2021 Mojave Fox suspension issue

[ScottMc68]

So......, I went 10 deep on pages in this section and didn't see anyone with a similar post so I'm throwing this out there. I'm sure this is not going to be an easy fix short of just replacing them at my own cost. Bought in April, 2500mi to date.., at roughly 2k mi the suspension seems to have crapped the bed. I have 35's on 20's, Kenda Klever RT, it is not the tires, went back to stock wheels and does the same thing. No off road use what so ever. At slow speeds it "bounces" on every possible little ripple and bump and if it's a bigger jolt, the entire cabin bounces and shakes. Take it to the dealer and of course..., "we find nothing wrong.., road test is normal and visual inspection, everything is fine". So I think Im crazy. I did get in a Wrangler Rubicon from 2018 and that was awful.., like mine. Its just weird how it was a pretty good ride, all things considered, and at 2k it just seemed to get really awful. wanted to see if anyone else had same or similar problem and what the test was to find the issue or if it just is what it is.
I called Fox..., OEM are not covered under warranty, of course. Guy said they have the equipment to re-charge/pressurize the shock but dealers likely won't have the equipment. Not expensive to have the shocks serviced, all seals and all replaced ($115 per shock), problem is that they are 3 weeks min so Im out a car for 3 weeks, not an option right now. Thats about what I got. I loved this truck the first 2k, I actually liked the ride being stiffer then what I had prev. No Im not loving it so much. Appreciate any feedback/suggestions

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[Mr._Bill]

If the Shocks are a problem, and the dealer won't help, try another dealer.
The shocks are covered by the factory warranty.

 

[Renegade]

What air pressure are you running in the tires? Have you checked the torque on all of the front suspension components?

 

[Mac]

I am in MA, if you were closer you could borrow my set of sport shocks, assuming they would fit, to see if it is actually the shocks causing the problem. There is probably someone nearer to you that has a set of take off shocks you could try.

 

[ScottMc68]

What air pressure are you running in the tires? Have you checked the torque on all of the front suspension components?

Had the tires pulled and re-balanced, had the pressure set at factory, went down to a few below and still same issue. Had tire shop check and Jeep dealer said they checked all the hard parts and all looks good. Just strange that at 2k the ride totally changed.., I mean my gf who is clueless with car issues got in and said.."what happened, this thing is riding like crap", so something def changed

 

[ScottMc68]

I am in MA, if you were closer you could borrow my set of sport shocks, assuming they would fit, to see if it is actually the shocks causing the problem. There is probably someone nearer to you that has a set of take off shocks you could try.

Nice offer.., thanks. I have a few things to chase.., a guy I just met local has same truck but stock wheels, he drove mine said its def worse then his. I need to drive his and see what i think of his. I mean i know its a truck and its a jeep, I didn't expect a cadillac ride but I like the ride from mile 0 to mile 2k, now its TOTALLY diff.., maybe thats what happens when the shocks break in..IDK. Id think the ride would improve if there was a "break in", not get worse

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Your tires are probably overinflated. Factory pressure is way too high for 35s.. what is it on Mojave? 35? 37? 40?. On the chalk test mine are happy at 28 psi. Otherwise there is crowning, and this is on 9" wide rims so it's not a narrow rim issue.

Your tires and wheels are also significantly heavier than the stockers. And while there's plenty of Mojave running on big tire/wheel combos, it's a soft shock that's going to have more trouble controlling the axle with heavier wheels on it. Remember the shocks job is to control the axle not the body. More unsprung weight means more weight for the shock to manage. It's going to start showing up.

 

[ScottMc68]

If the Shocks are a problem, and the dealer won't help, try another dealer.
The shocks are covered by the factory warranty.

Question is...how would they determine if its warranty if they don't see any shock oil leak and they say they "feel fine"? The Fox guy said the pressure could drop and cause issue but the dealer can't test that and like I said, Fox said 3 week turnaround to work on them.

 

[Mr._Bill]

That is a problem, dealers only testing will be driving it and looking for leaks. I would try going back to the stock wheels and tires for a while, if you still have them. It could be defective shocks, but hard to believe all four would fail in such a short time.

 

[ScottMc68]

Your tires are probably overinflated. Factory pressure is way too high for 35s.. what is it on Mojave? 35? 37? 40?. On the chalk test mine are happy at 28 psi. Otherwise there is crowning, and this is on 9" wide rims so it's not a narrow rim issue.

