[jason370]

I'll be driving 1-10 mph, encounter a pothole of some sort, or occasionally a bump, and the entire cab rocks side to side, like a small boat being hit by a side wave. It's quick, back and forth, then back to normal...no continuous bouncing or springing. My entire upper body gets thrown around, as do the contents of my jeep. No issues at highway speeds, or even over 15 mph. Is this everyone's experience, is this normal?

I recently changed out shocks (Bilstein 5100's), springs (OME 2" HD), tires (265/75r16) GY Adventure A/T w/Kevlar) and wheels (AR Baja 172 16"), no change whatsoever in this side to side rocking. I'd like to find a way to take control over this issue, it is driving me nuts. Surely there much be some kind of side to side stability system that I can install if need be, or perhaps which already exists in stock form, and is compromised after ten years.

What can be causing this? A roughish ride is one thing, but this is crazy, this can't be right.

 

[biffgnar]

Jason, you might try replacing the front sway bar links. They didn't look like they had started separating when we did the springs and shocks, but we honestly didn't test them that hard. Even if they aren't bad yet, they will get that way at some point given the poor design we talked about. Cheap discos or I think somebody, Zone maybe, makes fixed replacements that don't have the stupid ball and socket joint.

 

[jason370]

Jason, you might try replacing the front sway bar links. They didn't look like they had started separating when we did the springs and shocks, but we honestly didn't test them that hard. Even if they aren't bad yet, they will get that way at some point given the poor design we talked about. Cheap discos or I think somebody, Zone maybe, makes fixed replacements that don't have the stupid ball and socket joint.

Thanks Eric. Is there any utility in changing the sway bar as well, and would I want to also do the rear links?

 

[biffgnar]

Thanks Eric. Is there any utility in changing the sway bar as well, and would I want to also do the rear links?

No reason to change a stock for stock sway bar. Only reason to make a change more significant than the links was if you were going to something like an Antirock. The rear links don't have the ball and socket joint and are much more durable. With only 2" of lift I wouldn't worry much about the rear.

 

[Oldsheepdog]

What tire pressures are you running?

 

[jason370]

No reason to change a stock for stock sway bar. Only reason to make a change more significant than the links was if you were going to something like an Antirock. The rear links don't have the ball and socket joint and are much more durable. With only 2" of lift I wouldn't worry much about the rear.

Yep makes sense. I ask because theres a lot of range in the side to side rocking movement, and I really want to make sure I cover every possibility of securing side to side stability. Hopefully changing out the links will do the trick.

 

[jason370]

What tire pressures are you running?

Currently I'm running the GY Adventures at 28, I was running the stock GSA's at 32 with the same side to side rocking going on. Do you think taking the Adventures up to 32 would help some? I cant go higher than that without suffering a rougher city/highway experience.

 

[biffgnar]

Currently I'm running the GY Adventures at 28, I was running the stock GSA's at 32 with the same side to side rocking going on. Do you think taking the Adventures up to 32 would help some? I cant go higher than that without suffering a rougher city/highway experience.

Going up in pressure likely make it worse. People just ask that question because tire places are notorious for over inflating which leads to a rough ride. Weren't they at like 38 or something like that from Tire Rack when we put them on? I remember we specifically checked and had to take them down.

 

[jason370]

Going up in pressure likely make it worse. People just ask that question because tire places are notorious for over inflating which leads to a rough ride. Weren't they at like 38 or something like that from Tire Rack when we put them on? I remember we specifically checked and had to take them down.

yep, they came crazy inflated, but i took them to 30, and then to 28. 28 is pretty good for the most part.

 

[Bojeepus]

if the Jeep's a rock'n don't come a knock'n :duhrock:

 

[jason370]

Zone Offroad XJ, ZJ, TJ Front Sway Bar Link for 0-2" Lift

got these. ill report back once installed.

 

[jason370]

Zone Offroad XJ, ZJ, TJ Front Sway Bar Link for 0-2" Lift

got these. ill report back once installed.

(apologies for the double post , in another thread, but this is the better and more appropriate thread for this post).

I haven't driven much so far, but I'd say there is between 50-60% low speed, lateral, body-stability improvement, could be slightly more. It's significant and noticeably improved. I still feel there are more areas to examine which could be contributing to that remaining 40%. I suppose anywhere there might be bushings, they could be old and loose. I'm going to have to get under there and really check every joint, bar, and linkage, front to back.

I realize it's a Jeep and not a vette, but I'm certain there's more which can be done to tighten up the lateral body roll I'm experiencing. My dad's 2002 Grand Cherokee Laredo handles much better than my LJ currently, and the only thing that was ever done to that car was putting in Bilstein 5100's, front and rear; everything else on that car is stock and pretty much untouched.

I'm open to any advice on where I should check next. I'm not going to stop until this Jeep stops the low speed side to side rocking, completely, or at least whatever the maximum that can be done.

 

[irnmadn88]

At low speed like on an uneven dirt road, mine feels sort of like a shaking wet dog. The front goes one way, the rear goes another. My wife thinks it rides "like a sway back donkey."

It gets a little better when I disconnect the front sway bar as the front no longer has to fight with the rear.

I suspect that I have worn control arm bushings and/or track bar bushings.

 

[jason370]

That's a very good way to describe it. Before I changed out the sway bar links, my passenger and I would actually bang into each other simply driving 5mph over bumps or potholes in NYC. My dad's WJ floats over the same streets like a German engineered luxury sedan. I'm looking to get my LJ more in line with that.

I think replacing all the bushings will get me pretty far along here, but is there any reason why a TJ's suspension and handling can't be made closely match a WJ?

 

[jason370]

Update! Installed Zone rear sway bar links (fronts were already installed last week), and replaced the (front and rear) stock sway bar mounts with Energy sway bar mounts...It's a totally different ride. Suddenly all that rocking back and forth is gone, and replaced with a tighter, responsive overall suspension. The front and rear now seem to be in concert with each other, whereas before they seemed disconnected and fighting each other.

I had a good test today with both choppy city driving as well as high speed highway driving, and on both fronts I was amazed at the difference. I live in Soho, which has a ton of choppy cobblestone streets, not to mention potholes everywhere. ; it's essentially a mini rock crawl to go down Wooster street. Last week, my Jeep would bounce all over the place, swinging side to side, nearly out of control, today however, it just handled it, in control, rocked a little (as it should) but really kept itself composed. It is as rough of a street as you can find in a city. Maybe Ill take some pics so you can see just how bad it is.

Then I got on the highway, the Garden state parkway, which is one of the nicest, best paved highways anywhere near NY. I'm sure it is the combination of the SB Links, mounts, as well as the new tires and shocks and springs, as well as hardtop but the LJ has never ridden better on the highway, not even when it was brand new. I was doing 80 without even realizing it; it just ran smooth and quiet, it was unreal. Once again, the entire suspension just perfectly worked in unison. It was almost like I was in a luxury sedan. It's really getting dialed in, and I still think there's more I can do to improve it even more, although I'm totally thrilled with the status quo.

I'm not sure what to attack next...track bar bushings, control arm bushings? I'm friggin' pumped. Thank you Jeep Forum!

 

[Partsmke]

The front and rear axle are moving in opposite direction due to design, spring compression cause the front axle to move to your right, while the same compression cause the rear axle to go to the left. As they move sideways they also cause the axles to move forward on one side and backward on the other, this is suspension induce steering. Stiffening up the track bar as you have done helps control unwanted motion that was causing your issue. Check all the bushings as advised previously and replace as needed.