Formula for comfy poser highway ride

[winkosmosis]

Some of these suggestions are confusing.

You need NO lift and STOCK springs, and the softest shocks you can get. Not heavy duty anything. Heavy duty shocks = rougher ride. Stiffer springs = rough ride. Lift = rough ride (because of the suspension geometry).

 

[casm]

You need NO lift and STOCK springs, and the softest shocks you can get.

Not necessarily. More:

Not heavy duty anything. Heavy duty shocks = rougher ride. Stiffer springs = rough ride. Lift = rough ride (because of the suspension geometry).

Softer shocks do not automatically equate to a more comfortable ride. Remember that they have to work in tandem with the rest of the suspension, mainly the springs. If the springs are themselves too soft or too stiff, what the shocks are meant to do typically becomes progressively less relevant the further out from spec the springs are and vice-versa, though it is also possible for them to become a greater contributing factor to undesirable suspension behaviour in this instance.

The trick is to find a combination of both that work well together. While it's true that large amounts of lift on an XJ can introduce harsher ride qualities than stock, the smaller ones (typically two inches or less) are usually close enough to stock that the differences - while noticeable - are pretty much negligible in practice, and may be an improvement over the standard factory springs in many ways.

Finally, wanting a 'better ride' is a subjective measurement: compared to most people, I tend to prefer somewhat firmer suspension, but it's hard to know where the OP's tastes fall in relation to mine (or anyone else's, for that matter) when all what was requested was a 'comfy ride'. That's something that's different for everyone, and since we don't have an absolute grasp on what's meant by that, it's dangerous to make recommendations without objective end goals.

 

[Shorty]

wanting a 'better ride' is a subjective measurement: compared to most people, I tend to prefer somewhat firmer suspension, but it's hard to know where the OP's tastes fall in relation to mine (or anyone else's, for that matter) when all what was requested was a 'comfy ride'. That's something that's different for everyone, and since we don't have an absolute grasp on what's meant by that, it's dangerous to make recommendations without objective end goals.

well put!:worship:

My definition of being comfortable in a vehicle is when I get direct and accurate input from the chassis and steering concerning how the vehicle is handling. Soft, cushy, suspensions and light effort steering systems tend to deaden the input which results in less "comfort" when driving.

some people would rather feel like they are floating along without any idea what kind of road surface they are on while others would prefer to feel the terrain and get comfort from being prepared to react to emergencies based on conditions.

 

[kastein]

Agreed.

I absolutely hate the feeling of floating and not having a good feel for what is under the vehicle. I have a '10 mercury grand marquis rental for the business trip I'm on right now and I can't stand the thing, I much prefer my XJ with ~4" of lift, especially now that it has longer shackles so the shackle angle and range of motion is better. I'd rather do 80mph in the XJ than the merc.

Of course, the mercury was built for a different target market...

 

[winkosmosis]

Not necessarily. More:



Softer shocks do not automatically equate to a more comfortable ride. Remember that they have to work in tandem with the rest of the suspension, mainly the springs. If the springs are themselves too soft or too stiff, what the shocks are meant to do typically becomes progressively less relevant the further out from spec the springs are and vice-versa, though it is also possible for them to become a greater contributing factor to undesirable suspension behaviour in this instance.

The trick is to find a combination of both that work well together. While it's true that large amounts of lift on an XJ can introduce harsher ride qualities than stock, the smaller ones (typically two inches or less) are usually close enough to stock that the differences - while noticeable - are pretty much negligible in practice, and may be an improvement over the standard factory springs in many ways.

Finally, wanting a 'better ride' is a subjective measurement: compared to most people, I tend to prefer somewhat firmer suspension, but it's hard to know where the OP's tastes fall in relation to mine (or anyone else's, for that matter) when all what was requested was a 'comfy ride'. That's something that's different for everyone, and since we don't have an absolute grasp on what's meant by that, it's dangerous to make recommendations without objective end goals.

Since the stock shocks work fine, I don't see why you'd want firmer shocks. They won't do anything but make the ride worse.


The ride harshness with lift comes from geometry, not just spring stiffness. I definitely noticed the difference when I put 2" spacers on the WJ I had. Up front, the angle of the control arms forces the wheels forward into every bump they hit. You can't get away from the geometry and physics.

