- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
I think I'll add another update to this thread, since I've made a few more changes. I have completely dumped the experimental Sway-A-Ways, the fronts were already removed and now the rears are toast. I've gone to Bilstein 7100 short bodies in front with 278/75 valving, and Bilstein 5150's in the rear with 255/70 valving. This combination feels pretty damn good so far, and is a decent improvement over the SAW's, which I didn't think were too bad. I had previously had some problem with the rear end bucking and that has gone away.
At first, with the new Bilstein's, the handling was pretty good but I still hit the bumpstops pretty hard now and then. I discovered that the frame had bent above the rear bumpstop on one side, so the stop was moved to the side enough to let the shock bottom out. I fixed the frame so the stop is back where it should be and the tie straps around the rear shocks are just barely touching the bottom of the shock shaft on the hardest hit.......perfect, and it feels good. I was also hitting the front stops pretty good on hard hits. I recently made a trip to Baja, and came back with both front bumpstops broken. I switched the front bumpstops to Prothane poly coil inserts, which are a soft poly and just sit inside of the coil. I made a small plate that bolted to the top for the insert to hit against, and the insert isn't attached to anything, it just sits inside of the coil. These things work extremely well, and are very progressive. I have 5.5" of up travel in the front, with 2" before the bumpstop first hits, then the stop compresses 3.5" on a hard hit.
I now have the best shock valving I've had so far, and the best bumpstops I've had so far, and it works pretty well. For strictly desert racing, I'd want a little more compression valving both front and rear, but for a combination of trail work and prerunning type stuff I think the valving is pretty good.
At first, with the new Bilstein's, the handling was pretty good but I still hit the bumpstops pretty hard now and then. I discovered that the frame had bent above the rear bumpstop on one side, so the stop was moved to the side enough to let the shock bottom out. I fixed the frame so the stop is back where it should be and the tie straps around the rear shocks are just barely touching the bottom of the shock shaft on the hardest hit.......perfect, and it feels good. I was also hitting the front stops pretty good on hard hits. I recently made a trip to Baja, and came back with both front bumpstops broken. I switched the front bumpstops to Prothane poly coil inserts, which are a soft poly and just sit inside of the coil. I made a small plate that bolted to the top for the insert to hit against, and the insert isn't attached to anything, it just sits inside of the coil. These things work extremely well, and are very progressive. I have 5.5" of up travel in the front, with 2" before the bumpstop first hits, then the stop compresses 3.5" on a hard hit.
I now have the best shock valving I've had so far, and the best bumpstops I've had so far, and it works pretty well. For strictly desert racing, I'd want a little more compression valving both front and rear, but for a combination of trail work and prerunning type stuff I think the valving is pretty good.