Way too Stiff Ride. Opinions Wanted
02-02-2018, 09:00 PM
#31
Senior Member
Just curious if you called IRO and asked them what the spring rate is on the coils. Someone posted on another forum that they are 230 lbs/inch. I'm wondering of that has something to do with it, although I wouldn't think it would jar that hard from just being stiff. For comparison RE 3.5" coils are 240 lbs/inch, Rustys HD 180 lbs/inch.
Last edited by mikesignal; 02-02-2018 at 09:25 PM.
02-05-2018, 10:59 AM
#32
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L6
I would think that would be a contributing factor, considering that I've seen speculation that stock coils are in the 150-160 lb/in range.
02-05-2018, 01:12 PM
#33
CF Veteran
This is where adjustable shocks would come in handy. My 2000 lbs Bug has 450 lb/in springs in it and it rides better then my Jeep, when I want it to. But when I take it to the track and turn the dampening up on the shocks, thats a whole different story. Turn them back down for the ride home and it rides like a Cadillac again. I think double adjustable shocks will be the next shock upgrade my Jeep gets. Its nice being able to make it ride exactly how you want it to.
02-05-2018, 04:02 PM
#34
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
I’m really glad to see there are a few XJ owners who actually care about ride quality. My wife’s JK has a 3.5” Rubicon Express lift which is middle of the road quality wise & not as smooth as RK, Teraflex, etc but it might as well be a Cadillac compared to my XJ.
Previous owner of my XJ installed a 6.5” short arm
Rough Country lift. It would jar your teeth loose if you hit any kind of bump at speed.
I installed a BDS Long Arm upgrade & it’s now is slightly better due to the improved LCA angle. If you hit a bump you’ll keep your teeth but might loose all the **** out your bladder. It’s still not acceptable in my opinion. It rides straight & smooth on the highway but a dirt roads is miserable. This is my daily driver/ expedition vehicle so comfort & reliability are more important then flex to me so take my opinion for what’s its worth.
Previous owner of my XJ installed a 6.5” short arm
Rough Country lift. It would jar your teeth loose if you hit any kind of bump at speed.
I installed a BDS Long Arm upgrade & it’s now is slightly better due to the improved LCA angle. If you hit a bump you’ll keep your teeth but might loose all the **** out your bladder. It’s still not acceptable in my opinion. It rides straight & smooth on the highway but a dirt roads is miserable. This is my daily driver/ expedition vehicle so comfort & reliability are more important then flex to me so take my opinion for what’s its worth.
Last edited by -ND4SPD-; 02-05-2018 at 04:37 PM.
02-05-2018, 04:25 PM
#35
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L
I'm right there with you in this boat. Every bump in the road is ear-shattering and kidney-bursting compared to a factory XJ. I'm lifted 6" on long arms with RE 3.5" coils and 5100's. I've always wanted to change my coils out for something much softer to compare with.
02-05-2018, 04:40 PM
#36
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This is kind of the opposite of mine. It takes rutted, pitted dirt or gravel roads really well, but doesn't take sharp pavement seams or sharp-edged pavement potholes well at all. Other Bilstein 5100 owners seem to have similar complaints. I'm sure this would be remedied with lower tire PSI, especially since I'm running an LT tire, but I like decent handling and MPG as well so I put up with it. There are always trade-offs...
02-05-2018, 05:00 PM
#38
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Much smoother. I usually make it a point to disco if I'm going to be back-roads haulin' for a while. Disco'd, it floats down rough roads like butta'. 
I have to be careful to slow down over low-water bridges though--I've hit my front bumpstops fairly hard on a few occasions. But, at least I know I set my bumpstops at the correct length!
What about yours?
I have to be careful to slow down over low-water bridges though--I've hit my front bumpstops fairly hard on a few occasions. But, at least I know I set my bumpstops at the correct length!What about yours?
02-05-2018, 05:16 PM
#39
CF Veteran
Sounds good. Actually I haven't run it disconnected yet but I need to. Haven't spent much time at all on our unimproved roads since I redid the suspension but enough to notice the s/b is limiting travel. I first noticed that would happen when I first got my XJ. That's why I started running quick disconnects.
02-05-2018, 05:30 PM
#40
Senior Member
Those Coopers look new. Too bad you're not closer I would swap tires with you so you could see if it changes the ride drastically. I know when I switched tires it felt like I got a new Jeep. Could be a combination of the shocks, coils, and tires together. Tires would be the easiest to change if you access to a set of straight road tires.
Last edited by mikesignal; 02-05-2018 at 05:33 PM.
02-05-2018, 06:15 PM
#41
CF Veteran
I'm on 3.5" RE coils and 3" Rusty leafs with JKS shackles and Doetsch 8000 shocks. I'll tell you what, it rides smooth no issues. When i hit road bumps it doesn't absorb them like my pickup but just rolls right over, little body movement.
02-06-2018, 09:04 AM
#44
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I don't think some people here understand what specific role a shock has vs what role a spring plays.
Teraflex did an awesome video with great footage showing how each works. It's absolutely worth the watch to dispel some myths being thrown around in this post.
Teraflex did an awesome video with great footage showing how each works. It's absolutely worth the watch to dispel some myths being thrown around in this post.
02-06-2018, 09:37 AM
#45
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It doesn't limit overall travel. It does what a swaybar does and limits body roll but as a result of tying the axle into the frame, it will limit free movement of each side of the axle indiviually. Basically, it resists articulation and when one side of the axle compresses, some of that force will be transferred to the body/frame (and to the driver) rather than the coil taking all of the force.
Last edited by Tbone289; 02-06-2018 at 09:44 AM.