Front end drop = back end stiffness???

[whosthecoolguy]

Hi all,

I just put an ARB and 8274 on my truck this weekend (actually the body shop who was fixing my vehilce after I got hit put it on) Looks good but I notice a difference in the ride I think.
I have 850s (heavies) in the front and 860s (Meds) in the rear, and I'm trying to understand the physics of what happened. Before the extra weight the ride was plush, my wife even commented how much smoother it was than her 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor.

Is it possible, that with the extra weight in the front and my front end dropping 1/2"-3/4", my back end extended or went up? Would this make the back end stiffer? It seems like this is what happened...my suspension seem stiffer now with the extra weight in the front?

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated
PS. I didn't take any before and after measurements

thanks guys,
Jeff

 

[sdnative]

I would guess what you are experiencing is in effect a teeter-toter with the front axle being the fulcrum. The further out in front of the axle you add weight, the lighter the rear will feel.

Just a guess, and I could be wrong.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Add a drawer system or a rear tire carrier and you ride will be back to amazing.

 

[84runner]

It would stand to reason that the back end might 'seem' stiffer since there is less weight on it. The less weight on a given suspension the 'harder' it will feel. The more weight on that same suspension, (to a point), the softer it will feel.

With an ARB & winch I can see that. I just added an ARB front and didn't notice a thing on my ride, (4" Slee's with hanna rear bump & rack). But I didn't add a winch yet and you have nothing in the rear.

 

[Kalawang]

Hi all,

I just put an ARB and 8274 on my truck this weekend (actually the body shop who was fixing my vehilce after I got hit put it on) Looks good but I notice a difference in the ride I think.
I have 850s (heavies) in the front and 860s (Meds) in the rear, and I'm trying to understand the physics of what happened. Before the extra weight the ride was plush, my wife even commented how much smoother it was than her 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor.

Is it possible, that with the extra weight in the front and my front end dropping 1/2"-3/4", my back end extended or went up? Would this make the back end stiffer? It seems like this is what happened...my suspension seem stiffer now with the extra weight in the front?

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated
PS. I didn't take any before and after measurements

thanks guys,
Jeff

Check out your shocks. The weight of the bullbars and winch shouldn't cause such a nose drop or even change your ride quality considering you have heavies. I had a similar feel once but that went away when I changed my shocks. The old ones were busted.

Just had a thought. Get a look at your bump stops and see if they are long or short. If there is too little space you might be feeling that rather than the flex the springs should give.

Other possibilities, tires with too much air or too many plies. You begin to feel a bit of roughness, very minor, at six ply and that increases as you go higher. Likewise, high tire pressure also causes a rougher ride.


Kalawang

 

[Nay]

Time for your next set of OME springs. I suggest competition springs.

 

[whosthecoolguy]

Thanks for all the info guys...

I just put new springs on it less than 8,000km ago so it shouldn't be the springs. I did keep the old shocks on it though because they are adjustable, so that could be the problem.

I have a spare tire carrier off the rear, so that would help keep the back end down.

I might change the shocks out in the next week or two, see if that makes a difference.

Thanks again for the info.
-Jeff