Vincenza V

I have heard murmurings that "pucks" for your coils cause a poor ride. Can anyone with experience using them (I don't need more hearsay) tell me why and what "symptoms" they cause? I am not happy with my XJ's ride and want to know if I remove the pucks (and adjust the rear down appropriately) if I will notice anything? Thanks!

Tom95YJ

I have never heard such a thing. The spring rate does not change you keep the rubber spring isolator there with the puck. It'll ride rough with shocks that are cheap or too short

mr white

What are the details of your suspension set up?

Vincenza V

I do have the stock rubber isolator Tom95YJ

I started with a Zone 3.5" AAL kit, came with Zone white shocks.

For the front, I added the 1" spacer puck, which really is more like 1.5"

For the rear, I have a original main leaf and bushings, AAL, and a few S10 Blazer junkyard leafs in the rear. I can see the leafs in back don't look like they would lend to a nice street ride. I will replace them soon.

I am at around 5.5" of lift with all this. Not really by choice. I swapped out the bastard pack/AAL hybrid four times until I couldn't go any lower w/o being fearful of it being too soft in the back. I just gave up at the 5.5" height, plus, it looked good there height wise. I added the front puck to even out the lift.

My shocks came with the 3.5" lift kit, and when I called Zone, they said they "should" be good for 4.5" lift, on the street only. I know I am 1" HIGHER than that, but on the street (for now), is it REALLY my main contributor to a terrible ride?

I also have RC X-flex upper and lower control arms, with drop brackets, RC adjustable track bar with drop bracket, Zone steering stab., new drag link, 1" drop pitman arms, new TRE's and 3 out of 4 ball joints (the 4th seems fine).

I literally curse this thing as I drive it. Oh, and I've had several alignments, a different shops. I do have used Goodyear tire with 60% tread.

Maybe the tires are bad, but that it the last thing I want to replace trouble shooting this. I will do it, but only after everything else is checked/replaced first

Tom95YJ

I bet your shocks are too short

jeepgeek2002

^^ said

Red82

That and they're the cheap ones. And you used a bastard pack for the rear. All reasons your ride quality sucks.

Bustedback

A steep lower control arm angle will cause a rougher ride. Every time you hit a bump the force is transmitted right into the chassis if the control arm is steep.

ohio95xj

The op has control arm drop brackets, so his control arm angle are fine, i would say its the combination of the shocks, the springs in the rear, and maybe he should get rid of the stock shackles
....oh and one more thing, its a lifted jeep, no matter what its gonna ride like one, not a cadillac

Vincenza V

Good point's gentlemen. Without breaking the bank, what brand shock ride well? I will buy those in two weeks when I get paid. Then, onto replacing the AAL/Bastard pack.

Question. Hard hard should to have to jump up-and-down on rear bumper to be able to tell if you rear springs are too soft or stiff!

Thank you for the sugesstions! I feel I am going to get somewhere on this thing!

Xj88

All white body shocks are basically identical. Dont waste your money on something you "Hope" will ride good. If you want something that will give you a good ride then go with bilsteins, or OME shocks. Your talking about 350-400 for a set though.

Vincenza V

Can I buy these shocks then? I know they say for Wrangler and I would have to get the stud converter thing for the top front shocks.

http://www.topguncustomz.com/p-1290-4-bilstein-5100-series-shocks-07-09-jeep-jk-wrangler-w-4-lift.aspx

I will take out my front pucks, for the front should be at 4" (it's a 3." kit but is about 1" higher in real life)

I will buy 3.5" rear leaf packs, assuming they will be about 1" taller than indicated too.


I would install both at the same time.

Xj88

Um...id find out what extended/collapsed length they are..just cause they fit a JK with a 4" doesnt mean they will fit an xj with a 4"

Vincenza V

Quote: ....oh and one more thing, its a lifted jeep, no matter what its gonna ride like one, not a cadillac -Understood, but should a lifted Jeep be bouncing all over the road on 31's driving on the street?

If the kidney busting and hydralic lowrider type ride is normal, please stop me now before I a different set of shocks on her.

McCaffrey

No, not even close to what you're describing. It shouldn't even be that bad offroad.