Suspension, cut corners but happy

[Duster]

I wanted to take a sec to share my rare occurance of cutting some corners and actually ending up happy with the results.

My ride was sad. I had to redo all the arms and ball joints and all that crap. My suspension was also very sad shot dead. I had the old saggy front springs situation everyone does and I also haul a lot of weight regularly because my Liberty is my service work truck.

I wanted to install much better than stock shocks, struts and springs. But I had no interest in a lift. I get in and out of it so many times a day I'm surprised my door don't fall off. So I didn't want it any higher. I also didn't want to fool with spring compressors and stuff. So that ruled out everything that most would consider a suspension upgrade.

So what I did was take the easy route. I ordered loaded strut assemblies for the front and just shocks for the rear. No messing with any springs. I figured I would be sorry.

At first after the job was all done I was. My front was higher than the rear. I was grumpy. But then I got to thinking the new springs haven't settled any and I got brand new stiff ball joints and all that.

After she settled in, the stance is awesome. Nice and level. Looks like a small lift or leveling kit. The front is higher than it ever was. And the ride is actually better than new. I think I kinda get the ride improvement now that some said they got from the leveling kit.

So for people looking to freshen the ride that don't want a lift, I recommend what I did. Worked out for me.

 

[tommudd]

i wanted to take a sec to share my rare occurance of cutting some corners and actually ending up happy with the results.

My ride was sad. I had to redo all the arms and ball joints and all that crap. My suspension was also very sad shot dead. I had the old saggy front springs situation everyone does and i also haul a lot of weight regularly because my liberty is my service work truck.

I wanted to install much better than stock shocks, struts and springs. But i had no interest in a lift. I get in and out of it so many times a day i'm surprised my door don't fall off. So i didn't want it any higher. I also didn't want to fool with spring compressors and stuff. So that ruled out everything that most would consider a suspension upgrade.

So what i did was take the easy route. I ordered loaded strut assemblies for the front and just shocks for the rear. No messing with any springs. I figured i would be sorry.

At first after the job was all done i was. My front was higher than the rear. I was grumpy. But then i got to thinking the new springs haven't settled any and i got brand new stiff ball joints and all that.

After she settled in, the stance is awesome. Nice and level. Looks like a small lift or leveling kit. The front is higher than it ever was. And the ride is actually better than new. I think i kinda get the ride improvement now that some said they got from the leveling kit.

So for people looking to freshen the ride that don't want a lift, i recommend what i did. Worked out for me.

glad that you are happy
if it works for you then thats all that matters
for most it doesn't
thats why i have a complete stock suspension laying in the garage, guy had it installed, week later came to me for complete ome lift

 

[towpro]

What manafacture loaded struts did you buy?

 

[Duster]

What manafacture loaded struts did you buy?

House brand from Car Parts Wholesale.

They are pretty much like the Monroe Quickstruts. Has everything already together. You just transfer over the lower mounts.

Going into it I wanted to figure out something really good to install to make an epic change in ride comfort. But I really didn't want to screw with the spring situation and others didn't come loaded.

I didn't want to re-use the stock springs because they were sagged out, and in addition I was doing my whole front end at the same time, so I didn't want to deal with the added down time. So I looked at getting new springs to go on good new struts and started thinking about the spring compressor and all that. I was like you know what... screw that, got enough to do.

They probably will not last as long as higher end units, but at this point I don't really care. I can always do something different next time if I want.

 

[Duster]

glad that you are happy
if it works for you then thats all that matters
for most it doesn't
thats why i have a complete stock suspension laying in the garage, guy had it installed, week later came to me for complete ome lift

Yeah, the Liberty is a working utility vehicle for me. I need to haul stuff and keep it protected a little better than a truck bed with a cap. And I need to be able to get in and out of some bad places on a regular basis.

But I get in and out of it so many times in the course of a day that I had no interest whatsoever in a lift kit. I know some extra clearance helps sometimes. But for me it is just not worth the trade off getting myself in and out of it all day and getting stuff in and out of it. A little common sense and navigation us usually all I need to avoid getting hung up.

So far in several years I have been in some serious holes at times. But I have only ever had one where I couldn't navigate around and clear without a belly out. That sucked and I had to back down that trail and find an alternate route in instead of the washed out trail.

 

[belvedere]

I recommend what I did. Worked out for me.

Absolutely. I put Monroe Sensatracs on ours about a year and a half ago, and they work great. Shortly after I put them on, we drove it to SW CO and drove trails in the San Juans for a few days. No complaints, on- or off-road.

It's sorta like tools. Some people think that if it doesn't say SnapOn, it won't tighten that bolt. I love SnapOn as much as the next guy, and my 3/8" flex Dual 80 is my favorite ratchet...nothing else is quite the same. However, I own quite a few other ratchets of different brands. They all do the job as well as the SnapOn, and for a lot less money. The SnapOn is just a little nicer to use.

So it is with shocks for the KJ. The Monroes might not be quite as good as the OMEs, but darn close, for a lot less money...not to mention that the Monroes are warranted for as long as I own the vehicle (and I keep vehicles for a long time!).

 

[tommudd]

Absolutely. I put Monroe Sensatracs on ours about a year and a half ago, and they work great. Shortly after I put them on, we drove it to SW CO and drove trails in the San Juans for a few days. No complaints, on- or off-road.

