Cornfed Read Shock Question

[2K34R]

So after having my lift installed for a couple of months now, I notice that the rear of the vehicle feels harder.

Something as simple as a speed bump feels normal in the front, but can at times thump down on the rear.

Is this because of my rear shocks? Should I have replaced them during the install?

Is this why Revtek comes with longer rear shocks?

If this is the case, what shocks shocks should I be looking at for the replacement?

TIA

 

[Expat]

My thought is that if a shock is failing it will usually go soft and the car will bouce or float easier than in the past.

If it's hard it almost sounds the opposite. Do you think the shock is bottoming out or does it feel like the shock is not compressing?

In reality the shocks only slow the return rate of the coil springs so your car/truck doesn't continue to "bounce" or "float" up and down so the shock is unlikely to reproduce the effect you are talking about. (without changing the specs of the shocks)

With spacers it shouldn't restrict the length of the compression stroke as you go over a bump should it?

 

[Good Times]

I think there are several factors that are causing the harsh ride.

1. low profile tires...
2. spacers which will make your suspension stiff over time.

I highly doubt that your rear shocks have gone bad at all but the 2 factors mentioned above.

If you have an empty load in the rear that could also be a factor too.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

 

[Expat]

Lance - why will spacers make the suspension harder over time?

Thanks
Mark

 

[Good Times]

regardless of the spacer design (even though the design does take a factor in the end result of he ride), they get harsher due to the fact that they compress the coil restricting the coils ability to absorb the bumps. shocks are now more extended than stock due to the extra spacer installed causing it to change the characteristic of the shock (unable to compress as much to absorb the constant compression/decompression)).

hope that makes sense. easiest way to look at it is doing a quick comparison between a stock setup vs a spacer setup. visual comparison is the easiest way to understand the difference.

although i've never had spacers installed in my 4runner, i've sat in many vehicles w/ spacers and i will say that on some vehicles it's really hard to tell the difference from spacerless to spacers. i guess some people are more in-tune to their vehicles characteristics. people do say that spacers makes their vehicle harsh so i'm going based off of other's personal experience.

if you really want a plush ride, you'll want to stick to traditional coil and shock setups (OME front/rear). You can go with some coilovers in the front and OME in the rear too as an alternative. Of course that sticker price is significantly higher though (but you pay for every penny for the softer ride).

Good luck

 

[2K34R]

The ride doesn't feel any different from stock on the road and doing regular driving.

It's just the bumps on the rear.

Your right it is more noticeable with an empty load, and I know I need new tires, I still have thread remaining on these, for a little while.

Do you still feel that longer shocks would be the way to go on the rear?

Wouldn't longer shocks also help prevent rear sagging?

 

[Good Times]

shocks won't prevent rear sagging. what keeps the rear up are the coils/spacers. the shocks are there to absorb the bumps by dampening the coils when they compress/decompress.

you can get aftermarket shocks. look into any eye/stud shock. OME's will be nice or even any ol Bilstein (I think they have some available), Rancho, Doestch Shock. The rear shock is not some specific rather a universal length shock so as long as you get some eye/stud shock, you'll be fine. I think 10" travel shocks should suffice btw.

Good luck

 

[Expat]

Lance - thanks for your reply. This is a discussion so I am only trying to understand from someone (you) who has had experience in this matter so...

Several aspects we are talking about - spacers, coils, shocks, time.

Over time, suspension will fail. If left, the general feeling of poor suspension will be a soft floating ride as the shocks can no longer do their job of reducing the action of the coils (to provide absorption over uneven terrain).

Coils are extremely strong and last many years before a manufacturer woud recommend replacement. Even with spacers, it would take years for a coil to break down.

Shocks however have a very limited life (5yrs? Not sure about XREAS but I imagine the same?) before they begin to lose their ability to cope with the action of the coils. When they do begin to fail the vehicle will tend to bounce or float for a longer period. This tends to give the vehicle poorer braking response and corner handling, and a softer floating ride.

I can't see how the addition of spacers increases the stiffnessness of the ride over time. I do see that spacers will make the susspension stiffer (compared to stock - although I can't say I've really noticed it) once they are immediately installed, but do they really make it stiffer over time?

I try to imagine this senario -

Truck driving along the freeway at 50mph. Hits a pot hole in the road. The coil and shock initially extends as the wheel drops into the hole then compresses as the wheel comes out of the hole. The coil continues to rise and fall as the shock attempts to reduce the up and down action of the coil, all under the weight of the vehicle.

If the shock is worn, the coil will extend and compress more times before settling back to a more constant position. This gives the vehicle a floating feel which may be harsh depending upon the severity of the hole or bump in the road. However I can't see the ride being more stiff.

The same thing would apply when cornering. The suspension experiences difficulty maintaning a constant rate of compression and extension and will tend to float and understeer thru corners.

Over time the shocks should fail giving a softer not stiffer ride.

Your thoughts?

Thanks
Mark

 

[Good Times]

since we both agree that the spacers will make the suspension still immediately we won't have go there.

as for the over time part, here's the deal:
stock coils w/o any compression (outside of the it sitting in the coil pack properly) can compress and decompress to absorb any bumps. the shocks are in place to help dampen the coils harsh compression and decompression so the vehicle does not bounce like a ball.

now keep in mind that when spacers installed, here's what happen:
stock coils are now in a precompressed state. this means that it has less ability to compress and decompress. shocks are now in an extended state so they have less ability to perform since they can only compress the coil so much - physical limitation.

over time, the coils will adjust to the new stiffness and lose it's ability to compress and decompress compared to stock. since the coils don't do much anymore, the shocks do just about the same work (softer shocks means less ability to handle the harsher ride from the coils). remember the coils will not bounce as much compared to stock as they're still precompressed. coils will sag and w/ the addition of the spacers it'll just press down more to the point where coils can't perform anymore.

now if you compare to a stock setup that's old:
stock coils (not compressed) will eventually lose their ability to be springie and start to sag. the coils will just bounce around with no disregard. the shocks will now have to work twice as hard but since the shocks are going soft it's unable to. thus the extremely soft performance over time.

 

[Expat]

...thus the extremely soft performance over time.

That I agree on all that you have said. The correct word being "soft", not "stiff" is what confused me.

Thanks Lance.

 

[RXvedub]

what if the rear is not stiffer, but the shock is reaching maximum extension on the rebound?