Bouncy T4R

[Spaceman33]

Just picked up a 2000 T4R with 90K miles. This is my first. Ride seems overly bouncy to me. I cross a dip in the road every day and it gets a couple of nice bounces before it dampens out.

I replaced the front struts with BILSTEIN heavy duty using the stock springs. I think this helped a little.

Any advice?

Thanks

 

[cordrayj1]

Rear shocks. Get new ones

 

[Spaceman33]

Rear shocks. Get new ones

You're probably right. Although it feels more front-endish.

Front's were not that difficult. I hear the rear shocks are a PITA.

 

[JWaldz]

What do you mean by adding heavy duty bilstein strusts? If they're more heavy duty in terms of compensating for heavier front end load and you don't have one then it might not be a good match causing the bounce. Is it a stiff bounce or a soft bounce?

 

[wolfpack10]

My '01 is "bouncy" too, as in everything in the car including people bounce when I hit a stretch of bumps. The cause of mine is the fact that I bought "heavy duty" replacement coils to account for added weight of future armor. The problem is 4 years down the (bumpy) road, I still haven't added that weight so the ride has been awfully stiff. Perhaps replacement coils could be a cure? Sounds like a good excuse for a lift.

 

[cordrayj1]

Suit yourself. I've replaced my coils 3 times thinkin that was the bounce issue. Too bad it wasn't the problem. The prob was the shocks. And no. They are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy easier than the fronts.

 

[JayRolla]

I think the front shocks are easier to swap. The front drop right out and if you pay shop to compress them its real easy. Or if you have a cheap compressor like me you save money doing it yourself. The reason the rear is so hard is because usually the top shock bolt is rusted on and has to be either broken or cut off which becomes a huge PITA!

 

[Spaceman33]

I would say soft bouncy. :bluejump:

I used the stock springs. I think the BILSTEINs improved the situation.

Perhaps is just me being too sensitive. I have a Jeep Wrangler that is much stiffer over bumps.

 

[lilsid112]

I to have a soft bounce but thats from having stock suspension for the past 218k. I guess Ill get to them one day.

 

[Spaceman33]

Thought I would learn to live with this bounce.

My observation is that the front right is the culprit.

I installed Bilstine with stock springs.

Left side seems solid.

Could my right spring be "bad"? Doesn't make sense to me.

What other suspension components do I need to check?

Thanks

 

[curtperry]

it gets a couple of nice bounces before it dampens out.

You have described a problem with damping (the job of the shock). Assuming you are describing it accurately, the problem is likely your rear shocks like people have been saying.

 

[Spaceman33]

I hear ya. But going over a dip in the road, it seems like the front left does two bounces and the left only one.

Sure feels like issues is in the front.

But I probably could use new shocks in the rear as they have 92K on them.

Thanks:bluejump:

 

[curtperry]

Maybe check the torque on the upper stud bolt on each of the front shocks to make sure the bushings are appropriately compressed?

That's the only thing that comes to mind for the front. I wouldn't expect the front spring or a brand new bilstein HD to be the problem.

 

[Spaceman33]

I'll check the top bolt. I'm pretty sure it's good.

What if I switched the left and right shock to see if that changes anything?

If bounce moves to other side then it would point to a bad spring.

Unlikely imo

 

[Spaceman33]

Can someone tell me if it is possible to switch the front shocks from one side to the other?

 

[krenaud33]

Can someone tell me if it is possible to switch the front shocks from one side to the other?

Why not? They are identical and not side specific.

 

[Spaceman33]

Did the swap. No change. Starting to think I may be over thinking this. This is a SUV and it rides like one.

Time to focus on something else.