Anyone have a bumpy ride with a 3" Body Lift?

[Mr. Bossley]

So I bought my 08 FX4 Offroad a few months back with 128000Kms on it. It's only got a 3 inch body lift and 285/75/R16's (33's). The truck is awesome. The only thing I noticed is the bouncy ride even on relativley smooth roads. It kind of comes and goes and gets worse around 60km/h. But I've noticed it at different speeds as well.

Since I bought it I've replaced a bunch of stuff but the only things I've done to the suspension are new Bilstein shocks all around and a torsion key leveling kit, which I only adjusted to about 1.5" higher than stock. I did them at the same time and didn't notice a difference in the ride quality except potholes being a bit smoother. Still feels bouncy occasionally though.

Last time I jacked up my truck I noticed that there is some play in the front wheels. Turns out I need new front wheel bearings. So I've got some new Timkens on the way. Hopefully that fixes the problem.

My question is has anybody else noticed a difference in ride quality with a body lift? Or is it probably something unrelated?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Does it have wheel weights? Could be a tire issue.

I put new (to me) tires on my GMC and used 9oz of 20g airsoft BB's, and I have a bounce right around 40-45mph on perfectly smooth roads. Same rhythm, on several roads across the state of Mi.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Yes it has wheel weights. So your saying it could just be that one of my wheels is out of balance? That would be alright. I could just live with it till I switch back to my winter tires in 5 months. Then get them re balanced.

 

[enjr44]

I have found that overly stiff shocks will cause a very bumpy/choppy ride. Our roads are not as smooth as we imagine.

With stiff off-road shocks you will feel every bump and dip in the road surface. Maybe???

 

[02Fx4red]

A body lift doesn't change the way it rides other than a bit more body roll around corners because of the higher center of gravity.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

A body lift doesn't change the way it rides other than a bit more body roll around corners because of the higher center of gravity.

Thats what I thought. It probably has to do with wheel balancing then.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Did both my front hub assembly's on the weekend. They had quite a bit of play in them. Now the front end does feel a bit "tighter" which is nice. I still got the vibrations though. I went on a little road trip and found that I get the vibrations between 60-70 km/h and between 100 - 110 km/h. They're obviously a lot more intense at 100.

Then I took a look underneath to check my universal joints and they're solid. But while I was down there I found a very little dent in the rear drive shaft. Not sure if this could be the cause or not. I have been told that the slightest imperfection in your drive shaft can cause vibrations. But now I'm wondering if something hit hard enough to put a dent the drive shaft could it have done damage to the rear diff? How fragile are those things?

 

[Elutheros]

I live in Texas where heat can destroy a set of tires in a few years and I found that the only answer to fixing vibration on my former BII was to replace the tires. The belts had begun to separate even though the tires looked great. I balanced them a couple times before I finally got new tires and presto--vibration gone. I also replaced the horrible old driveshaft which had CV joints with a better setup built from a front Explorer DS and that help the vibration issue too.

 

[enjr44]

There are some tires that just cannot be balanced. Bought a new set for the 91 and the truck jumped all over the place. Took them back three times. Finally, had to go to a different brand and bang, everything good. They wouldn't say the tires were bad. Just that they couldn't balance them. All I knew was it not there before they put those tires on it.

Another story. Put new tires on the wife's Pilot. Paid around a $900 for them. I hardly ever drive it. So about a month later, we take it for a day trip. It had what I thought was a tire vibration? Took it back and they rebalanced the tires. It was worse. They did it again, still bad. Finally, took it to Honda, figuring there must be something else wrong. They said everything was good except the tires were out of balance. They rebalanced them and everything was good. All balance machines need periodic calibration. If it is not done, or the operator doesn't know how to set it up for the specific tire/wheel combination you won't get a good outcome.

