New springs, sad traction

[JustSumDad]

So I now have a new set of springs in my daughters 2003 KJ - H&R kit, front shocks are Bilie's left the rear shocks that it had. Put in new bumpstops.
1.5" lift over stock.

Took it out to see how it handled some light duty stuff, got a little twisted... I MEAN JUST A LITTLE!!
The wheels just don't drop into the holes much to find some grab!!!
I know the 1.5" lift essentially moves some of the travel from drop out to height but this gave some kinda sad results....

On my old Zuki Kick I took out the sway bars to give it some nice flex and it worked great...
on road handling sucked huge tho... not something I want my daughter to deal with until she gets more driving experience...

Any solutions out there? Ways to improve?

I have an LSD for the rear end, one day I will find the time to pop that in... still very disappointed right now...

 

[u2slow]

Get the traction aid. I would consider a lockright or no-slip for easier install.

I have softer coils (4runner application) which I had to bolster with load-assist (coilover) shocks to take the sway out of it. So I don't feel like you can have it both ways.

 

[2TALL1]

Is your rear shocks limiting your rear down travel?

 

[JustSumDad]

Is your rear shocks limiting your rear down travel?

The suspension is stock, so the down travel (what I call drop) will max out at the same spot as normal. However since of the total travel the ride height is now 1.5" lifted, that amounts to 1.5" less from ride height that it cannot drop... I think that's the root of the problem.

when its up on a lift it drops to the same extent it did with the sagged out springs.

Another part of my guess here (looking at suspension geometry) is that since the opposite wheel is sprung better, the sway bar prevents some drop.
This would be both the front and rear...

I now see why Wrangler guys have quick disconnects on the sway bars...

 

[JustSumDad]

Get the traction aid. I would consider a lockright or no-slip for easier install.

I have softer coils (4runner application) which I had to bolster with load-assist (coilover) shocks to take the sway out of it. So I don't feel like you can have it both ways.

I agree and that's what the LSD is all about...

still, without managing to keep the wheels down and touching better... I want my Zuki back

 

[2TALL1]

How is the suspension stock if it has an 1.5” lift?

 

[2TALL1]

I could be wrong here but if you’re lifted in the rear wouldn’t you need need longer shocks and bumpstops.

 

[JustSumDad]

I could be wrong here but if you’re lifted in the rear wouldn’t you need need longer shocks and bumpstops.

with a spacer lift yes, or a high lift, with a spring lift no.

With a spring lift your just changing the ride height in the travel range.

So essentially just new, stiffer springs.

 

[KJowner]

Longer shocks on the rear would certainly help keeping the wheels on the ground.
You just need a nice heavy CRD up front to ballast it down....

 

[JustSumDad]

Longer shocks on the rear would certainly help keeping the wheels on the ground.
You just need a nice heavy CRD up front to ballast it down....

Ya I guess that makes sense, a longer travel shock that would drop out more, but would the max compressed length be changed then...
changing out like that opens some potential issues...

Do you know of a setup that would move things around correctly?

Bump stop would need to be adjusted if the max compressed length of the shock got longer, hockey pucks + new longer shocks...

 

[KJowner]

I'm no suspension guru but I'd go with an inch of bumpstop for every inch of lift.
I can't suggest anything else, I'm running a very similar setup on mine & it gets me around on & off road but where I live it's fairly flat so it's only dealing with bumpy farm tracks and fields.