Ride too bouncy?

[ramkum]

Hi,

I recently bought a pre-owned 2003 Jeep Liberty with 25K miles on it. Its the Freedom Edition, and I absolutely love the looks of it. Unfortunately, the ride appears to be a bit too bouncy. It noticeably bounces from side to side on roads that look reasonably smooth, and it almost feels like riding a pogo stick when on uneven pavement. OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration.

I'm looking for ideas as to what might be the reason. All this is on 2WD mode (the vehicle itself is AWD). It has the standard factory 17" wrangler tires that come on the freedom edition; and I had them rotated a couple of weeks ago. Could it be the tires? Or the suspension? If its the suspension, can it be tweaked? Or will they need to be downright replaced?

If I need to get anything fixed, I want to go armed with enough information. I already got ripped off at my last service (I went for an oil change and ended up being convinced to do a 30k mi service AND getting my rusted brake pads and rotors replaced - a total bill of $1230, $750 of which was labor! Is that normal?).

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Welcome to jeepkj.com.

Welcome to the Jeep Liberty.

I'm real good for saying this....

But all of that is normal. Except the 30k mile service price... dang that's expensive!

 

[Atrus]

1) Could be any of the things you mentioned. 17's are inherently going to be a more harsh ride than the same tire in a 16". Shocks could be shot I suppose. Push down on each corner of the vehicle, and get it bouncing good. Suddenly let off. It should stop bouncing almost immediately. 1-2 decreasing bounces back to equalibruim is OK. More than that, no.

2) That service price is asinine! Get a manual, and if you're even slightly mechanically inclined, do the work yourself. It isn't hard. If you aren't mechanically inclined in the slightest, pay an independant shop you trust. Dealers typically suck. Mine will only be there for warranty work.

3) An '03 with 25k on it? Wow, that's low! My '07 that I got on 5/31 is approaching 10k already!

 

[_UnLiMiTeD_]

with only 25k, you shouldnt even need the pads done. also have a local shop do it, never a dealership, as you can see, its a bloody rip off

 

[67Customs]

That doesn't sound exactly right to me. I have 17s and I have a realtively smooth ride.

Does it bounce up and down after you hit a bump, or it just a harsh single hit? A harsh single hit is common on some SUVs and most trucks because they have a stiffer suspension for off-roading or towing. However, a bouncy suspension isn't normal for most any car. If you hit a single bump (let's say a speed bump) and the car keeps bouncing up and down, you most likely need new shock absorbers.

 

[Atrus]

Other thing - go test drive another liberty. In stock form, these things definitely don't ride like Cadillacs. It's a Jeep, it'll ride a little rougher. I like the ride in mine. Not too harsh, not too soft.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

with only 25k, you shouldnt even need the pads done. also have a local shop do it, never a dealership, as you can see, its a bloody rip off

That's what I thought too, until I needed to replace mine at 25k.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Pads should not need to be replaced at 25k. My pads look like new at 30k.

I believe I know what youre talking about with the bouncy ride, and thats normal. It sort of shimmy's up and down on each side when driving along a given piece of road.. Mine does the same with the OME lift, its just stiff suspension. And someone did a crappy job putting that blacktop down.

You really bent over with that labor price. I wouldnt pay more than $150 since thats the price those parts would cost.

Rotors rust, thats normal. Stick around this place and you wont get bent over again.

 

[the_titan]

Wait, Jeeps are SUPPOSED to be bouncy?! NOW I get this commercial. Of course it is bouncy, it is an offroad vehicle and Jeeps are known for being a stiff and rough ride so they can do just that. If you don't want a bouncy Jeep, go buy a Compass. har har.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Wait, Jeeps are SUPPOSED to be bouncy?! NOW I get this commercial. Of course it is bouncy, it is an offroad vehicle and Jeeps are known for being a stiff and rough ride so they can do just that. If you don't want a bouncy Jeep, go buy a Compass. har har.

Or a KK.

 

[desertkj]

I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but did you test drive other Liberties before you bought this one? Although the rims/tires/shocks/etc could be to blame, it is inherently rough on certain freeways. It is nothing like a heavy duty truck, but it is definitely no BMW.

 

[-=JoN=-]

got my brakes replaced @ 12k.......(dealer rip off too)
the stock pads on the KJ are known to wear out fast..(i remember in ju lots of other owners reporting it)

as for the ride...it's not smooth, but it shouldnt be that bouncy..maybe it's just that section of the road...(i remember freaking too one time, in this newly built part of the highway, it starded bouncing and this was less than a year old on the kj....i then asked my other buddy, and my uncle, and they said, it happens to them too)

check your suspension..could just be worn out....

 

[ramkum]

wow, I didn't think this forum would be so active!!

 

[o8k]

I wanted to post in the thread "ride too bouncy" but the thing wont let me so... ah... without using any profanity to express my complete frustration with all that... let it be duely noted that its just irritating... ok now to what i wanted to say...

Im just gonna toss this out there but... If its the thing i think your talking about w/ the bumpy ride...

I believe its inherent in ALL vehicles that mix Independent front suspension (IFS) w/ Solid Rear Axel (SRA) (which as im learning... I'll try to avoid buying somthing like that in the future). My Dakoda quad cab SLT 4x4 did the same thing, only worse b/c the front was torsion suspention (which didnt dampen rocking motion well) and the wheel base was longer (exagerating the rocking motion). it rocked back and forth somthing fierce.

