Let's talk shocks!

[RottenBanana]

My EB has about 4.5" suspension lift and 3" body lift. Springs/Leafs are Deaver and the shocks are unknown. They look like the typical white bodied 70/30 shocks seen with most lift kits years ago. Age is also unknown. Tires are 35s

The front end was all re-done with the Duffs Bump steer and Dual Sport heim joint steering (highly recommended!!)

The ride is much improved with the Duffs gear but I still find the ride a bit harsh. It's not smooth, and seems pretty sharp on the rebound. Its bouncy, but not slow on the rebound, if that makes sense.

My understanding is that the old hydraulic shocks are softer riding than something more modern. So maybe they aren't the issue? Most likely looking to replace with Bilsteins or Duffs Eibach option.

95% of driving will be on-road

Thoughts?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Before you can do anything with the shocks to fix the ride, you have to make sure it isn't the springs. Have you tried a lap around the block without front shocks to make sure the springs are not the reason for the ride? Always have to throw that out first. Once the springs eat up the bumps, you can use shocks to control the springs.

 

[nvrstuk]

B4 I even scrolled far enough to see Bowsher's post I was thinking, check the springs.

Do what Bowsher suggests...

 

[RottenBanana]

Before you can do anything with the shocks to fix the ride, you have to make sure it isn't the springs. Have you tried a lap around the block without front shocks to make sure the springs are not the reason for the ride? Always have to throw that out first. Once the springs eat up the bumps, you can use shocks to control the springs.

So what's the thought with the springs? Were some of them just bouncy? These are Deavers that come with a 4.5" lift, and are linear, not progressive.

I'd assume if the springs were old and compressed more they'd be sloppy, but not rough, right?

If the ride is similar without the shocks, it's the springs?

 

[Broncobowsher]

If the springs are so stiff that going over a bump doesn't actually cycle the spring, there is nothing for the shock to control.

 

[RottenBanana]

If the springs are so stiff that going over a bump doesn't actually cycle the spring, there is nothing for the shock to control.

Fair enough. I thought the Deaver stuff was high quality, and would ride well. I guess I shouldn't have assumed

 

[nvrstuk]

Deaver makes good stuff. I need to ask how long you've driven Broncos? Asking this because it's a short wheel based SUV based on '60's design engineering and you won't get the ride that a newer SUV gets is all I'm saying.

 

[RottenBanana]

Deaver makes good stuff. I need to ask how long you've driven Broncos? Asking this because it's a short wheel based SUV based on '60's design engineering and you won't get the ride that a newer SUV gets is all I'm saying.

I've owned this for 5yrs or so. My first Bronco, other classic cars I owned were longer wheel bases or had something like a mustang ii front end installed. Your point is totally valid, but I have no true comparison lol

Not expecting it to ride like new, but on the flip side, I don't know what's possible.

 

[ntsqd]

How much do you want to spend and how good are your fab skills? That's what is possible.

Is the harshness during compression or during rebound?

 

[RottenBanana]

There's no budget per se... But within the real of reasonable. Seems harsh on both compression and rebound

 

[ntsqd]

the suggested no shocks test will eliminate them or point to them. Be careful while driving like that.

 

[nvrstuk]

I do remember back in the early 90s, putting on an add a ieaf, because my stock springs, we're uh, not up to family vacations with my 10 foot aluminum boat on the top, 2 kids in the back seat, an outboard motor, all our fishing gear, a small tent trailer and enough gear for either 2 weeks or 6 weeks as we camped a lot....

All that long blah blah blah means you could barely keep your teeth from getting chipped if you weren't loaded with all that weight with the add-a-leaf in the rear pulled that add a leaf in, and it rode like a typical bronco did back then... like Thom said, careful testing because that coil spring front end will bounce ya right out of your seat

Spring rates...

 

[Broncobowsher]

I do remember back in the early 90s, putting on an add a ieaf, because my stock springs, we're uh, not up to family vacations with my 10 foot aluminum boat on the top, 2 kids in the back seat, an outboard motor, all our fishing gear, a small tent trailer and enough gear for either 2 weeks or 6 weeks as we camped a lot....

All that long blah blah blah means you could barely keep your teeth from getting chipped if you weren't loaded with all that weight with the add-a-leaf in the rear pulled that add a leaf in, and it rode like a typical bronco did back then... like Thom said, careful testing because that coil spring front end will bounce ya right out of your seat

Spring rates...

Our F350 service truck loaded up. Spring packs thicker than the frame rails on the Bronco. Step on the bumper and there is zero suspension movement. But there is so much mass that over bumps it rides nice. Without the box, when it was bare frame rails, the axle might as well have been welded to the frame.

I have a utility trailer that has airbag suspension on it. Same ride height no matter what I load into it. Empty it tends to ride poorly. Loaded it rides good, heavily loaded it floats around. Empty it has too stiff of a shock, moderate load the shock valving is near perfect, heavily loaded the spring rates are too low.

Load has a huge influence on ride and as such the correct spring and shock rates. And we have not gotten into wheel travel. Nor the fancy bump stop options. I've heard how nice the ride is on a trophy truck at speed.

Oh, and there is the speed factor. With good suspension, going over a speed bump/dip smooths out at speed.

No matter what, you can't make stiff springs softer by changing shocks.

 

[nvrstuk]

Yeah, i'm all about speed, smoothing out the bumps!