It's sorta like tools. Some people think that if it doesn't say SnapOn, it won't tighten that bolt. I love SnapOn as much as the next guy, and my 3/8" flex Dual 80 is my favorite ratchet...nothing else is quite the same. However, I own quite a few other ratchets of different brands. They all do the job as well as the SnapOn, and for a lot less money. The SnapOn is just a little nicer to use.

So it is with shocks for the KJ. The Monroes might not be quite as good as the OMEs, but darn close, for a lot less money...not to mention that the Monroes are warranted for as long as I own the vehicle (and I keep vehicles for a long time!).

Have you ever ridden in one with quickstruts and one with OME etc ?
Not even close, cause I have and thats why I have a full setup in the garage, I took them in on trade thinking I would install on the 05, nope.

 

[belvedere]

There are different grades of Quickstruts...I'm talking about the Sensatracs. Also, it's possible to get a defective component, even from a good brand. If someone tore off a brand new set of shocks after a week, IMO either a) they were "economy" shocks, b) there was a defective part, or c) the person has money to burn, 'cause I sure couldn't drop that kind of money on a whim. Obviously, your opinion is different, and that's great. It would just help to understand that not everyone shares your opinion, and that's OK.

Forums like this (and life in general) are a lot more pleasant without a blind "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude.

 

[tommudd]

There are different grades of Quickstruts...I'm talking about the Sensatracs. Also, it's possible to get a defective component, even from a good brand. If someone tore off a brand new set of shocks after a week, IMO either a) they were "economy" shocks, b) there was a defective part, or c) the person has money to burn, 'cause I sure couldn't drop that kind of money on a whim. Obviously, your opinion is different, and that's great. It would just help to understand that not everyone shares your opinion, and that's OK.

Forums like this (and life in general) are a lot more pleasant without a blind "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude.

Not trying at all to start an argument or I'm right you are wrong. Honest question is all. They are Monroe Sensatrac shocks all around ( well full sensatrac front, rear sensatrac shocks and moog rear springs. )
So its was the best that he thought he could buy. After driving a week it just didn't have the ride or handling that he thought he would get.
So while you think I am somehow being a a**, this and all forums are to help people make good informed choices. Its not the first time someone has been disappointed when they replaced their wornout suspension with similar and it just didn't meet the grade.
Sorry I upset you but I just asked a question was all , da*n, people are touchy. :happy175:

 

[tjkj2002]

There are different grades of Quickstruts...I'm talking about the Sensatracs. Also, it's possible to get a defective component, even from a good brand. If someone tore off a brand new set of shocks after a week, IMO either a) they were "economy" shocks, b) there was a defective part, or c) the person has money to burn, 'cause I sure couldn't drop that kind of money on a whim. Obviously, your opinion is different, and that's great. It would just help to understand that not everyone shares your opinion, and that's OK.

Forums like this (and life in general) are a lot more pleasant without a blind "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude.

Sensatracs are the low end,Reflex is barely mid grade.They discontinued there high end line that truly was "high end" and that was the RSX line(Rancho,same company).

 

[tommudd]

Sensatracs are the low end,Reflex is barely mid grade.They discontinued there high end line that truly was "high end" and that was the RSX line(Rancho,same company).

The RSX line was great , ran two sets of them on the 04 , hated when they stopped making them.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I don't doubt that most of the aftermarket stuff meets OE specs for a KJ, as that bar was set kinda low...LOL

Glad the OP is enjoying his Jeep now.

 

[tommudd]

New stock were real low standards , by the time my 04 had 1000 miles on it I was tired of the soft, crappy suspension. But research, reading , talking to others got me to my first OME setup and loved it then. Wasn't bottoming out all the time:happy175:

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I remember before I lifted mine I was trying to sell it to get a Commander or 4 door JK, wanted something I could drink a cup of coffee in. The KL picked up right where the KJ left off, can't wait till someone develops a nice suspension upgrade for it. Right now it's jittery and stiff. I remember the K stock being jittery but yet bouncy. OME are you listening?

 

[belvedere]

Sensatracs are the low end,Reflex is barely mid grade.

Well, I guess the Monroe website must be wrong then, 'cause they call their low-end product "Monro-matic" or "Econo-matic".

Sensatracs have been re-named "OE Spectrum" or "Quick-Strut".

Go here: MONROE® SHOCKS & STRUTS :: Ride Safe with the Industry Leader of Ride Control Products and click on Products.

 

[tommudd]

Well, I guess the Monroe website must be wrong then, 'cause they call their low-end product "Monro-matic" or "Econo-matic".

Sensatracs have been re-named "OE Spectrum" or "Quick-Strut".

Go here: MONROE® SHOCKS & STRUTS :: Ride Safe with the Industry Leader of Ride Control Products and click on Products.

If you just look at Monroe then
Monroe Matics are bottom of the barrel
Sensatracs are more or less their best since thats all they have
No comparison to those and say the better Bilsteins/ OME which are a much higher quality shock overall.
One old guy I used to hang around with back in the 1970s would offer this explanation when comparing products : Chevrolet was bottom of the barrel, Pontiacs were the next rung up the ladder and then Cadillac was top of the heap.
Same with shocks only Monroe does not have a Cadillac in their lineup.
Stock setup suspension wise on the KJs were Chevrolets at best

As my Father in Law would say " Bure aghali " Swahili for cheap is expensive .

But belvedere and to the OP not downing your decision to go the way you did at all.
But I always want the best out there suspension wise on every vehicle I buy, seeing how much better a vehicle can perform I am spoiled.
Blame it on the Instructor I had at Suspension/Brake school in 1972 !:happy175: