Any hope for a smoother ride??

[JoeShoe]

I just installed a Rubicon Express 2" suspension lift on my '92 YJ complete with included shocks and I find that the ride is crazy stiff.  Is there anything I can do to soften this organ-jarring ride without having to get new springs and/or shocks?

I might try loosening the nut/bolt that holds the springs together right in the centre of each to give them some more flex...  Is this gonna do anything???

Or let me know if you've got a Rubicon Express lift and if it's softened over time (not too much time, I don't think I can take feeling EVERY pebble on every road)

Anything would be appreciated!

[RedYJ]

Welcome to the world of lifted YJ's... I don't have a rubicon express lift but all springs will soften with time, I think mine have softened up since I got my lift a year ago.  I don't think losening the bolts will help your ride quality much.  I have a general rule of not to drive hungover.  Remeber you bought a YJ not a caddy so don't expect much.

[HIWYH8R]

Yep like he said. I have a 4" rube express and my ride is definately bouncy, rough, and bone jarring at times. And this is on our streets!! I sure like how spring companys advertise "your 4" lift will ride as good as stock or better". Ha, yea right  :roll:

[bae146]

Do you still have your track bars installed?  I found that when I removed mine the ride improved greatly.  the springs will soften with some use.  So i guess you need to go out and give the springs a good work out on the trail.  Get three of your largest friends to go with you!!!!

[HIWYH8R]

And make your jeep heavier. A perfect excuse to buy winch, bumpers, racks, rails, cargo storage for tools parts etc. That reallly helps it ride better  :wink:

[redbull]

Funny thing: I have a '91 YJ and installed a 2.5" RE lift last June. At first I was happy as the ride initially felt a little smoother, but for the last few months has been literally bone-jarring. I did look for some advice that suggested loosening up the shackles a bit to 70-80 ft-lbs. Didn't do too much.

On my YJ it was always the rear that felt like it was kicking me in the arse, so last night I installed a new set of 3/8" lift greasable shackles in the rear and so far the ride seems way better. Could be a combination of the longer shackle letting the spring get longer as it compresses, and the grease in the bushing.

A side benefit of the lift shackes is that the rear had sagged a little, and now it sits just right. Anyway, so far I couldn't be happier with the ride. I'm heading on a road trip tonite in the Jeep, so I can confirm if the ride is really that much better for you tomorrow.

[redbull]

Here's my Update:

Just drove home from Saskatoon and it's like a new truck. I can't believe the ride now, it actually feels like I have a rear suspension again! The wife is very impressed.

Now the only thing to figure out is if the improvement is from the greaseable bolts, longer shackles, or both?

[HIWYH8R]

I would say it's from the shackles. I have stock shackles and no greasable bolts but I take mine apart every 6 months to grease the bushings. My ride is still very stiff and bouncy. Don't know what else to do to soften the ride. It's liveable but I'm starting to get old, as is my ride

What shackles did you put on? I could use about 1 inch higher in the back to even things out.

[Asia]

The leaves in the spring pack are also held together tightly by the U bolts that hold the spring to the axle - thus loosening the bolt in the leaf pack would do little ( seems logical to me, correct me if I'm wrong ).

I have a Skyjacker 2.5" lift and shocks with the "softride" springs and the ride was improved after I installed them.  I thought the stock springs and shocks were worse.  Yeah the ride is firm, sometimes you bounce and you notice all the rattles due to the stiffness - I chuckle and laugh - yeah its pretty crude, but I like it stiff.   I like to feel the contact with the road.

'95 YJ

[redbull]

What shackles did you put on? I could use about 1 inch higher in the back to even things out.

I was looking at the Boomerang shackles (M.O.R.E. and Currie) you see in the mags/online and such. But, anything you buy is stupid expensive ($100 a pair) especially for anything with greasable bolts. Then I found "Dog Leg" shackles on sale at Modern Motors. Not as much of a bend as the boomerang, but it's there and they are braced with a bolt in section. Came with the greaseable bolts. I think they are 5/16" steel too. They are just 3/4" over stock length which gives exactly the 3/8" lift I wanted. They had 2 pair left so I grabbed them both. Only put them on the rear so far and the Jeep sits more level now, I might not use the other pair, but I will use the bolts.

The brand is CROWN and the part# is 52040415KHD.

[Mark_93YJ]

If you don't want the other pair, drop me a PM.  I'm looking for a pair just like what your described.  Don't need the bolts.

Mark.