Coilover maintenance

[Pike2350]

So I've had coilovers on my truck for a few years. I have to say I am not horrible impressed so far. I'm sure a lot of that comes from not needing fully tuned.... I'm also sure it has to do with the custom suspension/SAS.

Im begining to wonder if there is some regular maintenance im not doing that may help? I don't drive much, but want to keep it street legal.

With that said, how often do you fill/check the nitrogen level in these? Do they leak if sitting for months at a time?

I had the front coilovers changed out last fall to brand new Fox. I felt it rode better and that the old ones had lost pressure. I pulled it out for first time since November and it feels a little less comfortable. Maybe I'm overly sensitive and worried it's not "perfect".....but i wondered if i could have lost pressure and maybe it's a normal thing. Im not sure.

What address people's opinion of coilovers in general for someone who doesn't use their truck often

 

[RockChucker]

I wasn't happy with my coilovers immediately after I finished my build. Working with Matt at Desert Speed Shock Tuning was the best money I have spent on my Jeep. Period. I haven't had problems with Nitrogen leaking out after sitting either.

 

[Pike2350]

I wasn't happy with my coilovers immediately after I finished my build. Working with Matt at Desert Speed Shock Tuning was the best money I have spent on my Jeep. Period. I haven't had problems with Nitrogen leaking out after sitting either.

Thanks. Im also having a hard time sucking up the cost for tuning. I may be cheap and maybe it's with it.

 

[J-mobzz]

If you want shocks to work they need to be tuned. Unfortunately no magic level of nitrogen is going to make up for non properly valved shocks. Also are you running the correct coils? How much preload do you have to maintain ride height? Dual rate setup?

 

[Pike2350]

If you want shocks to work they need to be tuned. Unfortunately no magic level of nitrogen is going to make up for non properly valved shocks. Also are you running the correct coils? How much preload do you have to maintain ride height? Dual rate setup?

This is all stuff I've read and feel I have a good idea on..... but it doesn't seem to make it feel great to my seat of the pants experience.

I have no preload adjusted on the collar upfront...but being that they are 10" coilovers, using the dual rate set up of 10" upper and 12" lower means it "automatically has about 1.5-2" of preload just being on the shock, because the full ext length is only 26.1". I run 225/300 spring rate....or a net rate of about effective spring rate of 128lbs. This is on a full bodied Isuzu Rodeo. It nets me about 3.5" of up travel. The rear, they are angled and I run a 300/400 rate....and have about 4" of preload. Part of that is to try and clear the 4Wheel Underground mounts.

My guess is it's not valved properly...or that I expect too much out of the suspension. I've always felt it was a bit loud, a lot more body roll then I want and a few other issues. I know much of it can be addressed through different measures, limit straps, sway bar (I do have a rear sway bar I need to tweak I believe) It just hasn't felt quite as "refined" as I guess as I expected.

The thought of leaking oil/nitrogen came after sitting for nearly 8 months....and whether that had any affects on them.

I guess it really boils down to wanting a truck to perform well, drive well, but due to the lack of space to work on it, the lack of people to wheel with, and the lack of extra money to "throw" at it until it's how I'd prefer, it's kind of something I just have to live with.