97 Tahoe with lowrider bounce

[61_FL_Apache]

After installing 2" drop springs on the front and cutting the bump stops in half, the front end is still bouncing. I have about a 1/2-3/4" gap at the bump stop. If I make the gap larger, the tires will hit the fenders. I went with a shorter shock, but that may be my issue.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Kudzupatch]

Taller springs, shorter tires, same stance and more suspension travel. From what you are describing you have less than 1" suspension travel and that is nothing! You have to be bottoming out on the bump stops constantly!

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by Kudzupatch

Taller springs, shorter tires, same stance and more suspension travel. From what you are describing you have less than 1" suspension travel and that is nothing! You have to be bottoming out on the bump stops constantly!

I have a shorter tire than stock. I can make the bump stops smaller, but I run the risk of the tires hitting the wheel wells.

Would a stiffer shock help this?

[1badgmc]

Have you not replaced the shocks with drop shocks? If not, you need to.

[b454rat]

I lowered a truck 2.5" and didn't bottom out, something ain't right

[Kudzupatch]

I have to agree, something doesn't add up. Bounce could be that your shocks are not adequate, not dampening the recoil enough. But if you have less than 1" suspension travel you need to address that first. If you are going to drive it you are going to be constantly bottoming out against the frame and it is never going to ride good.

Mine is a 93 with 2" drop spindles and 1" springs and it rides like a new one. Have not measured but a lot more travel than 1"!

[61_FL_Apache]

I used a shorter shock so I know that is not bottoming out, but they are stock shocks for a vehicle similar weight to mine.

[61_FL_Apache]

Here is a current picture of the bump stops.



These are the shorter shocks I installed. They are Monroe Matics.



Springs installed with the tire off the ground.

[61_FL_Apache]

I trimmed off about 3/8" of the bump stops and took it for a ride.. It make a noticeable difference. I have removed a total of 5/8" of the bump stops.



I still think I need a better quality of drop shocks. When the budget permits, I will look into them.

Thanks for all your input!!

[b454rat]

That's more than a 2" drop spring.....

[Kudzupatch]

I looked at mine and I forgot that the bump stops are back toward the inside of the A-arms, being back where they are, even with a 1" gap there is more than 1" of suspension travel.

Even so, it is obvious you are still bottoming out on the stops. A shorter or softer bump stop might help the ride BUT it should only hit the bump stops on REALLY HARD bumps. Like a big hole in the road. If you are hitting the stops now, when you hit something hard you are going to rattle the whole truck and that will get old fast! Not to mention it can't be good for the vehicle.

This is why I like drop spindles over springs. You don't loose suspension travel with spindles. Mine came with 2" drop spindles and 2" drop springs with the stock size tires. I didn't like the tires scrubbing on hard bumps and occasional bottoming out. (rode fine otherwise) So I add a 1" lift on the springs, swapped out the front tires for some 2" smaller in diameter and I kept the same stance. I gained tire clearance and added 1" of suspension travel. Now the only time it bottoms out is those really bad pot holes are something similar.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by b454rat

That's more than a 2" drop spring.....

The front was lowered exactly 2" with these springs.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by Kudzupatch

I looked at mine and I forgot that the bump stops are back toward the inside of the A-arms, being back where they are, even with a 1" gap there is more than 1" of suspension travel.

Even so, it is obvious you are still bottoming out on the stops. A shorter or softer bump stop might help the ride BUT it should only hit the bump stops on REALLY HARD bumps. Like a big hole in the road. If you are hitting the stops now, when you hit something hard you are going to rattle the whole truck and that will get old fast! Not to mention it can't be good for the vehicle.

This is why I like drop spindles over springs. You don't loose suspension travel with spindles. Mine came with 2" drop spindles and 2" drop springs with the stock size tires. I didn't like the tires scrubbing on hard bumps and occasional bottoming out. (rode fine otherwise) So I add a 1" lift on the springs, swapped out the front tires for some 2" smaller in diameter and I kept the same stance. I gained tire clearance and added 1" of suspension travel. Now the only time it bottoms out is those really bad pot holes are something similar.

I agree with the spindles, but springs fit my budget better. I will work on a different shock package to see if that helps. The Nitro Drop shocks were some I was looking at.

[mixermike]

Just went thru this on a 98 Tahoe I purchased. I changed out the front shocks to KYB GAS-A-JUST #kg5478. Very happy with these shocks. They firmed up the ride just right

[Tom]

You didn't buy deutsch tech front shocks. Until then the ride will probably suck. It did with mine using both stock and toxic brand drop shocks. This is my bumpstop with 2" springs [don't mind the falling coil spring isolator] and 245/50/17 tires. I do not bottem out.

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by mixermike

Just went thru this on a 98 Tahoe I purchased. I changed out the front shocks to KYB GAS-A-JUST #kg5478. Very happy with these shocks. They firmed up the ride just right

Thanks for the shock tip. Does your truck have a 2" drop also?

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by Tom

You didn't buy deutsch tech front shocks. Until then the ride will probably suck. It did with mine using both stock and toxic brand drop shocks. This is my bumpstop with 2" springs [don't mind the falling coil spring isolator] and 245/50/17 tires. I do not bottem out.

I did a little more trimming on my bump stops again today.. Now its level with the smaller side of the stop.

[mixermike]

Yep spindles and 2"drop springs

[likaroc13]

I have a 4" front drop using spindles/springs on my Tahoe. My bump stops are trimmed down pretty low, & I run Belltech Street Performance shocks (highly recommend). I've never bottomed out since owning mine.