Outer Limits 4x4 Board

got a GQ with 2'' body 3'' spring with dual rancho shockers with hydrlic bumpstops, rig is way to soft even when set on firm.
what ya surgest!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your shocks don't stiffen up the suspension. It's your springs. How old are they and which ones did you put in. They may be just old and need replacing or you haven't used the right ones to get the ride that you want.

Shocks are designed to dampen the springs oscilations. Even with stiff shocks a soft spring will still show through as soft, but its cycling will be more heavily dampened than a softer valved shock absorber. Think of a shock as a dampener, controling the springs cycling.

Layto....

Didn't bogged suggest a search in this forum rather than a thread?

got rig as is not long ago, it got dobsions springs, maybe try king springs?
what a good spring to go for, not hard more medeum.

The guys at Dobinsons are very good and so are their springs. It's not the brand that is the problem it is the size and turn of the springs. Give Dobinsons a call on 07 49277444 and have a chat to them. This is their head office and the factory where they make their springs in Rockhampton. Let them know what diameter your current springs are. They will be different from front to back. They'll also ask you what accessories you have fitted to the truck.

cool thanks for ur help.

As toughnut has said, if your coils are too soft it isn't the brand just that the spring rate that you have isn't the one you need.

For a 3 inch lift GQ I recommend Dobinsons shocks for $95 each. If you are shock racist and don't want Dobinsons then 2nd choice EFS for same price. If not then Procomps are just as good for $120 each. There are others but these are the shocks that are the best quality for the best price and they will outlast any Rancho.

Shane

First thing to remember, the spring suspends the vehicle, the shock controls the movement, so if the vehicle sits where you want it, then its up to the shock to stop the vehicle movement gathering momentum.

Depending on your usage, buur a generic type oil shcok isnt going to be your best solution with hyd bump stops, and what you can do is limited only by your budget.

Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage.

The only reason you should need 2 shocks a corner, is if you want coil over, and bypass adjustable, which cant be combined, or your using a generic shock, and trying to control the movement.

If your running hyd bumps, then they should be internally spaced, so your only using about 40mm of the bump, as it comes on the bump stop, and mounted as such, because hyd bumps arent designed to be part of your shock travel, and will over work the shock if set up incorrectly.

We have found the Ridepro valving, if using a "generic' shock to work well, if wanting twins in the front, and the comp shock as a bolt on rear, giving alot more travel, and the valving controlling the vehicle movement.

Bilstein are the good option, available for up to 4" lift on Patrol, and no need to run twins with these, so cost isnt as bad as it would seem vs running doubles of cheaper generic shocks.

The next step in a single shock of good quality is a smoothie, or bypass, so you can set the car up, and make it drive and handle as well as it can, which IMHO is spending the smart money, to get something that drives and handles as good as it can in the long run.

ats4x4dotcom wrote:First thing to remember, the spring suspends the vehicle, the shock controls the movement, so if the vehicle sits where you want it, then its up to the shock to stop the vehicle movement gathering momentum.

Depending on your usage, buur a generic type oil shcok isnt going to be your best solution with hyd bump stops, and what you can do is limited only by your budget.

Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage.

The only reason you should need 2 shocks a corner, is if you want coil over, and bypass adjustable, which cant be combined, or your using a generic shock, and trying to control the movement.

If your running hyd bumps, then they should be internally spaced, so your only using about 40mm of the bump, as it comes on the bump stop, and mounted as such, because hyd bumps arent designed to be part of your shock travel, and will over work the shock if set up incorrectly.

We have found the Ridepro valving, if using a "generic' shock to work well, if wanting twins in the front, and the comp shock as a bolt on rear, giving alot more travel, and the valving controlling the vehicle movement.

Bilstein are the good option, available for up to 4" lift on Patrol, and no need to run twins with these, so cost isnt as bad as it would seem vs running doubles of cheaper generic shocks.

The next step in a single shock of good quality is a smoothie, or bypass, so you can set the car up, and make it drive and handle as well as it can, which IMHO is spending the smart money, to get something that drives and handles as good as it can in the long run.

I read into the original post as the vehicle being too soft not that it moves around heaps. If this is the case then the spring rate needs to be changed rather than the compression/rebound rate. I also went on to say to chat to the guy at dobinsons because they give free advice and he is already using dobinsons springs. I have no affiliation with Dobinsons but have found the guys there to be really helpful for "generic" type suspension. I haven't pushed a type or brand anymore than you have and in fact I don't own a 4x4 business as your log on name sugests for you. So who's trying to get the sale then?????

toughnut wrote:I read into the original post as the vehicle being too soft not that it moves around heaps. If this is the case then the spring rate needs to be changed rather than the compression/rebound rate. I also went on to say to chat to the guy at dobinsons because they give free advice and he is already using dobinsons springs. I have no affiliation with Dobinsons but have found the guys there to be really helpful for "generic" type suspension. I haven't pushed a type or brand anymore than you have and in fact I don't own a 4x4 business as your log on name sugests for you. So who's trying to get the sale then?????

I wasnt actually meaning you, but thats an interesting reply your concience has got you to reply with.

The fact we happen to use what works, and that we do 4wd equipment arent sales points, but information points, thats why I didnt try and sell him on prices, so if you want anyone with a shop to stop supplying tech info on forums, then maybe you could start a forum that doesnt allow trade people to post, and see how popular it becomes?

The stuff that shane posted was good info and he is completely correct in saying that the rancho's aren't worth the money spent on a vehicle that runs twin shocks. If your reply wasn't aimed at myself then you should be a little more specific. Either way you look at it you are looking for the sale regardless of your appoach. I'm not saying that is wrong; however you shouldn't slag at someone to improve your position. By mentioning that "Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage. " puts you in the same bracket. Offering technical advice is one thing but this stepped you over the mark. By the way, what is wrong with the options provided by myself and Shane? By the way, I don't see you asking any questions about his use of the vehicle either

rochrd

Besides the ride being soft, is your ride uncomfortable, I am just trying to determine if these Rancho's are still good or not. If they are on the stiff setting you should be getting a crappy ride even with soft coils though compressing heaps over bumps. That is if you are running 2 per corner. If you are running 2 per corner you should have them on one of the softer settings and they should last forever because they are doing half the work. Even though you have Rancho's.

Another question is are they mounted straight up and down or are they on a 45 degree angle or something. This could explain the poor damping performance also.

Either way it isn't worth getting new shocks unless you know yours are cactus.

pm me your details and I will send you new 3 inch lift coils and if you like them, then you can send me the money. If you don't like them I will pay to freight them back to me so no cost to you. If you do like them you pay me $300. I am talking about a true 3 inch lift. Satifaction guaranteed. Not too stiff and not too soft but juuuuussst right.

Good Luck
Shane

toughnut wrote:By mentioning that "Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage. " puts you in the same bracket.

Maybe this works in your little world, but I dont think you can easily link what you are trying to with rational thinking.

More info than a price was offered, to try and make a decision easier on what will work best, wether we have it , or not.........

ats4x4dotcom wrote:

toughnut wrote:By mentioning that "Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage. " puts you in the same bracket.

Maybe this works in your little world, but I dont think you can easily link what you are trying to with rational thinking.

More info than a price was offered, to try and make a decision easier on what will work best, wether we have it , or not.........

Geez kids.... Stop it already, you're embaressing yourselves.. Well one of you's is anyway....

I think the point of advertising a price is to let the person know what is available for how much money so they have an idea of how much it will cost them and also to help out a fellow OL member. But now it's just turned into a bunfight. Darren there was no need for the comment about the $120 shocks people just wantiong to sell shockers. I see the original post as being a good starting point for an informative thread on his suspension..

Just my two cents worth..

PS.. Koni's are good

Ruffy wrote:

ats4x4dotcom wrote:

toughnut wrote:By mentioning that "Suggestions of $120 ish shocks here are more wanting to sell a shock, than understanding suspension, when they havent asked any questions about usage. " puts you in the same bracket.

Maybe this works in your little world, but I dont think you can easily link what you are trying to with rational thinking.

More info than a price was offered, to try and make a decision easier on what will work best, wether we have it , or not.........

Geez kids.... Stop it already, you're embaressing yourselves.. Well one of you's is anyway....

I think the point of advertising a price is to let the person know what is available for how much money so they have an idea of how much it will cost them and also to help out a fellow OL member. But now it's just turned into a bunfight. Darren there was no need for the comment about the $120 shocks people just wantiong to sell shockers. I see the original post as being a good starting point for an informative thread on his suspension..

Just my two cents worth..

PS.. Koni's are good

And your entitled to your opinion, as am I, unless your wanting to sensor anything you dont agree with?