Bouncy after front suspension replacement

I recently did the following:

-Installed DK LCA and UCA
-Rebuilt Fox 2.5 Ext travel shocks up front and swapped old coil for a new 14" by 600# eibach coil; roughly 2 in of threads showing for the preload.
-new KO2 load C tires at 32 PSI

My truck has been riding rough, where I feel every bump on the road to the point it's been giving me a headached. I understand that the Derlin bushings are much less forgiving than the stock bushings but it feels excessive. I have also been told the new coils need a good amount to break in/soften up.

How could I tell I'd somethings wrong or if that's just how it's gonna be from now on?

 

I bet the coils will soften up. Especially you go out and off-road and give that suspension a work out

 

Back off the preload a bit, or measure your hub to fender distance. Could be pretty topped out height wise

 

Plan on taking to the desert this weekend for that exact reason. I shouldn't be, im sitting just shy of 22" hub to fender.

 

Have you had the shocks tuned? If so, on road will usually be stiffer, but thats what you need for offroad performance compaired to factory valving.

 

Not that I know of, just a rebuild. I was hearing that tuning may help smooth it out though?

 

I’m skeptical that coil springs soften up a noticeable amount in such a short time. Depending on what tires you had before the new LT tires could be the culprit. They ride harsher than P rated tires. Have you measured your down travel? Too little down travel can cause issues.

 

The tires prior were falken wild peaks. How would you measure down travel

 

Falken Wildpeak AT3W in SL

 

Measure the distance from the center of your hub to your fender flair at ride height and at full droop and subtract.

More information about preload here:

https://accutuneoffroad.com/articles/how-to-measure-set-spring-preload/

https://accutuneoffroad.com/articles/spring-preload-matters/

https://accutuneoffroad.com/preload-adjustments-on-oem-fit-coilovers/

 

You are probably feeling the difference in tires. You can feel small imperfections in the road more with LT tires compared to P tires. Throw the old tires back on and see how it feels.

 

I had a bouncy ride too when I first installed my new suspension, it softened up after a while though. I don’t recall how long that took, a few hundred miles maybe? I did several slightly maintained trails that probably helped it along too.

I would consistently check that everything is secure and tight, obviously if something looks out of place address that, but give it some time and see if they smooth out.


EDIT: Delrin bushes are a bold move, I installed all poly bushes and I pretty much hate them at this point even after installing extra zerk fittings.

 

Are you sure you didn’t just get used to it? I can’t think of any theoretical reason that the suspension would soften up with a small amount of use. Steel has good fatigue resistance (tolerance to repeated load-unload cycling) and that’s why springs are made out of steel as opposed to aluminum or something else.

 

Would if I could, but discount tire has them now.

Called discount tire and they are gonna be able to take back the KO2s and install the falkens for no charge. I'm glad you mentioned that because if I waited until next week, I would have passed the 30 day guarantee.

 

Positive, it was a weird distinctive kind of bounce. It went away for sure.

 

Did you perhaps change your tire air pressure?

 

I can back this up with empirical experience. Even the cheapest coil springs don't soften up or lose rate over time or with use. What they do do is lose free length and take a "set" so the rate will not noticeably change, but the height may.

Over time you are either loosening up bushings, losing a tad of ride height, or getting used to it.

 

So everyone saying coils soften up is BS ?

 

Technically, yes. That's not to say items in the suspension don't settle into each other and free up over time but coils don't typically get softer but they can lose free height.

 

Thanks. I’ve been googling trying to find an explanation for the “settling” and “breaking in” phenomena that people often refer to. The joints and bushings came to mind, but intuitively it seems like it must be a small effect.