My 07 Hemi Rango seems to have excessive body roll and sway....more than just your average large suv I believe. In fact, at speeds, say 50mph and above, any sudden movement or even traversing over humps seems to make the rango feel "unstable." I acutally broke the rear end loose on a gravel road doing about 50mph. Anyone else have this issue, and if so, how can I improve the "feel" and roll. Shocks?
Thanks.

 

07BH:

What kind of driving were you doing?? And what kind of vehicle are you used to driving?

A 5000+ pound SUV is not going to handle that well on gravel with too much steering input at 50mph. Gravel is one of the most unstable types of road surface, and surely a recipe for trouble when too much speed and/or steering input are involved.

Since your D has a solid rear axle, it will want to hop a bit if you are driving on a washboard or other type of rough surface and attempt to make aggressive steering changes.


Give us some input as to what you think you want it to do.

Don

 

Thanks for the reply n8ec. I was driving what I thought was normal...nothing agressive. True, I am used to driving cars, this is in fact my first suv. However, I have driven large suv's (i.e. escalade, tahoe, expedition, ect) and never really had this type of "unstable" feeling. I am aware that the knock on suv's is exactly what I'm complaining about. Yet, if it is more than normal, an auto reveiwer will point that out on that particular vehicle, not on all suv's. Example: consumer reports states that that the body roll on the gen 2rango is excessive. My point really is that I'm not looking for a sports car, just some advice on how to improve the feel on my rango, not eliminate the excessive body roll since that is impossible. My thoughts were perhaps lowering just a tad (2-3in.) firmer shocks, and perhaps a sway bar. What do you guys think?
Thanks.

 

I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME ALSO AND I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 ON GRAVEL AND IT ALMOST PUT ME INTOA LIGHTPOLE. IF I HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY IT DOES THE SAME THING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SOLID REAR AXLE. HE SUGGESTED UPGRADING THE SHOCKS. ANYHOW 25 MPH IS NOT FAST AND TO NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL IS IS NOT GOOD. AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS IT THREW ME IF IT WAS TO THE LEFT I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION.

 

Just found out that my friend I work withs uncle is theCEO of Bilstein Shocks. Maybe i'll see if I can't get a deal.

 

My 06 Durango has less body role then the 02 grand caravan did.
I have not noticed anything of what you guys are talking about one bit. Granted I have not taken it off road, or a gravle surface. But bumpy roads have not been a problem at all.

 

1BADHEMI, let me know what you find out on the Bilstein's. That's for sure the shock I want. Bilstein doesn't list anything available for gen2 rangos on their website, but maybe you could find something out for us.
Thanks.

 

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I COME UP WITH

 

Guys:

I just put 4 Bilsteins around my 01, and can say that they beat the OEM crap hands down.

As far as making changes to the D's suspension, I would try the shocks and then the swaybars.

Don

 

n8ech,
Would luv to get the bilstein's but don't think they offer them for gen 2 rangos. Mine actually is an 07. Do you know if we can get them?
Thanks.