The rear end floats too much in high speed drifts, what will fix this??

[Arya Ebrahimi]

As a sort of stress relief I like to go tear down this stretch of fire-road just outside of town at about 45 mph. The rearend seems too floaty to me, more than it used to be. I've also noticed that the body rolls a lot more in general than when I first got the truck. I've been 'wheelin it at least once a week, and I think the regular excercise I've given the springs and shocks have loosened them up. I haven't crawled underneath to check and see if the shocks are blown, but I really doubt it(the road is only 2 miles long, not enough time for the shocks to overheat I don't think).

What I'm wondering is if I go w/ a heavier coil or a different shock or something like that, will I ended up w/ a more planted rear end? When I say 'floaty' I don't mean it fishtails, that's to be expected and is more an "at will" thing than something that just happens. What I mean by 'floaty' is the rear end just seems to float up and down as I cruise down the road. It doesn't bounce on normal roads, indicating blown shocks, which is why I'm wondering what to do.

Ary

P.S. Yes, I realize my 6000# cruiser is not a rally car, which is why I only go 45 mph, instead of 70

 

[landtank]

what is your current spring/shock setup?

 

[Gold Finger]

Shocks do not need to blow to be past there best, every time they stroke they impart some microscopic ware on the valves and seals. Over a period of time this builds up but many drivers do not notice as they grow with them so to speak.

 

[Doc]

Time to upgrade to OME springs/shocks and perhaps the JDM sway bar?

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Guess I should have mentioned that the truck is 100% stock w/ 160k miles...

 

[landtank]

ome springs and shocks then! If you like the curerent height then a set of their low lift heavy duties would work real well and avoid all the caster BS.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I recall seeing some OME shocks w/ remote reservoirs somewhere. Am I dreaming, or do they exist? Also, do you guys think I could get away with running them at stock height until I can afford to go up to 2" of lift? I don't love my current ride height, but I can't afford to go any higher right now either(broke college student syndrome).

Ary

 

[IdahoDoug]

Hard to beat $100 for the only shocks in the world specifically tuned to your vehicle's precise characteristics - Toyota factory shocks by Tokico. Be sure to see my suggestions on getting PB Blaster onto the rear upper mounts no matter what shocks you use.

Sounds to me like your shocks are simply worn enough that a 5th percentile application (fast driving on spirited road) exposes their weakness where they're still fine for every day driving. Shocks wear at a higher rate than springs, so your experience is typical.

DougM

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Doug, $100 for 4?! If so, that ain't half bad, might have to give C-bizkit a call

 

[Tools R Us]

If the shocks are OEM with 160K miles, then they are probably well past their prime. Pick some good shocks and bolt them on, or just try the road at 70 MPH!

 

[whodat]

FWIW, I've had cheap tires in the past with thin/weak sidewalls that seemed to cause drifting. Not on an 80, but I think it would still be applicable.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Arya,

Be sure to have a pipe wrench and a buddy on hand for the fronts. I've changed out two sets and both times there was no other way.

DougM

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Doug, what does the buddy do? Do you have an impact and would it have made a difference?

 

[IdahoDoug]

No impact. Buddy holds either the pipe wrench on the shock body (see my post earlier this week), or the upper wrench in the engine bay on top of the shock. I did it alone this time, with a buddy last time.

DougM

 

[semlin]

arya the remote reservoir shocks are OME LTR shocks. they cost about $200 each. you can read about them on the arb website.

 

[Junk]

I don't anyone else running the pevo tires, so you sure you're experiencing the weak sidewall mentioned above? Yes, I agree your shocks are likely toast, but if you're talking lateral movement, then I'd think maybe the sidewalls. Also, spend a few bucks on the c-bizkit and get some new sway bar bushings.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Junk, I've got Swampers on the trail rig, so



Actually, I've been quite impressed w/ the Revo's. I have the LT version, not the P version, and highly doubt that they are the culprit since all of my road wander left when I installed them.

Ary

 

[Junk]

Junk, I've got Swampers on the trail rig, so



Actually, I've been quite impressed w/ the Revo's. I have the LT version, not the P version, and highly doubt that they are the culprit since all of my road wander left when I installed them.

Ary

So you have swampers are on this 80?

I'm talking about drift as what you call it. I doubt your shocks are going to do anything for side to side drift. Are you airing down etc?

 

[IdahoDoug]

Good point on asking what's going on Junk. I assumed by "floaty" you're referring to the rear feeling a bit disconnected from the road surface, and/or not tracking predictably by consistently following the fronts around in a high(ish) G turn on uneven surfaces. This "floaty" is classic underdamped suspension and shocks are the culprit. Excessive body roll in transitions (left-right-left maneuvers) again points clearly to shocks.


Having the rear steer itself around when traveling in a straight line over bumps would be a form of "bump steer" caused by looseness in the suspension itself - bushings.

So which is it?

DougM

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Good point on asking what's going on Junk. I assumed by "floaty" you're referring to the rear feeling a bit disconnected from the road surface, and/or not tracking predictably by consistently following the fronts around in a high(ish) G turn on uneven surfaces. This "floaty" is classic underdamped suspension and shocks are the culprit. Excessive body roll in transitions (left-right-left maneuvers) again points clearly to shocks.

DougM

Doug, thank you for putting into words what I lacked the ability to. You described it precisely.

Oh, and no airing down, or anything like that.

Ary