[D1] Best Mall-Rated Suspension Setup?

[macklow]

I'm looking for ideas for the best highway suspension setup. I've come to the sad conclusion that in the 210,000+ plus miles I've put on my '95, very few are off-pavement, and those that are off-pavement are pretty much exclusively forest service roads or dirt "4x4" roads in the national parks, or the back roads of Baja. The biggest obstacles I'm likely to run across are washboard roads or maybe a road that's been washed out.

I'm looking for something firmer than I have right now... too much swaying for my taste, making the 20hr (straight driving time) road trips a bit more tiring than I'd like. I'm running stock springs (Allmakes brand) and pro-comp es9000 shocks (both brand new). These replaced OME MD springs and OME heavy-duty shocks in the front and OME MD shocks in the back. Replacing the tired old OME shocks with the pro-comps helped a bit, not as much as I'd hoped.

Any ideas? I'd like to keep stock-height springs, because I get vibes even with the minimal OME springs (I do have a DC driveshaft in the front). Bilsteins? Koni heavy tracks? New anti-sway arms (do they ever "wear out")?

 

[95d1]

Get new bushings and take the vibes....or don't and deal with sway. The big blues are supposed to be close to stock but sag after a while.

 

[racerwad]

unless the sways are broken, they themselves won't wear out but their bushings could. you could also consider polyurethane bushings throughout. that would take away some "slop" in your suspension. to reduce roll though you're going to need to 1)get firmer springs, 2)adjust the valving on your shocks, and 3)get larger diameter sway bars.

all of the above are fairly difficult to do on your rover and it's contrary to the overall off highway market. that being said, you could see if RTE would make some stock height springs in a heavier rate. the only danger there is that spring rates require a fair amount of experimentation to get it right and you're the guniea pig.

the koni shocks might be the most helpful as they are adjustable. i'd say give them a try.

the sways would have to be custom made-again, spendy and requires some experimentation to determine what diameter is best.

you could acknowledge that you're driving an SUV with solid axles so the body roll is inevitable. maybe a new car for the application at hand? a nice S6 if you need some cargo room? good luck.

andy

 

[DeMak]

I changed tires on my Jeep Cherokee, from Goodyear Wrangler P215/75R15 to Winston Classic P225/70R15 on the advise of the guy at Winston. That improved the control and ride.

20 HOUR drive! I thought I was a maniac. I used to drive from L. A. to Santa Fe, NM (12 to 14 hr); L. A. to Eugene OR (12 to 14 hr); L. A. to Eureka, CA (11 hrs); Grand Junction, CO to L. A. (20 hrs ?). Now I'm older, my back is worse and wallet is fatter, so I stop.

Doug

 

[Dallas]

Urathane bushings will remove some slop but will also transfer more vibration and noise. Firmer valved shocks, will take out some of the sway, also by going to a tire with stiffer sidewalls ( usually a tire with a larger load rating) will also remove some of the initial roll going into a corner. Maybe A montube shock with the stock springs would be the chepest way to firm up the suspension.

 

[Rocky]

Replace all the bushings will make a HUGE difference to the truck.

If you don't need the lift going for perhaps the stock Height HD front springs with stock rear plus OME or Bilstein shocks would be good