front end bangs over speed bumps
 

first thread, first forum attempt!

I picked up a nice 2001 60th anniversary XJ earlier this year. Felt like the shocks needed replacing and I could see the bushings were dried out.
I replaced with OEM type stuff - KYB GR-2 shocks & stabilizer, rubber bushings (sway bar & links), jounce bumpers.

With the old front shocks off it took 20 minutes for them to expand after I compressed them! So I figured the new equipment would ride like a dream.

For the most part I'm pleased with everything, but if I hit a rut or bump with both tires at the same time, I get a nasty bang - almost like the shocks aren't absorbing!

I did have to cut down the jounce bumpers to fit, but there is plenty of clearance under them.

I can't live with it this way, feels like something will break. Note it didn't do this before I changed things.

Any suggestions?

Thanks much

Welcome to the forum!

Did you install everything yourself? Or did someone else do it? Crawl under and look for parts that shouldn't be bent. This is also a good time to familiarize yourself with the underside of your jeep!

Have your coil spring isolators rotted away? If so, you've got metal on metal contact, (metal coils against the metal body).

My coil spring isolators gave out and I had the same thump when I hit a speed bump.

Isolators are the black, polyurethane, donut looking things that are in between the top of the coil springs and the body. :yes:

My shocks somehow came loose and made a banging noise. Just something to check.

Check the upper and lower control arm bushings. Mine did the same thing when the lower control arm bushings were going bad.

i don't think you tightened the shocks down enough, meaning the top nut in particular.
but check your lower hourglass bushings to see if they're your problem also.

thanks
 

Thanks to all who replied.

I'll check all suggestions.

Are your bumpstops ok or are they gone? If they're gone, you could be bottoming out and that would also cause this.

I had the same problem at stock height and it turned out to be the front driveshaft hitting the downpipe.