Lowered bump stops

[Kudzupatch]

I asked in Suspensions but no answers. Maybe someone with a similar truck has run into this. My 93 Suburban which I assume is very similar to the pick ups, has Bell Tech flip kit, notch and spring hangers in the rear. Everything appears in good shape but there is only about 2-3/4" travel metal to metal.

Not a problem very often but I travel in this vehicle and sometimes it is loaded down with gear and a small trailer. Main on the Interstate I hit bridge transition or just a nasty hole in the road and bottom out. At 70 mph it can slam pretty darn hard and rare see it in time to slow down.



The bump stop is thin and worn out so it is a hard hit even with the air overloads. So I am looking at replacement bump stops, trying to find something larger and softer that will take some of engery out of the hit. Red urethane is harder and I expect even less cushioning. So I thinking rubber bumper is a better choice but unsure of what size/shape. I think I need something thicker to have more absorption but of course I am very limited on size.

Looking at something shaped like this but rubber. Anyone tried one?



I ran across these and sounds like they are made to absorb the hit like I am experiencing. Cheap enough but would really like to hear from someone that has been through this and what they found that worked.



http://www.belltech.com/bump-stop-kit.html

[Tom]

I also didn't like the bumpstop slam, so I added helper airbags. No more botteming out even with two motorcycles in the bed.

[JWall]

I remembered seeing these "cushioned bump stops" in a magazine a long time ago... http://www.airbagit.com/Cushioned-So...bumpstop-3.htm

BUT I know nothing about them & also do not do business with airbagit.com so there is my disclaimer

[Kudzupatch]

I guess I am going to have to play Guinea Pig and order a set. Not that expensive at least.

BTW, I have the Ari Ride overloads on it. I usually keep 10 lbs in them because it rides so good that way. If I keep enough air to prevent any bottoming then the back end is jacked up. So I don't do that except when I am loaded and even them it can still bottom out but of course not near as hard.

[Tom]

Crazy. I normally run around 15lbs as 10lbs will still bottem out unloaded. The weird part is the more weight I put in and up the air pressure, the softer the ride gets and it never bottems out. Hope these new stops work out for ya!

[Kudzupatch]

Probably the difference is Suburbans weight and the PU's. I am seriously thinking about adding the onboard compressor. Would be so nice to just hit a switch and add or remove air.

Ordered the Bell Tech stops, should be here by the weekend. I will let the air out and see what happens when it bottoms out and report back.

[91short]

Are you running shocks with your setup? Do you have smaller air bags? I have no experience with airbags, only heard different things from guys that have. The size of the bag will play a part in the quality of the ride. Are you also on fullsize chevy . com? May be more info on there if you search. Nevermind, I just re-read your original post and see that you have a flip kit, for some reason I was think it was just the bag set up and no springs. Are your shocks stiff enough / still good? That notch doesn't look as big as what my djm kit came with.

[Kudzupatch]

Got the new Bell Tech stops installed yesterday. Should have been a simple job but the one on the drivers side was rusted. All the fuel lines and electrical come down that side on top of it. Had to put a block in place and jack up the car to keep the old stop from turning. 30+ minutes to get that one replace and 3 minutes TOPS for the other side.

To early to tell but I think these are going to be the way to go. Turns out the old ones were Red Urethane and in good shape. Just covered in black road dirt. But hitting them with a hammer made me realize how stupid urethane bump stops are. There is NO cushion there.

Hit the new Bell Tech and the hammer bounces back off, the stop goes flying from the release of energy. Amazes me we have been duped into thinking urethane is better. They are better than metal to metal, but they really have no cushioning.

Time will tell but this HAS to be much better!

[dragginmetal]

Hitting bump stops is a bad thing. If your hitting them you need more suspension travel. Deeper notch. Their not made to ride on.

[Tom]

Yeah they are only made to keep apart metal to metal, the suspension us supposed to do all the impact absorption. And in that respect urathane is the way to go, it can take the impacts without coming apart over time.