Too Much Body Sway!

[Jayrock77]

Just purchased a LX450 '97 for my wife's DD!! Sweet ride indeed, HOWEVER - to me there seems to be way to much side to side body sway. The vehicle isn't lifted or any mods to speak of. Tire pressure good, shocks seems good as well. But this is our first cruiser and dont have much experience with driving these. Driving on the highway, the things just sways back and forth and kind of drives me crazy. It almost feels top heavy and the body seems to rocks right and left???
Is this sway usually from shocks or body mounts? Not being lifted is body sway fairly normal?

Thanks guys!!

 

[concretejungle]

It's got to be in my opinion a combination of worn out springs and shocks. These things are not big swayers.

 

[Lka1988]

Check the swaybar links, both front and rear axles... They may have come loose. I removed my front swaybar a few weeks ago (flame suit on), and there was a noticeable increase in body roll.

 

[davnic6]

When I picked my 97 up it felt like a boat ....come to find out someone installed one of the rear shocks upside down. Rode ok after that. Since then I have gone with the OME 2.5 Lift 950 /860 and it is just about perfect.

 

[chibo]

When I picked my 97 up it felt like a boat ....come to find out someone installed one of the rear shocks upside down. Rode ok after that. Since then I have gone with the OME 2.5 Lift 950 /860 and it is just about perfect.

...how?

 

[gray]

The shocks and springs are tuned softer on the LX, so maybe the roll your feeling is normal? Will need to hear from the LX experts to get a better answer. Ditto checking the sway bars.

If you want to stiffen up the suspension a bit with better handling you can switch to Bilstein shocks; this would be the cheapest quickest fix.

You could replace the rubber OEM sway bar bushings with aftermarket urethane from Slee Off-Road. There is also a TRD sway bar that is heavier than stock; this would for sure stop the body roll. It is a non-USA part, but CDan or any dealer can order it; do a search for TRD sway bar on this forum for pics and parts numbers.

You should also replace the OEM steering stabilizer with something like an OME unit; man-a-fre carries them.

Good luck.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Sounds like somebody TOLD you a shock was upside down. It's not possible.

DougM

 

[83bj60]

Could be the tires, if they are large, worn and soft.

 

[Tools R Us]

The shocks and springs are tuned softer on the LX, so maybe the roll your feeling is normal? ...

We have a winner! The stock LX suspension = take your dramamine! Upgrading to OME suspension is a huge improvement. Some have replaced the LX shocks with stock LC shocks from Dan (IIRC only ~$100) with good results.

 

[LC80Ducati996]

Check the bearings on the front axle as well as the tie rod ends and drag link Wear in the steering system can cause a wander.

 

[Dudewhere'smycruiser]

body sway

my 80 was the same way I felt like a boble head doll ome stock hight or 2.5 will make it feel like a sports car compared to stock ,IMHO

 

[dfmorse]

Here is one of the greatest mods u can do to the LX (or any 80 series):

ttp://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/edelbrock_info.cfm

I really love mine; sort of like a big sports car now.

...

 

[PACNW96]

My 80 felt the same way when I got it. Lots of body roll in the corners giving the top heavy feeling you described and nose dived under braking. The LX having even softer springs than the LC it is probably even more pronounced.

I did a lot of research to fix this problem as I didn't want a huge lift, but wanted stiffer springs and more stability while driving. I ended up installing OME 861/862 Low-Height springs, which essentially retain the stock ride height plus 3/4"-1" of lift, and made a huge difference in the way the car drives. Difference is night and day. No more body roll in corners or nose diving while braking. I highly recommend these springs for someone who doesn't want a significant lift, but wants a vastly improved ride.

I also got some new OEM stock shocks from Dan to replace the worn OEM shocks. Lot's of people also like the Bilsteins and OME shocks.

Best of luck,

Russell

 

[LockedLX]

We have a winner! The stock LX suspension = take your dramamine!

Absolutely. My LX with 122k miles on the stock suspension and some junk shocks was like navigating a boat down the highway. Every little shift in the pavement would sent it rocking back and forth. An OME Medium 2.5" lift solved that and made the truck drive 200% better.

 

[cary]

If the shocks have not been replaced that is the first thing you should look at. For stock replacements, go to Cruiserdan, and $100 or so will get you all 4 factory shocks. Personally, I recommend replacing them with Bilsteins if you are going to keep the stock height or only use the OME 861/861 springs (1" lift). Bilsteins have a greater amount of dampening than the stock shocks so they will limit body movements more, especially when loaded, and Bilsteins do not wear over time loosing their dampening. I have seen many sets of bilsteins go more than 200,000 miles an work like new. They will set you back about $250 a set.

 

[Sanchez]

I had a similar issue driving mine home from LA. This thing scared the c__p out of me. This thing rocked side to side really bad. I then swapped the tires and it's been good eversince. I went from street tires to goodyears MT/R.

-Juan

 

[83bj60]

On my HDJ81 I was forced to use the 'sport' setting on my shocks with the worn 285/75R16 Bridgestone Duelers AT otherwise I'd get too much unwieldy behaviour. With the Bridgestone Blizzak LT235/85R16 I just installed the ride is vastly improved, no more roll and less bumpy on top of that, so much that I don't need to use the 'sport' setting anymore. Tire have a LOT of influence on ride quality.

 

[Jayrock77]

Will I need any specialized tools at all to replace either the shocks or the springs? I'm a DIY'er so must attempt!!!

BTW - Thanks everyone for your vast knowledge and help I appreciate it very much!!!

 

[PandaEG2]

Mine does that too, I was thinking it's the shocks. Post an update when you change yours

Ray

 

[PACNW96]

Will I need any specialized tools at all to replace either the shocks or the springs? I'm a DIY'er so must attempt!!!

BTW - Thanks everyone for your vast knowledge and help I appreciate it very much!!!

No special tools, but I can't stress enough the use of penetrant to get those bolts loose without breaking. Trust me...I learned the hard way.

Here are the best instructions for installation:

http://sleeoffroad.com/technical/tz_ome.htm

Good Luck.