Suspension-Shocks-Springs

[ACDuff]

I have what must be the common lean to the drivers side on my recently acquired '85 GW. It is about an inch lower than the other. Shocks are Gabriel Gas Ryder LT's which look to be fairly old. Have a lot of roll and bounce in the suspension. Plan on replacing the shocks first and see if it improves the lean before looking at the springs. Mostly road use with some off road on forest service roads in the Nantahala National Forest. No rock crawler stuff but mud and rough dirt roads. Recommendations on the best shocks for this>

Alan

[Peter Matusov]

Alan,

if you don't plan on significantly lifting your GW, treat yourself nicely with a set of Bilsteins. You will never have to buy another set of shocks (people breaking Bilsteins drive in a Baja-1000 manner off pavement).

The lean - one inch lean can be alleviated with adding one add-a-leaf to the driver's side rear spring. I'd say the long add-a-leaf made by Skyjacker, Rancho's stuff is very stiff. If you don't want to look for one, just get a couple of 2.5" leaf spring packs (from any truck), and fiddle with the leaves until you get what you like.

But, really, you should replace the springs.

peter

[Rusty Wag]

a mild 2.5 lift would be cool also....and you can replace the springs all in one fail swoop..

[kidatforty]

I haven't run bilsteins on anything but VWs (in my past life) and I would have to agree with Peter. They are the absolute finest shocks ever. I'm running RS-5000s on my wag. and I wish I'd gone with the adjustable 9000s. It's a little stiff in the rear. If you get testimonials from guys that are actually running Bilsteins go for it.

[Peter Matusov]

i've had bilsteins on two european fords, have a set on the Chero and on my wife's Disco. Off-road, i wish sometimes i went with Old Man Emu's longer-travel shocks, on-road OMEs sucked so badly on the Disco that i went back to Bilsteins.

the jeep's heavier by about 400lb, and the shocks feel softer than on the disco.

peter

[Jbreak]

I have the same driver's side lean you are talking about; maybe not quite an inch, but you can see it for sure. I've replaced my springs & shocks, but the lean is still there! :( I'm theorizing now that it's actually the body mount bushings worn & compressed more on the drivers side, but not sure. :confused: I may replace those and see what happens next...