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Front end bounce after sway bar bushing and end link upgrade?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gearbanger 101
  • Start date Start date Apr 10, 2012

Gearbanger 101

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#1
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #1
I seem to have developed a harsh bounce in the front end after replacing my worn stock bushings and end links with and Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings and end link kit? It seems like it finds every dip in the road and lets you know it with a harsh bounce?

I had this kit on my last Fox, but I don't recall having this issue.

Anyone else developed anything like this? Any remedy? Loosen the end links off a little perhaps?
 

Rick 91GT

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#2
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #2
Weird Brian... hows the shocks up front? Did you replaced the sway bar mounts with poly as well?
 

Gearbanger 101

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#3
  • Apr 10, 2012
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Rick 91GT said:
Weird Brian... hows the shocks up front? Did you replaced the sway bar mounts with poly as well?
Click to expand...
Not sure what brand of front shock they are (they're so covered in oil spray, it's hard to tell) but they seem to recover well. I'm sure they're not original, as the car is now 22-years-old. It's not a long, gradual bounce that takes it time recovering that's characteristic to worn out shocks. It's more of a "jarring" bounce almost as though the suspension travel has been limited?

I replaced both the mounds and the end links. Mounts were throughly greased as well, so I'm sure nothing is binding.

I'm wondering if the front sway bar is just so stiff now, that it's changing the characteristics of the front suspension? As I stated, everything was normal prior to changing the bushings and end links and I don't recal this happening with my other Fox?
 

Rick 91GT

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#4
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #4
I know when I install them at the shop they feel very stiff compared to a stock one, but I dont remember any having a "jarring" type effect. They are the same length correct?
 

packl3ad3r

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#5
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #5
Are you sure the front shocks just aren't that beat and then when putting the stiffer links and bushings on you just feel it more ?
 

Gearbanger 101

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#6
  • Apr 10, 2012
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Rick 91GT said:
I know when I install them at the shop they feel very stiff compared to a stock one, but I dont remember any having a "jarring" type effect. They are the same length correct?
Click to expand...
They are, yes. Sway bar sits just about parallel, where it should.

packl3ad3r said:
Are you sure the front shocks just aren't that beat and then when putting the stiffer links and bushings on you just feel it more ?
Click to expand...

As I said, shocks seem find. Car rode fine (or at least as fine as a Fox body can) before changing the bushings and links.

I might try loosening the links a little? There were no instructions as to how tight they should be, so I just cranked them down until I saw about 3/4" of threads past the nut.
 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"
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Apr 10, 2012
#7
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #7
The new end links found something else a miss in your suspension.
 

MFE92

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#8
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #8
Sounds like the endlinks are too long. If that's the case, the swaybar "ears" will be pointed upward when the car is level.
 

Rick 91GT

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#9
  • Apr 10, 2012
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MFE92 said:
Sounds like the endlinks are too long. If that's the case, the swaybar "ears" will be pointed upward when the car is level.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well..........
 

packl3ad3r

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#10
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #10
Measure the end links I have the same ones on my car I'll measure mine up tomorrow that should tell you
 

David Pepiton

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Apr 10, 2012
#11
  • Apr 10, 2012
  • #11
the ES endlinks are slightly shorter then stock if i remember i just did mine with moog frame bushings and the only thing i noticed different is turning is much better no crazy dips or anything
 

Gearbanger 101

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#12
  • Apr 10, 2012
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I'll have to get underneath and take a peek. I'll post a pic
 

Gearbanger 101

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#13
  • Apr 19, 2012
  • #13
This is as good an angle I could get. Pretty tough to get under there without jacking up the front end!?!

View attachment 151205

View attachment 151206

The front suspension is rock hard....I mean no travel at all? Is it possible that the bushings are binding? I greased them pretty heavily and didn't think they could be overtightend to the point they wouldn't move at all?

....on a side note. It looks like I found out where my front tires are rubbing at full cut (lower control arm). Guess it's time to get out the BFH and "adjust" the lip of the control arm a little.
 

FastDriver

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#14
  • Apr 20, 2012
  • #14
Interested to see what you find. My thoughts run first to the shocks, as well.
 

Gearbanger 101

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#15
  • Apr 20, 2012
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FastDriver said:
Interested to see what you find. My thoughts run first to the shocks, as well.
Click to expand...
If the car didn't ride completely fine before the bushing and end link upgrade, I'd probably be right there with ya. But this only happened afterwards. Not to mention....when shocks are done, you suffer from the unrecoverable bounce....not a rock hard suspension?
 

MFE92

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#16
  • Apr 20, 2012
  • #16
Take the endlinks out and see what happens.
 

FastDriver

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#17
  • Apr 21, 2012
  • #17
When shocks are too soft, you get the bounce. When they're too hard, you get a stiff suspension. but I also concede that I don't see how everything would have been nice before.
 
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