I know there are MANY threads dedicated to this and I've waded through many of them, but I also know that people here have tried all kinds of solutions and have probably already found the answer I'm looking for, so why not. This is my 97. It's on 33's and current a TJM 50mm progressive rate 50 mm lift.
I've been experiencing a lot of trouble with my suspension lately. Most of that blame lies with ICON vehicle dynamics and the 3(!) pairs of shocks I've had to put on the rear in a year where the nitrogen has been leaking out and the shocks die rapidly as a result. But even with new shocks that aren't leaking I have a serious case of the wobbles, where it feels like Im driving without sway bars. Any bump feels like its moving one side more than the other and the shocks have to try and figure it out (sway bar bushings are relatively new btw). I recently noticed that my car was sagging on the side with my fridge and even with nothing in the back but a very light fridge slide my spring on my drivers side is down .6 inch compared to passenger. I think the problem is that my springs are worn out and firmly in coil bind on the soft rate where the other side is also worn out but JUST out of coil bind causing a strange rate imbalance. Not only that but even from new these springs are sort of not what I need. They ride great unladen most of the time, but they squat WAY too much with even a moderate load (see above). This causes departure angle problems but most significantly they cause an issue in the front where the front springs actually contact the bump stop perch and have bent them enough that they hit spring on perch often. I plan to fix that when I do springs with new perches and some light grinding. (NOTE: I have stock bushings on the control arms, but I use the Man-A-Fre drop brackets for alignment so my wheelbase should be correct up front).
Anyway, I've got some pretty annoying requirements for their replacements and I am hoping you have some advice.
1. They can't lift it anymore than the current springs (garage height limits). Right now my well to floor measures in the rear are 37.6 passenger, 37 driver. 38 would be where I am in trouble with my garage door. 50mm lift is my max.
2. They can't be heavies because it's not heavy 90% of the time and the ride can't get worse than it is. In the winter especially the aluminum body shocks are BRUTAL without a load, even with custom compression damping.
3. I plan to airbag whatever springs I get because I want to also consider getting a dual sport to hang off the back. Even if I don't I need something to make lightish springs work with a load so I can use all the meager departure angle I have.
Im leaning to something like a J spring. I'm guessing that linear would take an airbag better than progressive, but these wouldn't be brutally firm. I thought about dobinson or slinky but people seem to be reporting way more than advertised lift with those and with my light right Im sure I would be in that area.
I am also looking for P/N for the airbag kit that people use with taller springs on these if anyone has it. The PN that firestone gives you is for stock heigh and while Im sure that would work I would rather go with a slightly taller one to fit it better. Any advice on routing and plumbing would also be appreciated. Im sure I can figure it out but I wanted to see if anyone had experienced any surprises or pitfalls.
Finally, stay away from IVD 2.0 shocks if you are thinking about it. Nothing but trouble. FYI - I don't wheel the truck that hard to need 2.5 or remote res. These failed with 99% road miles.
Please don't post "search for threads" or link to them...I've seen them all already. They've given me some ideas but I wanted a fresh thread to hash this out.
I've been experiencing a lot of trouble with my suspension lately. Most of that blame lies with ICON vehicle dynamics and the 3(!) pairs of shocks I've had to put on the rear in a year where the nitrogen has been leaking out and the shocks die rapidly as a result. But even with new shocks that aren't leaking I have a serious case of the wobbles, where it feels like Im driving without sway bars. Any bump feels like its moving one side more than the other and the shocks have to try and figure it out (sway bar bushings are relatively new btw). I recently noticed that my car was sagging on the side with my fridge and even with nothing in the back but a very light fridge slide my spring on my drivers side is down .6 inch compared to passenger. I think the problem is that my springs are worn out and firmly in coil bind on the soft rate where the other side is also worn out but JUST out of coil bind causing a strange rate imbalance. Not only that but even from new these springs are sort of not what I need. They ride great unladen most of the time, but they squat WAY too much with even a moderate load (see above). This causes departure angle problems but most significantly they cause an issue in the front where the front springs actually contact the bump stop perch and have bent them enough that they hit spring on perch often. I plan to fix that when I do springs with new perches and some light grinding. (NOTE: I have stock bushings on the control arms, but I use the Man-A-Fre drop brackets for alignment so my wheelbase should be correct up front).
Anyway, I've got some pretty annoying requirements for their replacements and I am hoping you have some advice.
1. They can't lift it anymore than the current springs (garage height limits). Right now my well to floor measures in the rear are 37.6 passenger, 37 driver. 38 would be where I am in trouble with my garage door. 50mm lift is my max.
2. They can't be heavies because it's not heavy 90% of the time and the ride can't get worse than it is. In the winter especially the aluminum body shocks are BRUTAL without a load, even with custom compression damping.
3. I plan to airbag whatever springs I get because I want to also consider getting a dual sport to hang off the back. Even if I don't I need something to make lightish springs work with a load so I can use all the meager departure angle I have.
Im leaning to something like a J spring. I'm guessing that linear would take an airbag better than progressive, but these wouldn't be brutally firm. I thought about dobinson or slinky but people seem to be reporting way more than advertised lift with those and with my light right Im sure I would be in that area.
I am also looking for P/N for the airbag kit that people use with taller springs on these if anyone has it. The PN that firestone gives you is for stock heigh and while Im sure that would work I would rather go with a slightly taller one to fit it better. Any advice on routing and plumbing would also be appreciated. Im sure I can figure it out but I wanted to see if anyone had experienced any surprises or pitfalls.
Finally, stay away from IVD 2.0 shocks if you are thinking about it. Nothing but trouble. FYI - I don't wheel the truck that hard to need 2.5 or remote res. These failed with 99% road miles.
Please don't post "search for threads" or link to them...I've seen them all already. They've given me some ideas but I wanted a fresh thread to hash this out.