Your tires and wheels are also significantly heavier than the stockers. And while there's plenty of Mojave running on big tire/wheel combos, it's a soft shock that's going to have more trouble controlling the axle with heavier wheels on it. Remember the shocks job is to control the axle not the body. More unsprung weight means more weight for the shock to manage. It's going to start showing up.

28?? Tire guy said use factory and not below but I hear what you are saying, I can try that. Question is.., so you are saying the heavier weight is "wearing" on the suspension quicker and thus the bouncing? Like I said, I liked the ride the first 2k and that was with the big wheels on, it was just a sudden change when the temps went high here, the ride got real bad.., I actually forgot to adjust the pressure (so it was too high went the temps went up) but even dropping it , it still had the bounce. Also went back to stock wheels and same "bounce" and ride quality issue. And at slow speed its not the body issue, it just feels like its work mostly off the spring, like the shock is dampening right. Maybe thats just a normal jeep thing (?)

 

[ScottMc68]

That is a problem, dealers only testing will be driving it and looking for leaks. I would try going back to the stock wheels and tires for a while, if you still have them. It could be defective shocks, but hard to believe all four would fail in such a short time.

I did put the stock ones on and same "feel', the bounce and all. Maybe its just what it is. I met a local has same truck, similar miles, stock wheels..., gonna drive his and see what that feels like

 

[Mr._Bill]

Check the air pressure on his when you drive it.

 

[dcmdon]

Question is...how would they determine if its warranty if they don't see any shock oil leak and they say they "feel fine"? The Fox guy said the pressure could drop and cause issue but the dealer can't test that and like I said, Fox said 3 week turnaround to work on them.

I look at this with an open mind if you had not put the OEM wheels back on, I'd have come down on the side of the dealer.

But if you are back to stock wheels and tires and its still terrible, then they owe you a bit of time to troubleshoot.

1) Take the tech for a ride in a new dealer stock Gladiator.
2) take the tech for a ride in your car over the same road.

Point out the difference.

If they refuse to trouble shoot at that point, (you feel a big difference and they don't) then ask them to re-check all the suspension bolts for tightness. (this costs them very little).

If everything is ok and you think the shocks are at issue then bring the shocks to a race shop with a "shock dynamometer" who can actually test the rebound and compression specs of the shock.

Compare that with Fox numbers. If there is a difference you can bring that to the Jeep dealer and use it to push for the shocks to be replaced.

Either way a ride with a Tech is the first step to resolving this. Technicians working on a flat rate system aren't incented to actually troubleshoot. They are incented to change parts.

 

[dcmdon]

I did put the stock ones on and same "feel', the bounce and all. Maybe its just what it is. I met a local has same truck, similar miles, stock wheels..., gonna drive his and see what that feels like

This is a great next step.

What is the air pressure in your tires?
Bring your tire pressure gauge when you meet the local guy and put your gauge on his tire and see what he is running for pressure.

Don't take his word for it. Consumer level gauges can be off by 5 psi. So you could see a variance of 10 psi between gauges.

If his rides better and shows 35 psi, then set yours to the same and see how it goes.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

28?? Tire guy said use factory and not below but I hear what you are saying, I can try that. Question is.., so you are saying the heavier weight is "wearing" on the suspension quicker and thus the bouncing? Like I said, I liked the ride the first 2k and that was with the big wheels on, it was just a sudden change when the temps went high here, the ride got real bad.., I actually forgot to adjust the pressure (so it was too high went the temps went up) but even dropping it , it still had the bounce. Also went back to stock wheels and same "bounce" and ride quality issue. And at slow speed its not the body issue, it just feels like its work mostly off the spring, like the shock is dampening right. Maybe thats just a normal jeep thing (?)

Yup 28. Anything above 30 the tire gets rounded off. 28 is perfectly fine and safe. Go do the chalk test. Level ground, chalk the tires. Drive like 50-75 feet, check if the chalk wear pattern is the same. It may be, but it's good to check that. If the outside blocks have a lot more chalk than the center, keep dropping 2psi at a time until you get to the outside blocks looking like the center blocks. Maybe 1-2psi under that to accommodate for heating when in use and hot roads.

And yes also it's not out of the possibility that the shocks got shot from the added weight of the tires. Shouldn't really happen, but if you are feeling it 'in the springs' it may well be because the shocks are cooked and the springs are overworked.

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