 

[o8k]

This happens because the independent suspention dampens rocking motion better than solid axels do, which should be no supprise if you think about it, thats why solid axles have better articulation, and why independent suspentions are not as favorable for offroading. But when you mix the two, the frond suspention dampens rocking for the rear and it makes for a wierd ride if your not used to it. I believe this makes the vehicle less stable and why they lowered the libby in 02, and also why they added ESP to the vehicles in 06. This whole condition is exaggerated by a lift kit for the CRD as the front springs are made even stiffer and the rear ones are not.

All IMHO....

 

[ramkum]

Welcome to jeepkj.com.

Welcome to the Jeep Liberty.

Thanks!!

I'm real good for saying this....

But all of that is normal.

Except the 30k mile service price... dang that's expensive!

It sure is!!

Here's the bill I got:

1. JEEP "A" SERVICE
Change engine oil and replace oil filter -- FREE
Check and top off all fluid levels -- FREE
Inspect visible belts and hoses for cracks and wear -- FREE
Inspect drive acle boots for tears and tight fit -- FREE
Check and correct all tire pressures -- FREE

2. 16 POINT INSPECTION
Completed -- FREE

3. ROTATE TIRES
Completed -- Labor $19.95

4. F23 RECALL
Lower ball joints performed recall -- FREE

5. 65 POINT CHECK
Completed -- Labor $129.90

6. STATE INSPECTION
Completed Inspection sticker -- Labor $39.95

7. FRONT BRAKE JOB
Brake Pkg -- Parts $165.00
Replace front pads and rotors -- Labor $127.50

8. REPLACE REAR ROTORS
Pad kit -- Parts $62.37
Rotor Bra (x2 @ 70.40) -- Parts $140.80
Replace rear pads and rotors -- Labor $187.00

9. TUNE UP
Plug (x6 @ 3.52) -- Parts $21.12
Replace spark plugs and PVC valve -- Labor $127.50

10. CLEAN THROTTLE BODY
Int Clean -- Parts $33.00
Perform BG T-body service -- $127.50

11. AIR FILTER
Filter -- Parts $21.40
Replaced Air Filter -- FREE

12. MISC
Shop Supplies -- Misc $30.00

TOTAL
Parts $443.69
Labor $759.30
Misc $30.00

Total $1232.99

 

[ramkum]

1) Could be any of the things you mentioned. 17's are inherently going to be a more harsh ride than the same tire in a 16". Shocks could be shot I suppose. Push down on each corner of the vehicle, and get it bouncing good. Suddenly let off. It should stop bouncing almost immediately. 1-2 decreasing bounces back to equalibruim is OK. More than that, no.

Well, I wasn't able to bounce it too well, but it made just one small extra bounce before it stopped, so I guess it passes. The reason I asked about the tires is because I read elsewhere that people got more comfortable rides when they replaced the stock goodyear wranglers. I wouldn't exactly call the ride harsh; its more like a waterbed. Its almost as though the left side going down causes the right side to go up and then they enter a state of resonating wobbles.

2) That service price is asinine! Get a manual, and if you're even slightly mechanically inclined, do the work yourself. It isn't hard. If you aren't mechanically inclined in the slightest, pay an independant shop you trust. Dealers typically suck. Mine will only be there for warranty work.

I'm pretty mechanically challenged I suppose . But yes, I've learnt my lesson!

 

[ramkum]

with only 25k, you shouldnt even need the pads done.

I thought so too! They didn't feel too bad to me, though the foot travel in the brake pedal was kinda long. But they did work. The foot travel is definitely a lot less now, though its still a bit more damped than I would expect a new set of brakes to be! Perhaps its the weight.

 

[Dave]

Wow, a $1,200 bill. That would be a lot for me.

You shouldn't have to worry about any maintenance for a while. In the meantime find a good local independant shop for your routine stuff like oil changes if you can't do it yourself.

If your prior vehicle was a car, and then you get in a truck or Jeep, then it will seem like a rough ride. I have a car and a Jeep and there is quite a different road feel. But I do not think the KJ really rides rough for what it is but maby I am used to it. If there was a way for you to drive another KJ you could compare them. Where are you ? I'd let you try mine if you were in upstate NY.

Dave

 

[ramkum]

That doesn't sound exactly right to me. I have 17s and I have a realtively smooth ride.

Does it bounce up and down after you hit a bump, or it just a harsh single hit? A harsh single hit is common on some SUVs and most trucks because they have a stiffer suspension for off-roading or towing. However, a bouncy suspension isn't normal for most any car. If you hit a single bump (let's say a speed bump) and the car keeps bouncing up and down, you most likely need new shock absorbers.

Its definitely not a harsh hit! It doesn't really need a speed bump to wobble. It does it on most roads. Its not really too bad, but the slight side-to-side rocking motion is pretty apparent. It gets more pronounced when I'm braking to a stop.

I did expect a jeep to be harsher than a car. I've driven U-haul trucks quite a bit, and those are different. They vibrate even when the engine is idling. They continue to vibrate even when you're driving, but they didn't feel so springy. As soon as I got the jeep, it would vibrate slightly when idling too, and I thought that was normal. But then after I got that insanely expensive service done, there was absolutely no vibration while idling. It doesn't even feel like the engine is running! But start moving and it feels like you're on a set of squeaky springs (minus the squeaks), no matter how slow you're going!