This is the 1999 red Dodge in my sig. I've gone crazy, modifying her over the last 11 years that I've owned her. But, she's a little hard to handle on-road. She runs HMMWV 24 bolt dual bead locks. After my old track bar failed, I bought an adjustable track bar kit to convert to a 3rd Gen Diesel track bar and installed it. After that, I was bottoming out against the bracket from time to time. So, I bought a leveling kit. It did, indeed, level the truck, and keep me from bottoming out. I'm running stock level shocks in the front (yes, I know that with the leveling kit I should have changed them to a longer type). My tires weigh around 120 lbs. apiece. She rides great on good roads, but the rural roads around here get.....bumpy. That's when she gets kinda spongy. What seems to be the problem; springs, shocks, or a combination of the two? Or, maybe, how do I tell?

 

How old are your shocks? What pressure you running in the tires? Load range of tires??

 

Shock age: Life wise, about 2, maybe 3 years. Honestly, I can't remember when I installed them. The shocks are Advance Auto's "better" brand, which I assume is still at the low end of the spectrum.

Tire pressure: The sidewall states a max of 44 psi; I try to run around 40 psi.

Load range of tires: The tires I'm running now are Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's, load range D.

I hope this helps y'all figure my problem out......

 

Too much air pressure. Are those the tires with the Kevlar in them? That will stiffen up the ride quite a bit. Go down to about 35psi. Ever hear of the chalk test? Load up your truck like its a normal day, draw a line of chalk ACROSS the tire tread (inside tire wall to outside tire wall), drive one tire rotation forward. Do this on all four tires. When the chalk is evenly smudged off, you're good. Too much air pressure, the sides will not be smudged (think like your tread is U shaped). Too little and the middle will not be smudged (think like your tread is W shaped).

 

Thanks, man. Yes, I'm pretty sure Kevlar is in them. I tried to plug one in the past and shattered the reamer. I lowered the tire pressure to 35 psi, and my ride cushioned a little, but not much. My rig still tries to throw me, left-to-right, and she still fights me. As for the chalk test, the roads were wet this morning; also, I have no chalk. I will test this. Something I just found out; I had my worker bounce my front suspension today, I found my front sway bar links are beyond worn out. Also by the way, my rig leans to the driver's side at rest. I don't know what to do at this point.......

 

Sway bar links it is then (next). And maybe the sway bar bushings (the ones under the "U" holding the sway bar to the frame)

 

The infamous "dodge lean". I think your only real option there is to replace the rear springs. Both of them.

 

I had never heard of this "dodge lean", I thought I was the only one! However, what rear springs do I choose with these heavy tires? I bought a junkyard pair of light duty (2.5" wide), 2500 springs, only to find out later that they were two wheel drive. I was expecting a "rake down" look. It didn't change the rear ride height. While I'm at it, I want to replace the front springs too. I would like to replace the front springs with a longer type so I can ditch the leveling kit. Should I convert my rig to 2500 springs all around; remember, these tires are heavy, but they are key to my long-term plan.

 

If you want to get a bit more lift, then get springs that will give it to you. (front and rear...) Top Guns Customz sells all sorts of springs.

Remember, if you go over 3" in front, you will need to address control arms, track bar, steering, and sway bar as well.

 

I checked them out, great stuff! My new question is who makes the best springs? And how do I choose the best shocks for my rig?