ToneDog
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- November 5, 2001
- Messages
- 159
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Valley Stream, New York
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '98 Sport
To anyone who will listen!!!!!
I am going crazy! I am the owner of an oversized skate board! Purchased almost 2 years ago in mint condition, its a 1998 Sport SOHC, 59K, 4.10LS 255/70/16 with General Grabber AW Tires, All stock - Even the shocks, in the best kept condition possible, all maintence schedules followed to the "T".
Yet for some reason, the ride is getting worse and worse over time. I feel every single little imperfection in the road, any time I hit a bump or anything slightly bigger than an "imperfection" I can feel it in my feet, seat and steering wheel!
I live on Long island NY, and drive everyday to Newark NJ, Hobken NJ, Midtown NYC, and Finally Brooklyn for work. I think I drive throught the 5 worst area on the east coast to drive through on a daily basis.
The ride in my Sport now is really like I have no suspension at all! BAM! BAM! BAM! The whole front end feels loose and has a kind of vibration/after shock when hitting bad spots of road. If I am on the belt pkwy (a.k.a pot hole city!) doing 60/70mph and hit a bad patch of road, I crindge and hold on as the hit will be so hard, the cd skips in the player stuff goes flyin', every corner of the truck starts creekin', a total mess!
Sometimes the ass kicks out, I feel like it hits so hard the whole truck actually is off the ground from the impact and lands again, and if it doesn't land straight, my front is in one lane and my ass in another.
I think the faster I go the better it is, the ride gets worse with every 20mph slower I go! There are noises occational poping, metal to metal sounds, a clucnking when it rocks side to side going up a drive or something!
I had it check by 3 dealers, 1 sears, 1 great bear, 1 mavis tire, and two local reccomended repair guys and none can find anything. all say: "she's tight" and I say check the:
Shock Mounts & Shocks
Sway bar links & all bushings
Ball joints
Torsion bars (**and teflon pads on adjusters)
Tie rods
Wheel Bearings
Steering system
Ect Ect... *no signs of metal to metal contact*
Yeah, sure some of you will say "try riding in a '91-94", well if any of you remember me I used to own a 1991 Sport (white) Stock, for 3 years before this one, and let me tell you It used to ride better!!!
Others, "well dude it's a truck" Yeah dude, it's upposed to be alittle, only alittle better than my first generation, and every other "truck" Tahoe,blazer,jeep,pathfinder,rover ect... Ride better tan this and it a "TRUCK" so that doesn't do it for me!
My question is: How can I make the 700+ miles a week, more bareable now that I have paid in all about 20K in cash for this think and I am stuck with it for now?????
Is it tires??? Money is no object: LTX M/S the SOFTEST??
Is it shocks??? Rancho 9000's on setting 1 the best???
Is there another suspension system that I could use a 4 link?? or something I'll rip the current suspension right outta this puppy??
What can I do?? PLEASE HELP!
Venting and upset
ToneDog
Ps, gotta go pickup my girl, think I'll take some pain medication (vikadin) or something before I get in!
I am going crazy! I am the owner of an oversized skate board! Purchased almost 2 years ago in mint condition, its a 1998 Sport SOHC, 59K, 4.10LS 255/70/16 with General Grabber AW Tires, All stock - Even the shocks, in the best kept condition possible, all maintence schedules followed to the "T".
Yet for some reason, the ride is getting worse and worse over time. I feel every single little imperfection in the road, any time I hit a bump or anything slightly bigger than an "imperfection" I can feel it in my feet, seat and steering wheel!
I live on Long island NY, and drive everyday to Newark NJ, Hobken NJ, Midtown NYC, and Finally Brooklyn for work. I think I drive throught the 5 worst area on the east coast to drive through on a daily basis.
The ride in my Sport now is really like I have no suspension at all! BAM! BAM! BAM! The whole front end feels loose and has a kind of vibration/after shock when hitting bad spots of road. If I am on the belt pkwy (a.k.a pot hole city!) doing 60/70mph and hit a bad patch of road, I crindge and hold on as the hit will be so hard, the cd skips in the player stuff goes flyin', every corner of the truck starts creekin', a total mess!
Sometimes the ass kicks out, I feel like it hits so hard the whole truck actually is off the ground from the impact and lands again, and if it doesn't land straight, my front is in one lane and my ass in another.
I think the faster I go the better it is, the ride gets worse with every 20mph slower I go! There are noises occational poping, metal to metal sounds, a clucnking when it rocks side to side going up a drive or something!
I had it check by 3 dealers, 1 sears, 1 great bear, 1 mavis tire, and two local reccomended repair guys and none can find anything. all say: "she's tight" and I say check the:
Shock Mounts & Shocks
Sway bar links & all bushings
Ball joints
Torsion bars (**and teflon pads on adjusters)
Tie rods
Wheel Bearings
Steering system
Ect Ect... *no signs of metal to metal contact*
Yeah, sure some of you will say "try riding in a '91-94", well if any of you remember me I used to own a 1991 Sport (white) Stock, for 3 years before this one, and let me tell you It used to ride better!!!
Others, "well dude it's a truck" Yeah dude, it's upposed to be alittle, only alittle better than my first generation, and every other "truck" Tahoe,blazer,jeep,pathfinder,rover ect... Ride better tan this and it a "TRUCK" so that doesn't do it for me!
My question is: How can I make the 700+ miles a week, more bareable now that I have paid in all about 20K in cash for this think and I am stuck with it for now?????
Is it tires??? Money is no object: LTX M/S the SOFTEST??
Is it shocks??? Rancho 9000's on setting 1 the best???
Is there another suspension system that I could use a 4 link?? or something I'll rip the current suspension right outta this puppy??
What can I do?? PLEASE HELP!
Venting and upset
ToneDog
Ps, gotta go pickup my girl, think I'll take some pain medication (vikadin) or something before I get in!