Front Suspension Questions

2003KJ · Dec 22, 2007

Never thought i'd be posting this now, but the other night I began to hear some not to pleasant sounds while driving through an apartment complex with speed bumps. After hitting each bump at a whopping 2mph (if that) I could really hear the front suspension creaking and moaning (for lack of a better term). I realize it was cold at the time (about 26), but I had just gotten off a 40 mile highway commute filled with numerous potholes and ruts, so the suspension got a good workout, and it's also been much colder this season and i've not heard a peep out of it.

My real question is, in addition to the creaking/moaning, the front end was bottoming out and continuing to bounce after hitting each speed bump. This is leading me to believe that the shocks are worn out (it does seem like the Jeep is sitting a bit lower than normal too). Now i've only had the KJ about 4.5 years, and got right at 50K on it right now, and I find it a little hard to believe that the shocks are blown already. Anybody else had issues with stock suspension on a DD non lifted KJ at this age?

Looks like some new shocks may be in my future....

Marlon_JB2 · Dec 22, 2007

From what I've heard, age and mileage combined affect shocks.

J-Thompson · Dec 22, 2007

if you got 50K on the shocks ,stocker's at that then yes they are bad
the noise is 99% the sway bar bushings but it is moving more due to bad struts
also as far as it "sitting a little lower" that has nothing to do with the struts
they do not hold weight only control the recoil or bounce
the OE springs will sag over time causing what you see

I know all this because I delt with it on our '03 last year
same issues I simply replaced EVERY thing
new springs ,struts and shocks
OME springs
Rancho struts
OME rear shocks

Dave · Dec 22, 2007

Tim........This sounds logical. Also a good time to upgrade and kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak.

Dave

Tokyojoe1965 · Dec 22, 2007

Psst.......I have slightly used (~3k miles - 3 months) original struts/shocks/springs for sale. Might as well do the whole thing

2003KJ · Dec 22, 2007

Marlon_JB2 said:
From what I've heard, age and mileage combined affect shocks.

Yeah, I know that. Thanks.

Looks like I may be doing some shocks then.....little disappointing that they're shot at 50K, when I hardly wheel mine at all. Whats even more disappointing is that the springs are sagging a little bit, at this mileage.

Joe, I appreciate the offer, but if i'm gonna go and replace all this, i'm gonna upgrade to aftermarket and not have to deal with it again.

kj lad · Dec 22, 2007

I had something similar and it turned out to be uca bushes. Changed all suspension bushes for polybushes. No probs now.

Ian

JeepJeepster · Dec 22, 2007

50k is a little early for shocks. You can get a stock suspension for cheap but why not take the chance to upgrade? tokyo's suspension would be good if you want stock.

The noise is probably the sway bar bushings. I grease mine everytime I change the oil.

Weve got 163k on one jeep and it has the original shocks and springs. The springs are sagging a touch but the shocks are fine.

icarl · Dec 22, 2007

I had almost 140000 kms on my saggy shocks/struts and just replaced them with the Frankenlift. They were noisy when subjected to off-road abuse but not over speed bumps. In fact the Frankenlift is way more noisier than my old struts. If I go over a speed bump now I have to slow down to a crawl if I don't want to wake too much noise. Perhaps its just the cold but I am thinking of rigging up my webcam under there to see what is going on.

2003KJ · Dec 22, 2007

jeepjeepster said:
50k is a little early for shocks. You can get a stock suspension for cheap but why not take the chance to upgrade? tokyo's suspension would be good if you want stock.

The noise is probably the sway bar bushings. I grease mine everytime I change the oil.

Weve got 163k on one jeep and it has the original shocks and springs. The springs are sagging a touch but the shocks are fine.

50K is A LOT early for shocks and springs....i've never had to replace any on any vehicle i've owned, even with almost 200K on the clock.

Might have to give the sway bar bushings some grease and see if that helps at all.

Dave · Dec 22, 2007

2003KJ said:
Might have to give the sway bar bushings some grease and see if that helps at all.

Tim....When I do an oil change, one of the things I do is ride around under the jeep on my creeper and spray "CASTLE ENDURA HEAVY DUTY PENETRATING GREASE" on all the bushings, etc. I just start at the front and work my way to the rear. One of the extra things I do that turns my 15 minute oil change into an hour.

You can get it at any auto parts place I think and it is in a red/blue/purple can with white lettering. It is thicker than say, wd40 or something like that and stays put better when you spray it. I don't have any squeeks, YET........

Dave

icarl · Dec 22, 2007

2003KJ;329303My real question is said:
I just noticed this part. If you are bouncing up and down like that then you need new shocks. 50K doesn't necessarily tell you anything. It all depends on how bumpy of a road you ride on and how hard you stressed the shocks. If you push down on the bumper it should spring right back and stop, but if it bounces up and down like a trampoline then you need new shocks. I once had an old van that had worn shocks. The rear shock was so worn it wasn't even doing anything, it had disintegrated. After replacing, the ride was so much better.

tommudd · Dec 22, 2007

As far as I am concerned STOCK suspension is junk after 45/50000 miles. You cant really tell its worn out until you replace it due to just getting used to a bad ride.

Marlon_JB2 · Dec 22, 2007

tommudd said:
As far as I am concerned STOCK suspension is junk after 45/50000 miles. You cant really tell its worn out until you replace it due to just getting used to a bad ride.

What you just said is so true. My sister is at 45k and ugh..... it needs new shocks all around.

-=JoN=- · Dec 22, 2007

man..I never knew age and mileage could affect the suspension...wtf?!?!?!?!?!

suprising to me since i dont know, your roads are probably a helluva lot

smoother than here in nyc..or over there in nyc....

I got close to 55k, and albeit, i do feel that it needs to be replaced..it's still holding up.....

tommudd · Dec 23, 2007

Suspension parts (i.e. springs/shocks) wear out like anything else. I always think that its funny that someone will change their oil every 3000 miles, rotate tires etc etc but then brag that they have 200,000 on shocks and springs. They wear out over time just like anything else does! One of my customers had a F150 that had 125,000 on it and I kept telling him he needed new springs / shocks, finally one day I ordered everything and put it on without him knowing it. He picked it up , came in next day wanting to know what I did to his truck as it never rode so well! Needless to say he paid me for everything and told everyone then how much better it rode.

Dave · Dec 23, 2007

tommudd said:
You cant really tell its worn out until you replace it due to just getting used to a bad ride.

Yea, that's just it. you don't realize it because it happens slowly over time and you get used to it.

Dave

2003KJ · Dec 23, 2007

hmmm...rainy day like today, i could pull it in the garage and work on it some....but then it'd be dripping water every where....and that wouldn't be cool.

Dave · Dec 23, 2007

2003KJ said:
hmmm...rainy day like today, i could pull it in the garage and work on it some....but then it'd be dripping water every where....and that wouldn't be cool.

Tim.....it's a garage floor.......not like it's your living room and it needs to be "housebroken"

Dave

JeepJeepster · Dec 23, 2007

Yup, I always spray all the bushings at each oil change too. I worry more about the front then the rear though.

Front Suspension Questions

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