Shocks
11-08-2017, 11:01 PM
#11
Member
Thread Starter
11-09-2017, 08:07 AM
#12
Senior Member
Bolts to the rear axle thru u bolts and to the frame via metal rod links. It will be obvious if it is there.
11-09-2017, 09:42 AM
#13
Senior Member
High quality shocks make the biggest difference on those trucks. I never really felt like those trucks drove like boats, and I've had trucks with and without sway bars. The sway bars just makes the truck feal more planted while cornering, IMO. A front one is pretty much mandatory, rear helps more with a load on than not. If your prime use is off-road you may not want sway bars. Sometimes a crappy tire will make a truck wallow a bit, especially if the previous owner skimped and put P tires on it. The steering on those trucks is not known for its precision. This is a good point to get familiar with in case you get pulled over for "weaving". Make sure all the wear points on the front are tight. If you need to replace something use the best parts you can get, the front end of those trucks is not where you want to go cheap. Do it right and you'll only have do it once. I love those older trucks, the only reason I got rid of my '96 was rust in the cab corners
11-09-2017, 10:12 AM
#14
Senior Member
I think maybe we need to define "riding like a boat." To me, riding like a boat suggests that you go around a corner and the whole body tips and rocks like you are on a boat.
If that is what we are talking about, then newer better shocks are not going to make a lick of difference. Shocks are only there for dampening purposes.
The thing that is going to stiffen up the ride and make it feel like a car instead of a boat is new springs and/or the addition of sway bars. Get yourself some good coils up front, a front and rear sway bar, and some poly bushings, and it will feel like a mustang around corners.
For off-road applications I agree with the above poster, sway bars may not be the best bet because they greatly reduce suspension travel, especially in the front.
I am not trying to **** in anyone's pool, just want to clarify what we are actually talking about here.
If that is what we are talking about, then newer better shocks are not going to make a lick of difference. Shocks are only there for dampening purposes.
The thing that is going to stiffen up the ride and make it feel like a car instead of a boat is new springs and/or the addition of sway bars. Get yourself some good coils up front, a front and rear sway bar, and some poly bushings, and it will feel like a mustang around corners.
For off-road applications I agree with the above poster, sway bars may not be the best bet because they greatly reduce suspension travel, especially in the front.
I am not trying to **** in anyone's pool, just want to clarify what we are actually talking about here.
The following 2 users liked this post by BLDTruth:
Energized (11-11-2017),
justintendo (11-11-2017)
11-09-2017, 10:54 AM
#15
Member
Thread Starter
High quality shocks make the biggest difference on those trucks. I never really felt like those trucks drove like boats, and I've had trucks with and without sway bars. The sway bars just makes the truck feal more planted while cornering, IMO. A front one is pretty much mandatory, rear helps more with a load on than not. If your prime use is off-road you may not want sway bars. Sometimes a crappy tire will make a truck wallow a bit, especially if the previous owner skimped and put P tires on it. The steering on those trucks is not known for its precision. This is a good point to get familiar with in case you get pulled over for "weaving". Make sure all the wear points on the front are tight. If you need to replace something use the best parts you can get, the front end of those trucks is not where you want to go cheap. Do it right and you'll only have do it once. I love those older trucks, the only reason I got rid of my '96 was rust in the cab corners
11-09-2017, 02:39 PM
#16
Senior Member
An anti sway bar is made of spring steel, just like springs they can weaken over the years. Though the bushing usually goes first. Start with a good shock, if your truck has the original springs you may want to change those. The fronts are cheap and easy. You can tighten up that truck, just depends how much you want to spend
11-11-2017, 12:34 PM
#17
Senior Member
poly front axle pivot bushings and radius arm bushings also help.
personally i feel the handling is very unbalanced on these with only a front or a rear bar. it needs to have both...or if you offroad a ton, have them both off.
The following users liked this post:
BLDTruth (11-11-2017)
11-11-2017, 07:56 PM
#18
I think maybe we need to define "riding like a boat." To me, riding like a boat suggests that you go around a corner and the whole body tips and rocks like you are on a boat.
If that is what we are talking about, then newer better shocks are not going to make a lick of difference. Shocks are only there for dampening purposes.
The thing that is going to stiffen up the ride and make it feel like a car instead of a boat is new springs and/or the addition of sway bars. Get yourself some good coils up front, a front and rear sway bar, and some poly bushings, and it will feel like a mustang around corners.
For off-road applications I agree with the above poster, sway bars may not be the best bet because they greatly reduce suspension travel, especially in the front.
I am not trying to **** in anyone's pool, just want to clarify what we are actually talking about here.
If that is what we are talking about, then newer better shocks are not going to make a lick of difference. Shocks are only there for dampening purposes.
The thing that is going to stiffen up the ride and make it feel like a car instead of a boat is new springs and/or the addition of sway bars. Get yourself some good coils up front, a front and rear sway bar, and some poly bushings, and it will feel like a mustang around corners.
For off-road applications I agree with the above poster, sway bars may not be the best bet because they greatly reduce suspension travel, especially in the front.
I am not trying to **** in anyone's pool, just want to clarify what we are actually talking about here.
I'm thinking he's probably feeling body roll, most everything comes with low profile tires now, especially if all you are used to are cars, the high sidewall you will always notice.
The following users liked this post:
BLDTruth (11-11-2017)
11-12-2017, 09:18 AM
#19
Senior Member
I think expensive shocks are a waste of money on these trucks for 98% of its use. Just one man's opinion. If you are hauling or towing then maybe some load handlers would be a good choice. If its an aggressive adventure seeker then the extra money is probably worth it for some good 4x4 shocks.
I have 6 shocks on my truck, so when I went looking for replacements I was keen on not spending $80-100 each. I found the KYB excel-g for about $25 apiece on rockauto. So $150 for all new shocks. They are better than OEM, and have handled every country road I have thrown at them.
Money would be better spent on springs, poly bushings, alignment, etc. My $.02.
11-12-2017, 02:59 PM
#20
I have the Monroe gas shocks same as the OP, As far as i can tell they do an admirable job, the front end has never had any work done but it feels tight still ( only has 120.000 miles , which isn't really a ton ), i'm sure i could swap out the bushings and that would show improvement but it is a truck, unless i totally modify the suspension and switch to low profile sporty tires with stiffer components it's always gonna ride a lot different than my little rice rocket car that sits 6 or 8 inches off the ground.