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

[Gearbanger 101]

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]

Weird Brian... hows the shocks up front? Did you replaced the sway bar mounts with poly as well?

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Weird Brian... hows the shocks up front? Did you replaced the sway bar mounts with poly as well?

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]

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]

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]

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?

They are, yes. Sway bar sits just about parallel, where it should.

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 ?

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]

The new end links found something else a miss in your suspension.

 

[MFE92]

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]

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

My thoughts as well..........

 

[packl3ad3r]

Measure the end links I have the same ones on my car I'll measure mine up tomorrow that should tell you

 

[David Pepiton]

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]

I'll have to get underneath and take a peek. I'll post a pic

 

[Gearbanger 101]

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]

Interested to see what you find. My thoughts run first to the shocks, as well.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Interested to see what you find. My thoughts run first to the shocks, as well.

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]

Take the endlinks out and see what happens.

 

[FastDriver]

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.