Out of balance tires are typically felt between 50 and 65 mph. Below 50 and usually it is not spinning fast enough to jump around. Above 65 and the tire/suspension absorbs it. So don't discount the tires yet, especially, since you just put new tires on it.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

I live in Texas where heat can destroy a set of tires in a few years and I found that the only answer to fixing vibration on my former BII was to replace the tires. The belts had begun to separate even though the tires looked great. I balanced them a couple times before I finally got new tires and presto--vibration gone. I also replaced the horrible old driveshaft which had CV joints with a better setup built from a front Explorer DS and that help the vibration issue too.

I live in Canada so I guess i'll find out when the snow flies and I put my winters on.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

There are some tires that just cannot be balanced. Bought a new set for the 91 and the truck jumped all over the place. Took them back three times. Finally, had to go to a different brand and bang, everything good. They wouldn't say the tires were bad. Just that they couldn't balance them. All I knew was it not there before they put those tires on it.

Another story. Put new tires on the wife's Pilot. Paid around a $900 for them. I hardly ever drive it. So about a month later, we take it for a day trip. It had what I thought was a tire vibration? Took it back and they rebalanced the tires. It was worse. They did it again, still bad. Finally, took it to Honda, figuring there must be something else wrong. They said everything was good except the tires were out of balance. They rebalanced them and everything was good. All balance machines need periodic calibration. If it is not done, or the operator doesn't know how to set it up for the specific tire/wheel combination you won't get a good outcome.

Out of balance tires are typically felt between 50 and 65 mph. Below 50 and usually it is not spinning fast enough to jump around. Above 65 and the tire/suspension absorbs it. So don't discount the tires yet, especially, since you just put new tires on it.

Ya I actually bought the truck with these tires on it so I've never driven with different ones on. Like I said in my previous post, I'll see if I still get vibrations with my winter tires on.

 

[enjr44]

Does it have wheel weights? Could be a tire issue.

I put new (to me) tires on my GMC and used 9oz of 20g airsoft BB's, and I have a bounce right around 40-45mph on perfectly smooth roads. Same rhythm, on several roads across the state of Mi.

Captain,
Please explain the "used 9oz of 20g airsoft BB's". I don't understand what you did?
Thanks, Ed

 

[Captain Ledd]

Captain,
Please explain the "used 9oz of 20g airsoft BB's". I don't understand what you did?
Thanks, Ed

Gladly!

You pop the tire bead off the rim and pour in a specified amount of weight, usually higher quality/weight airsoft BB's, some use steel BB's, and even some of the guys running huge tires (40"+) use golf balls! There are also products out there that are supposed to be made for use inside of tires, but are little different than high quality/weight airsoft BB's.

I don't completely understand the exact mechanics of it, but I was sworn to by others that did it that it worked, so I tried it and it actually does work.

So now if there's some ice buildup in my rim, or a rock, or mud, the BB's automatically move around the inside of the tire to compensate giving a smooth ride! I did the same to my trailer's tires.

 

[FritzTKatt]

Have you ran through a set of tires with the BB's or whatever may be in the tire? I'd be concerned, especially if you used steel BB's that they would eventually act as an abrasive and destroy the tire from the inside out. When you pop the bead will bits of rubber fall out with the BBs?

 

[Captain Ledd]

Have you ran through a set of tires with the BB's or whatever may be in the tire? I'd be concerned, especially if you used steel BB's that they would eventually act as an abrasive and destroy the tire from the inside out. When you pop the bead will bits of rubber fall out with the BBs?

Not yet, the GMC does a lot of sitting (8-12 MPG, my Ranger does high 20's) and I was concerned about ice in the winter (I'm in Michigan and the wheels have trim rings). And I specifically used the Airsoft BB's because they were plastic, soft and comparatively light (less impact per BB), I was afraid of the steel ones abrading down the inside of the rim and rusting it out from the inside as well as eating the tire. But really it should be the same rubber as on the outside that contacts the ground (which seems to wear pretty well) only thinner, so it should take it without much of a problem.

They were junkyard tires that I got for about $35 apiece with rims.

Here's another post of mine in the wheels and tire forum:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153873