Wizard has a shocking ride.

[Ralphie]

I have a 96 Wizard and I think the ride is shocking. It seems to wallow down the road. I feel that it is coming from the rear. I also have a 2.8 Bighorn and the ride is fantastic. I will take the Bighorn on a trip instead of the Wizard. I have noticed that the Bighorn has rear leaf springs and is quite hard where as the Wizard has coil springs and is very soft. I have checked all the bushes in the rear and they seem to be fine. My question is, If I change the Wizard rear springs for some firmer ones, is that going to solve my problem? Does anyone else have this problem with there Wizard?

[geeves]

Check the shocks first Also it should have a rear sway bar. The bighorn can have a over firm ride due to the leaf springs so might not be the ideal vehicle for comparison. Same would be true of the ute

[sprey]

Also how close do your rear bumpstops sit. In the Vehicross's they sit very close with the stock springs and often hit even when driving down the road at 60k! of course depending on the road and if the springs have sagged or not.

[MrBIGHORN]

Make sure tyre pressure is 34-36 PSI. Check rear swaybar is ingauged and then cheak the shocks as thay mite have gone soft as my front shocks did as it was all over the place but not leaking oil from them.

[Ralphie]

I have checked the rear sway bar and it looks fine. How do I tell if it is ingauged or not. There is no oil leakage from the shocks. The rear bumpstops are very close and it looks like they hit quite often. I have just priced some KYB shocks from Supercheap. $79.00 each. Are they any good?

[geeves]

KYB is probably first or second choice on the forum with Rancho filling the other spot. They are nothing fancy but a good reliable shock. KYB makes 70% shocks for new Jap cars. Well priced as well

[mulover]

if all of the above are fine, them it sounds like your springs are stuffed. could be a good excuse for a suspension lift too.....

[scruff123]

my coil sprung bighorn used to be like that, fitted it with dobi heavy duty coils(50mm lift) and new monroe shocks, rides like dream now

[MattMu]

Ralphie,

If your shocks are more than 80 000km then they are stuffed.
Replacing the shocks are the single biggest improvement in ride you can do.

If your ride height is too low then its your springs.

Matt.