Installed Keys and Now Ride Is Stiff

[MandezeeFMB]

I installed some keys on my truck and now the ride is really stiff. I suppose this is normal. I seen a few people mention that they run Bilstein shocks 5100 series. Does this actuallly improved the ride any? Where is the best place to buy them and how much do they cost?

 

[LOUDHOE]

yes...improves the ride 10 fold. Reason being the shocks are over extended, and they dont damper the ride properly.

 

[jdpber]

^^ correct.... proper length shocks will solve your poopy ride quality...

 

[hoe]

OP must not have used the shock extenders. New length shocks would solve the problem too.

 

[MandezeeFMB]

Yeah i didnt install the extenders so i might just go do that until i get the shocks. Thanks guys

 

[hoe]

Yep, my 1.5 kit should be here tmrw, and extenders come with it. You can get extenders on ebay for 19$ shipped for a pair.

 

[01Konvict]

Get the 5100s!!! makes mine ride softer then stock except when I crest a road where the front can really push down to stay contacted, then u can feel how the torsion bars are stiff.

 

[polobuds]

I installed some keys on my truck and now the ride is really stiff. I suppose this is normal. I seen a few people mention that they run Bilstein shocks 5100 series. Does this actuallly improved the ride any? Where is the best place to buy them and how much do they cost?

yes, bils dramatically improve ride quality. I was skeptical at first, but right after i installed my keys on stock shocks, i felt every bump in the road and sometimes my back would get squirrely when going fast. After installing bils, it has been smooth sailing. You can really tell the difference.

 

[TWITCH101]

OK so someone correct me if I'm wrong.....

For the longest time I thought that the torsion lift limited downward travel of your suspension....thus leaving us with terrible ride in the front-end....

Now with that being said I would like to discuss my question:
What limits the downward travel of suspension? Is it merely the shocks? Or is the suspension mechanically maxed out? (as in if you were to take the shocks off then the remaining components would not move downward any further)

If the only limiting factor is the shocks then what the hell is the big deal about the ride?

If this is true then I will probably look into the keys, shock extension brakcet, and bilsteins in the very near future.

Lastly, How much does the key lift affect the life expectancy of your cv joints or u-joints or whatever is in the front drive?

At most(seriously) I only plan to level my Kon with a 2" keys leveling kit in the front and thats all..So in my optimistic mind I'm thinking that with all these extras to enhance my ride quality then I won't be nearly as bad off as the people who crank their torsion bars to the max 3-4" and keep stock shocks, but that could be my wishful thinking so please post up what you think.

..not looking to be huge...at least not until I can afford a suspension kit which will be a long time from now.

 

[LOUDHOE]

the travel of the suspension is limited by the geometry of the suspension not being able to return the vehicle to proper alignment spec. the length and shape of the a arms keeps the spindle up and down, as the suspension travels down, the spindle slants with the top outward, and the top a arm in used to pull the top back in. the top of the a arm can only go in so far until it reaches its limit.

also the more angle you add to the a arms the shorter the life of the ball joints and cv axles get.

 

[TWITCH101]

well shouldn't you be able to adjust camber to compensate for that? I mean, isnt that why your supposed to have it realigned?

 

[LOUDHOE]

Yes but it will onlymove so far to adjust the camber before the adjustable plates end.

 

[WildBill]

I think loudhoe is correct, to an extent. The camber changes throughout the suspension movement to maintain the tire's contact patch during body roll, this isnt directly a limit to travel. As you say twitch that is dealt with by the alignment, but there is only so much room to properly align the front, that could be a limit.

As for what really limits down travel is the shock when the normal length shock is in place. When a longer shock is installed, the next place that contacts is a metal bumpstop on the front of the upper a arm (if i remember right). Personally, I feel that enough hard contact with that bumpstop could result in knocking it out of alignment since its placed so close to the upper a-arm adjuster bolt. Your other obvious limitation is the CV joints. I would think that maxed keys would reduce CV life under normal 2wd conditions. Under offroad conditions, or 4wd anything Im sure you run a great risk of breaking one.

 

[TWITCH101]

So if i want any kind of lift outside of 1/2" I'm going to have to go with a decent suspension lift or else I'll start burning through joints and bearings?