Mojave Bump Stops

[Clayton Off Road]

I installed a 2.5" Clayton Overland + with the Falcon 3.3 fast adjust shocks and am experiencing the same "Thunk" (seems driver side only) when hitting dips/rocks/depressions with some speed. I did leave the Fox OEM hydraulic stops in place and added the Clayton bump stop extension to the axle.
I installed the suspension myself and am not a newbie to this stuff.
At any rate you can imagine my frustration as this Bottoming out feeling is super annoying.
How can I be sure the Fox damper is not functioning properly or if the shock/spring is running out of travel before the bump stop engages.
Please help me out with ideas fellas.

If you'd like you can always send us in some pictures and we can see if we see anything off that might be contributing to your issue! Always happy to help out if we can.

Sponsored

 

[Wantajustride]

If you'd like you can always send us in some pictures and we can see if we see anything off that might be contributing to your issue! Always happy to help out if we can.

Thanks James, I was going to give you a call next week

 

[Wantajustride]

This is going to take a little work, but you could cycle the suspension to check clearances. Jack up your Gladiator and put the frame on jack stands. Then remove the front tires and disconnect the shocks and sway bar links, and then remove the springs. Then reconnect the shocks and sway bar link. Then using a jack under the axle compress the suspension all the way without the resistance of the spring preventing it from bottoming out. You should be able to compress the suspension enough to see when the hydraulic bump contacts the axle pad, and then compress it further to see what clearances are left when the hydraulic bump is completely compressed. That won't tell you if the spring is becoming coil bound, but you can check all of the other clearances that way.

I thought about doing this with mine, but then decided, … "nope, not worth it". I was pretty certain the "thunk" sound is just pad slap, and I live with it. I think it is just the nature of hydraulic bump stops.

When running the Transamerica Trail earlier this summer I was traveling at about 65 mph on a dirt road on the plains of Wyoming, and hit a big silt hole, where the silt was a foot deep, with a square edged exit ramp out the far side of the silt hole. My Mojave bottomed the suspension front and rear so hard you would swear you would be peeing blood for the next few days. But the Mojave itself just took it in stride, no damage, no change to front end alignment, no problems at all. I'm pretty sure I cycled the suspension with that move, LOL.

Thanks for that detailed reply. I thought along those lines but here is an idea i have, go to the dealership, measure the distance from the bump stop to the axle pad on a stock Mojave and see what that distance measures. Then compare that measurment with what I have from the hydraulic damper to the installed Clayton extended bumpstop.
Idea #2, the noise is defenitely coming from the front and now I have some mud and dirt residue on the shaft of the shock. Remove the lower bolt of the shock and see if it compresses passed the dirt/road grime line. Then I can eliminate the shock running out of travel. Thoughts?

I really thought I was cutting no corners on this build. Anyway, thought I'd trow in a few pics of the build

 

[MoparToYou]

Wow! Very nice build. I especially like that color matched bed topper.

Both of your ideas would work.

 

[Wantajustride]

Wow! Very nice build. I especially like that color matched bed topper.

Both of your ideas would work.

Thanks. The Canopy and REDARC 30 w/Solar is amazing. I can park indefinitely and always come back to the truck and grab a cold beverage or snack of choice from the fridge.

 

[guarnibl]

Was just informed that the left bump stop on my Mojave is bad, needs replacement. Thank god for warranty. The part cost $1400 plus installation without warranty.

Well, it would be $300 for a new one from Fox that performs better

 

[Ccooper3]

How do I adjust the bump stops in the Mojave? I added a steel bumper, winch and topper and now they engage too early.

 

[The White Rabbit]

Thanks for that detailed reply. I thought along those lines but here is an idea i have, go to the dealership, measure the distance from the bump stop to the axle pad on a stock Mojave and see what that distance measures. Then compare that measurment with what I have from the hydraulic damper to the installed Clayton extended bumpstop.
Idea #2, the noise is defenitely coming from the front and now I have some mud and dirt residue on the shaft of the shock. Remove the lower bolt of the shock and see if it compresses passed the dirt/road grime line. Then I can eliminate the shock running out of travel. Thoughts?

I really thought I was cutting no corners on this build. Anyway, thought I'd trow in a few pics of the build

Gorgeous!

 

[ecidiego]

I have a question for someone. Does the Mojave hydraulic bump stops make a clunk when they connect to the axle bump stop pad?

I've added in hydraulic bump stops to my Gladiator but it's a little annoying when they engage. I have about 3" travel before contact with the hydraulic bump stop, then it provides about 3-4 inches of suppressed travel. The hydraulic stop has a hard nylon pad, and the axle side is just a metal plate. Is the Mojave similar to this or do they have a rubber contact pad on the axle side, or a short progressive pad attached to the bump stop to lessen the clunk?

It's a little annoying for street driving to hear that once in awhile on a moderate bump, but off road you don't hear or pay any attention to the noise and the absorption is fantastic.

For clarification, this is what I'm asking about, and you can see the white hard nylon ends.

A
oddly enough, i have a Mojave and heard exactly what you were describing on a wheeling trip recently. Coming into large bumps i would hear that kind of sound and didnt know what it was. Did a walk around and steering check before getting back on the highway and everything seemed fine. No issues on the drive and I havent heard it since on the road.

its been raining and i havent had a chance to get up under the truck to check more thoroughly, but im not worried about it. There was no wheel or chassis feedback when i heard the sound, but on thinking of it in light kf your question, i only heard it on bumps that would have engaged the bump stops.

ill be lifting it here in a couple weeks. Ill let you know if i find anything i feel is definitive

You guys ever figure out if this is normal? Went to the desert, lots of whoops and dips, I get that clunk constantly on bigger hits - mostly woops at lower speeds. Doesn't affected handling, nothing sounds like it's breaking, it doesn't rattle my teeth - truck feels great you hear it wonder if you're messing something up or if it already is. Truck is stock, Load was about 600lbs worth of humans ( 5 ).

 

[MikeSalt]

Great write up guys. I’ve noticed thunks switching over ruts on the beach. Seems a bit more frequent after switching to 35’s

 

[KHam]

You guys ever figure out if this is normal? Went to the desert, lots of whoops and dips, I get that clunk constantly on bigger hits - mostly woops at lower speeds. Doesn't affected handling, nothing sounds like it's breaking, it doesn't rattle my teeth - truck feels great you hear it wonder if you're messing something up or if it already is. Truck is stock, Load was about 600lbs worth of humans ( 5 ).

yeah, this is normal. When the axle moves up far enough to contact the bump stop, it makes a thunk since it moving up really fast. These serve to deaccelerate the axle before it hits the hard stop. Love having them, well worth the noise off-road.

Sponsored