Hopping (yes hopping like a bunny)

[VCrossfan]

Yes mine hops at times as well. My guess is the front shocks are bottoming out. I know when I installed my Rancho 9000's a couple years ago I noticed there's not much shock left for travel (sitting with no lift,torsion bars at original height) I'm going to look for a shorter bodied (cylinder) shock that will allow more clearance before bottoming out in normal road travel but will limit the total length travel (which I don't need) . The 9000's would work well if we cranked the torsion bars, but unless I install rear springs my stance is just right now, so I'll do some shock hunting. Anyone else have any thoughts or shock ideas, drop a line...thx

[Mr.Badguy]

I'm releaved that I'm not the only one that has this issue. Vcrossfan, if you do turn up any information on shocks, please let me know. I'm willing to try something new if it has good results. My mechanic also said that with the short wheel base that the rear end will want to replace the front end if i hit a bump.

Look forward to anymore comments or suggestions.

Thanks!

[VehiGAZ]

I don't have this problem (I have Bilsteins! Hahahah... ok, just kidding) but I wonder if it has to do with the alignment...

My engineer father told me never to get a thrust-angle alignment (which aligns the front wheels to compensate for & balance out any misalignment of the rear axle) because it would leave the car with an inherent tension in the suspension. What you guys are describing sounds a bit like such a tension being released when your rubber hits the slippery spot. (I made that sound dirty, huh?)

Diagnostic question - If you drive straight over a series of expansion joints, does the VX always hop to the same side?

When's the last time you had an alignment check?

[Mr.Badguy]

I don't have this problem (I have Bilsteins! Hahahah... ok, just kidding) but I wonder if it has to do with the alignment...

My engineer father told me never to get a thrust-angle alignment (which aligns the front wheels to compensate for & balance out any misalignment of the rear axle) because it would leave the car with an inherent tension in the suspension. What you guys are describing sounds a bit like such a tension being released when your rubber hits the slippery spot. (I made that sound dirty, huh?)

Diagnostic question - If you drive straight over a series of expansion joints, does the VX always hop to the same side?

When's the last time you had an alignment check?

I just recently, had an alignment done in June, but have no idea if it was a thrust-angle alignment. what sort of alignment should i get or ask for?

to answer your other question, most of the time it hops to the right, then to the left. it seems that whenever i hit the seams, the car hops up into the air (because the slide is so severe) and to the right. I have both hands on the steering wheel and try to keep it straight. if the wheel is turned any, the hop is worse, and goes in the opposite direction to which the steering wheel is turned.

I appreciate the input on this situation.

[BD-VX99]

Have Bilsteins, don't have the same problem. "-H0" back and front. My back end does bottom out on everything fun though because of sagging springs. I really wanted to cut down the bumpstops a bit but I think I'll wait until I lift next spring.

[SBC]

Sagging rear springs will make the axle bottom out on the rear bumpstops and cause it to bounce, Check those as you will see wear on them.......That was the problem in my case of it hopping and skipping!
Tim
www.streetboutiquecustoms.com

[VehiGAZ]

Well, IIRC, there are thrust-angle, two-wheel, and 4-wheel alignment methods (but the first two might be the same thing). Dino? Chopper? Anyone care to shed some light on that?

With thrust-angle alignments, they measure the alignment of the rear wheels and calculate the overall alignment of the axle, then set the front wheels to compensate for the angle of the rear alignment. It keeps the car going straight, but only because the opposing factions are equally matched. Imagine if the rear wheels were pointing the car 5* to the left (the thrust angle of the axle) - they would then align the fronts to point 5* to the right so that overall, you go straight, but as soon as the front axle hits a bump and goes light, the rear axle gets to push the car to the left.

I know that some vehicles can only be aligned by the thrust angle method, and I have no idea if the VX is one of them. Call an Isuzu dealer and find out or search the forum for "alignment" and see what comes up.

If you paid $59.99, it may not have been a 4-wheel alignment, though. 4-wheel is the best way to go - they get all 4 wheels pointing straight.

[VCrossfan]

VehiGAZ..Could you measure the body length of your front Bilsteins, and I'll check my Ranchos. If the Rancho peeps have this prob and Bilstein peeps don't I bet the cylinder body length is shorter on the Bilsteins which will give you more shaft length (now that sounds dirty) stick out of the cylinder body creating more shock stroke at a normal ride height. The longer cylinder will have more overall travel (for offroaders and lifts). It's like the Rancho's are a shock just waiting for a lift. I have new OME springs (913's so-so lift and nice ride) but I hate to looz my handling, it's just to much fun doubling off-ramp warning speeds and seeing sporty cars trying to keep up and there door handle dragging the ground and my Rancho 9000's set on 8. It's like the VX is on rails...

[VehiGAZ]

VCrossfan, my VX is still in the shop for the S/C install (due out today) and I leave tomorrow evening for vacation, so I don't think I can do this until the week of the 23rd sometime.

Nevertheless, I would be surprised if everyone is talking about the same problem here. A huge amount of spring & shock compression is needed to hit the bump stops, and you're not going to get that kind of force going over expansion joints like the guys above are complaining about (unless your VX was lowered maybe).