1st Gen Durango 1998 - 2003 Durango's

Suspension Q

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 10-15-2008, 11:58 PM
shrpshtr325's Avatar
shrpshtr325
shrpshtr325 is offline
THE ULTI-MOD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Union NJ
Posts: 19,793
Received 33 Likes on 31 Posts
Default

ya you prob got till 300k miles at least that it will run w/ they way it seems that you take care of the truck for the most part it should keep going
 
  #12  
Old 10-16-2008, 12:25 AM
andyg's Avatar
andyg
andyg is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Niles Illinois
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Funny thing is is that we barely do anything to keep it going. Oil changes are usually a few hundred over which is not a big deal but the trans fluid is on my list to do because it hasn't been done in anyone's recent memory at least over 60k. The fluid is not burnt but it isnt red either it looks like water with a slight tint of orange.
 
  #13  
Old 10-16-2008, 10:33 AM
DRO318's Avatar
DRO318
DRO318 is offline
Captain
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Cool

Originally Posted by andyg
DRO318 the truck has a minor squeak in the front right when bounced. It is not noticeable when driving only when i bounce it. Would you think this as the control arm bushings or maybe just the sway bar bushings which i read a usually faulty and mine are the originals. I think my first repair will be the shocks all around.

.
I just want to say with shock you pay for what you get with shocks.
Bilstien is the way to go, trust it is worth the money.
You will never have the fac ride quality if you chose the aftermarket route.
As far as the suspension, I would start with the shocks fist as well.

The squeak can be either of the bushings. Although I lean more tward the C arm bushings, but others have had it been the sway bar.
I bought Energy Suspension sway bar bushings from auto zone for less than 30 bucks. You may want to replace the end links while your down there, they are cheap as well
 
  #14  
Old 10-16-2008, 11:18 AM
gr8scott72's Avatar
gr8scott72
gr8scott72 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 478
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by DRO318
I just want to say with shock you pay for what you get with shocks.
Bilstien is the way to go, trust it is worth the money.
You will never have the fac ride quality if you chose the aftermarket route.
As far as the suspension, I would start with the shocks fist as well.

The squeak can be either of the bushings. Although I lean more tward the C arm bushings, but others have had it been the sway bar.
I bought Energy Suspension sway bar bushings from auto zone for less than 30 bucks. You may want to replace the end links while your down there, they are cheap as well
I heard nothing but good about Bilsteins either when I was looking so that's what I put on mine. I'm not dissapointed at all.

You can get a set of Bilstein HDs for about $250-$260 total including shipping.
 
  #15  
Old 10-16-2008, 11:23 AM
andyg's Avatar
andyg
andyg is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Niles Illinois
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Yep this all sounds good. Ill replace the shocks and sway bar bushings/ links within the next few weeks before it gets too cold. While this truck used to get 30-35k miles per year it now only gets about 6-8k since my dad got a company car. From my experience the monroe's are good on the quality for their price. I believe that the monroe's will last at least 30k. We have them on 4 out of 6 cars. We would be more than satisfied if it gets to 200k without losing the trans or engine or rusting too badly.
 
  #16  
Old 10-16-2008, 11:25 AM
DRO318's Avatar
DRO318
DRO318 is offline
Captain
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Cool shocks

Originally Posted by gr8scott72
I heard nothing but good about Bilsteins either when I was looking so that's what I put on mine. I'm not dissapointed at all.

You can get a set of Bilstein HDs for about $250-$260 total including shipping.
Yeaah their reaction time to bumps is incomparable, even with my 20's
How's that red top batt. I left my lights on plenty of times and it's still runnin strong. guess it's the reserve it has. it's over 3 years old.
 
  #17  
Old 10-16-2008, 12:29 PM
hydrashocker's Avatar
hydrashocker
hydrashocker is offline
Hall Of Fame
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Riverton, UT
Posts: 14,228
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

[andyg;1431192]A few more bits I should add before I forget. The front tires seem to be wearing slightly irregulary, just a little more wear on the outside edges. I would assume that new shocks and getting it aligned would sort that issue out?
Most likely it is the shocks. But considering the sway bar bushings are that old they need replacing because body roll might have something to do with it. Lastly, what about the tire perssure? If the tire pressure is too low then it will ware on both sides. If there is too much pressure then it will ware in the middle. If there is ware on the sides, feathering, or rasping surfaces then this is usually aglinment.


monroe reflexes or Bilsteins
Probably your best choises.

Might want to get those controll arm bushings fixed.
 

Last edited by hydrashocker; 10-16-2008 at 01:50 PM.
  #18  
Old 10-16-2008, 01:08 PM
andyg's Avatar
andyg
andyg is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Niles Illinois
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

[QUOTE=hydrashocker;1431912]
Originally Posted by andyg
A few more bits I should add before I forget. The front tires seem to be wearing slightly irregulary, just a little more wear on the outside edges. I would assume that new shocks and getting it aligned would sort that issue out? quote]

Most likely it is the shocks. But considering the sway bar bushings are that old they need replacing because body roll might have something to do with it. Lastly, what about the tire perssure? If the tire pressure is too low then it will ware on both sides. If there is too much pressure then it will ware in the middle. If there is ware on the sides, feathering, or rasping surfaces then this is usually aglinment.




Probably your best choises.

Might want to get those controll arm bushings fixed.

Ya the tire with the most irregular wear loses pressure but the other side is fine and shows a slight amount of irregular wear. I'll look into the control arm bushings. Since I'm doing all the work myself we are keeping the cost down so I might replace them. Would I only need to replace the upper bushings? Those for sure are worn. Is disassembly of the durango's supension as easy as it appears? I don't want to run into any unexpected problems when I go to do it.

Also if im tearing into it this much, should I go ahead and replace the outer tie rods while I'm at it? They are also factory pieces with 170k on them. I shouldnt need to do the ball joints because they were done on the recall and there don't seem to be any issues there.
 
  #19  
Old 10-16-2008, 01:50 PM
hydrashocker's Avatar
hydrashocker
hydrashocker is offline
Hall Of Fame
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Riverton, UT
Posts: 14,228
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

I would take a good look into em.
 
  #20  
Old 10-16-2008, 04:45 PM
gr8scott72's Avatar
gr8scott72
gr8scott72 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 478
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by DRO318
Yeaah their reaction time to bumps is incomparable, even with my 20's
How's that red top batt. I left my lights on plenty of times and it's still runnin strong. guess it's the reserve it has. it's over 3 years old.
Small but VERY powerful. Has like 1000 cca and much smaller than the 850 cca battery that I took out. They are sealed also so you can mount it in any direction that you want.
 


Quick Reply: Suspension Q



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:27 AM.