Advice Needed - Afraid to Turn / Rollover

[B@bydd33]

hi All -

i am in need of advice. ive had my VX for a little over a year now (currently 90k; 2001). i put some new shocks (KYB Gas-A-Just) on it about one year ago because of the bounciness. it has been about 12000 miles since then. there was a definite improvement, but i feel like i should replace these again with something better. ok..the problem.

problem: the ride is still a little bouncy. and there is very little comfort as every little bump in the road is felt. if i hit a pothole, it sounds as if i'm going to break something. most importantly, i am afraid to turn at high speeds (60mph or so). when turning AND there is a bump in the road, it feels as if im temporarily up in the air and when the tires land spinning it take a second to reconnect with the road. im not certain if this is exactly what is happening but clearly i lose traction.

question: do i need better shocks? is this a sway bar problem? do i need a bigger gf on the passenger side?

by no means am i a mechanic but i definitely would like to make improvements to get that safer feeling. ideally, id like absolutely no bounce and a VX that can take a corner like a lower small sports compact without buying wider tires and/or lowering. BTW, i have all stock parts.

thanks for any help!

[tom4bren]

Before you replace the shocks again, try cutting off half of your rear bump stops. A couple of members have done so & swear by the results.

Read this thread:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...ght=bump+stops

[circmand]

try different settings on the gas adjust shocks. They are adjustable for just this reason.

[VXorado]

I would check your sway bars to make sure they're connected and not bent. I haven't been using a front sway bar for a few months & don't have any of the problems you're having around turns.

I would also pull one of your shocks and try to compress it. If it compresses easily, you'll probably need bigger shocks. The VX is small but heavy & needs shocks that can handle the weight.

[B@bydd33]

thanks for the fast replies fellas!

so it sounds like bump stops, sway bars, and shocks. ill have them all checked and replaced if necessary. can anyone recommend the best that I can get for these? should i stick with KYB for instance? also, should i replace the coil springs as well?

[tom4bren]

One thing at a time. If your shocks are adjustable, then adjust them first (several different settings). If that's not the answer then try cutting your bump stops (you may be able to cut them without removing them but I'm not sure). If your symptoms persist, then move on to checking your sway bars. If they are fine, then maybe replace your shocks.

[VXorado]

+1

Like Circmand said, adjustable shocks are the way to go. Rancho 9000s are popular adjustable shocks.

New OME coil springs will be stiffer & help body roll but they'll also raise you up a couple inches. Unless you're looking into lifting, I would stick with other options first because raising up the VX isn't going to help your center of gravity around turns.

Good luck.

[Moncha]

Also, something that is commonly forgotten. The VX is a VERY short wheelbase and has a very stiff/bouncy ride.. and tires will affect the ride by quite a bit also. At the least make sure all your tires are up to proper pressure along with the other offerings.

[rsteinmetz70112]

Have you ridden in a known good VX?
Before embarking on expensive experimantation I suggest you get a reference.

Definitely try adjusting the shocks and see if that helps your experience.

[Ldub]

Another good mod to improve/lessen body roll in turns, is to replace the stock bushings where the sway bars connect to the frame, with greasable polyurethane bushings.

I know the part #'s are on the site somewhere, try a site search...

[JoFotoz]

Part # is...

Another good mod to improve/lessen body roll in turns, is to replace the stock bushings where the sway bars connect to the frame, with greasable polyurethane bushings.

I know the part #'s are on the site somewhere, try a site search...

as follows:-

-------

www.energysuspension.com

Part # 9.5156R

---------

You can get them here on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspens.../dp/B000CN5FQO





I just happen to have a set sitting on my desk...

..to be fitted when I do my front diff etc...eventually..by May next year!!

jo

[Ldub]

I just happen to have a set sitting on my desk...

..to be fitted when I do my front diff etc...eventually..by May next year!!

jo

You have a DESK... You're LUCKY!

Why, when I was a wee lad, only barristers & above had desks, we lived in a mud puddle, in the middle of a dirt road &...

[tom4bren]

You have a DESK... You're LUCKY!

Why, when I was a wee lad, only barristers & above had desks, we lived in a mud puddle, in the middle of a dirt road &...

Didn't know they had roads when you were a wee lad!!!

[Vendetta]

I've got this same problem. And this was happening before my new OME 913s, wheels and tires.

It's like this. At any speed above say 40mph or so, if I hit bumps, the rear tires don't feel like they track correctly and land out of plane with my direction of travel. It's kind of hairy. Can't tell if this is happening in the front also, because the yaw from the rear is far more pronounced.

The bumps don't need to be huge. At all. Just enough turbulence to left the tires and I'm feeling it. So I can't imagine that the bump stops are coming into play here. Especially after my lift.

My wrench says sway bar. Does this still sound right to those of you in the know here? Also, The Energy Suspension bushings, are those that JoFotoz listed still the optimal choice? And while I have my wallet out for the sway and bushings (if indeed that's the collective response here), are they any other tidbits like new bump stops (suggested model?) I should get BEFORE I go full monty and do the shocks? Remember, OME913s and 285/65 R18s.

I welcome the wisdom.
-V

[Ldub]

Here's the deal...& this is not addressed to anyone in particular, just the random rantings of a lunatic, who believes this to be "what's-what" with regard to the VX's handling/ride characteristics...

The VX is a short wheelbase, stiffly suspended/dampered, heavy little thug vehicle.
Capable of bullying it's way over/through just about anything put in it's path.

It was never meant to be comfortable, it's conception was very purposeful...
A nasty little hot-rod that could traverse terrain that would cause mere "mortal" vehicles to shat themselves, yet have the road manners of a (albeit heavy & bloated) sports car.

The "arm rests on the door panels?...sure if you wanna call em that...

Rear passenger ingress/egress?...great...

It's never gonna ride smooth, unless you're willing to kiss cornering good bye...& even then, will suffer the pitfalls of EVERY vehicle with a short wheelbase. (ever wonder why limos are so long?)

Chatters over bumps in corners?...of course it does...
Push the skinny to the floor & feel the "magic" of TOD pulling you through the corner...even though it feels like "all hells break'n loose" back there...

Hell...you might even end up drifting a little through the corner (remember...steer INTO the skid)

(practice on a closed course, with a professional instructor, wearing nomex water wings, before trying this on your own)...

Hope any of this might answer some questions...or maybe cause more...with regard to my sanity......

And as an afterthought...when I push a corner HARD on asphalt, or whatever "civilized" road surface I happen to be on, she will easily pick the inner front tire up off the ground & STILL haul rocks around the corner.

Go somewhere remote & practice driving...unless you're pushing it harder than I ever have, it ain't gonna roll...