And you get no benefit from the control arm angle. All it does is increase harshness and stress on the unibody. It doesn't help handling etc.

 

[casm]

Since the stock shocks work fine, I don't see why you'd want firmer shocks. They won't do anything but make the ride worse.

This statement is very subjective: what you may consider too firm may be what I consider about right, and vice-versa. This is the point I was making earlier regarding giving recommendations on what provides the 'best' ride quality; it won't be the same for everyone involved, and is dependent on more factors than just the shocks alone.

The ride harshness with lift comes from geometry, not just spring stiffness.

True, lift geometry will adversely affect ride harshness beyond a certain point past the stock median if that geometry is outside of reasonable tolerances or has not been corrected. But so will spring and shock rates and quality, as well as the condition of other components in the suspension. Granted, some will have a more immediately-perceptible effect than others, but they all contribute to the overall ride quality.

I definitely noticed the difference when I put 2" spacers on the WJ I had. Up front, the angle of the control arms forces the wheels forward into every bump they hit.

Okay... But that's contrary to my experience with an XJ on the standard stock springs and shocks and an XJ with Up-Country springs and shocks (1" over standard). YMMV. More:

You can't get away from the geometry and physics.

Absolutely. But your experience with the WJ - while valid for that particular vehicle - doesn't necessarily translate directly to the XJ. The front suspension has a similar layout, but the rears don't have much in common from a layout perspective, and the stock spring and shock rates are neccesarily different between the two.

And you get no benefit from the control arm angle. All it does is increase harshness and stress on the unibody. It doesn't help handling etc.

At 1" to 2" of lift on an XJ, it's really not going to be much of an issue in practice.

 

[collkid]

Bilstien Shocks - the "heavy duty" yellow jobbies. Rancho 9000's instead?
Grand Cherokee seats.
NAPA "quiet flow" muffler (mine's shot).
Michelin LTX M&S tires (stock 225's).

Any input is appreciated.

UH Yes! Just put in some ZJ seats and they are SOOOO much more comfortable.

 

[MaxxTraxx]

I ran GoodYear Silent Armors on my 01 TJ, 35's, and loved them. They worked great in the slushy/icy stuff we get here in DFW. I had a locker in the rear and even in 1st in the slush it was a chore to get the rear end to slide through a corner....they hook up really well.
50,000 mile warranty, smooth ride, work well off road also.

 

[Ronbo]

x3 on the soft spring comments. The firmer factory Up Country parts make for a far better ride IMO than the softest factory springs.

 

[winkosmosis]

This statement is very subjective: what you may consider too firm may be what I consider about right, and vice-versa. This is the point I was making earlier regarding giving recommendations on what provides the 'best' ride quality; it won't be the same for everyone involved, and is dependent on more factors than just the shocks alone.

He said comfy though, not sports car firm ride.

True, lift geometry will adversely affect ride harshness beyond a certain point past the stock median if that geometry is outside of reasonable tolerances or has not been corrected. But so will spring and shock rates and quality, as well as the condition of other components in the suspension. Granted, some will have a more immediately-perceptible effect than others, but they all contribute to the overall ride quality.

Stock, the control arms are exactly horizontal. Hit a bump and the tire goes straight up then gradually rearward. With even a small lift, you are changing that completely. The tire now gets forced forward into the bump. Imagine a motorcycle fork tilted the opposite direction.

Okay... But that's contrary to my experience with an XJ on the standard stock springs and shocks and an XJ with Up-Country springs and shocks (1" over standard). YMMV. More:

With 1" the ride may be only slightly worse, but still worse.

Absolutely. But your experience with the WJ - while valid for that particular vehicle - doesn't necessarily translate directly to the XJ. The front suspension has a similar layout, but the rears don't have much in common from a layout perspective, and the stock spring and shock rates are neccesarily different between the two.



At 1" to 2" of lift on an XJ, it's really not going to be much of an issue in practice.

I was only talking about the front end of the WJ. You can definitely feel a difference. WJ and XJ front geometry are identical and both vehicles have horizontal control arms in stock form.

The WJ rear rides better with the lift because the control arm angles help.

BTW the only reason I brought up the WJ is that I don't have a fair comparison for the XJ, because when I lifted 2" I did it with stiffer Old Man Emu springs instead of pucks.