment

I've read through 100s of posts and found a tremendous amount of info here thanks to guys like you.

[78treehugger]

Welcome to the addiction. Sounds like you are on the right track in trying to search for things.

[skclark]

Yes after messing with my rear wheel bearing the day after I bought the jeep I learned to use the search tool! I'm glad I'm not working for flat rate...

[Southtowns27]

Keep in mind that it's not going to ride like a Cadillac...ever. I have cheap hydraulic shocks on my Jeep that I got from the local parts store. I can't remember what they're supposed to be for though. My Jeep is lifted, so I had to get longer shocks to fit. It doesn't ride totally awful, I don't think it's bad for having 12-leaf military wrapped springs in it. What tire pressure are you running? You might be able to air the tires down a bit to soften the ride, just don't go too low with those tall sidewalls. It'll feel really "squirmy" if you go too low.

[Totallymetal]

Originally Posted by Mike Romain

Lots of folks put rancho 5000 shocks on because they are easy to get for a lift. They are made for a full sized trucks and will literally knock fillings out of teeth on a light Jeep. They are white with red boots.

A plain 'not' gas charged shock is supposed to be the best.

Hey that's what I have on mine! It is a bit too rough for the wife. I will replace with some standard shocks. Just need to know what will work with a 4 inch lift. F-150, F-250 shocks, anyone know?

[skclark]

I really don't want it to ride like a Caddy, but... just going through the parking lot at the baseball field last night was almost too much for me! I checked the shackles and leafs on the front and they seem to be sliding OK. I will check out the back tonight while I'm replacing my muffler. (No more UPS truck sound! LoL)

I think its probably so firm that to take it offroad would be almost un-drivable unless crawling.

I've got my work cut out for me, but... I love it anyway!

[Fjguercio]

try to lower air pres... 27 front and 26 rear.

you have big 33 most likely x12.5 so you have lots of contact... X psi for the area and not much gives. 32 psi and these things just ride ruff. I also saw on JeepHammers not on JF that his civilianjeep.info site has the owners manual 1976 I thought was yr, it showed 20 psi pressure for CJ... wow was my impression, few yrs latter with higher gas/more mpg desire the press went up some.

I have tried lower and it was little mussy... I like that area of press and will make quite a difference.

As for the shocks, take one off, if you can barely move the thing might be too much shock. This would be worth search.