need a smooth ride

I have a 97 110k Runs nice but rides rough. I have replaced the shocks and a few other suspension parts, but is there anything else I can do? I feel every bump in this thing. I was thinking the torsion bars that run down the middle of the truck. I think there called torsion bars. They seem to be adjustable. Will these effect the ride.

thanks
JKDon

It's a truck man....it's not made to float down the highway. The suspension was created to enable it to handle off-road situations, so it has to be stiffer than that of say, a luxury sedan. Mine's a great runner but rough rider too, but I think that's the sign of an SUV that was truly built tough.

Try passenger car tires. Softer sidewall = softer ride. Not as soft as a car but better.

I can attest to this - Just last night in fact I had gotten my old tires that came with the truck swapped out for some new rubber. Went from no-names to a complete 4 set of BF Goodrich Land Terrains @$67 a piece. Learned a new thing too - Walmart's policy on changing a tire is that they check the door pillars and tire designations. I wanted the tires in a 6-ply "LT", but was refused.. "The truck was built for P rated radials." Luckily, there was a Passenger radial in what I wanted in stock sized 235/70/R15's in the same BF Goodrich brand. All said and done:

These tires have an aggresive M+S rated bite, are sturdy enough to take off-road, but not rough country crossing - and ride really mellow. No tread noise at highway speeds either and they seemed to have improved handling pretty well as a side benefit. Sure beats the hell out of the "Custom" all season radials that were on it. Oh, and my assessment to Blazert LT was incorrect. Too much throttle in a stright line and she will easily roast these new tires too. ;)

But yeah, try going to a P-rated tire in the right size. The softer walls and lower tread belt count will make the tire more prone to flexing through a bump, making the ride smoother and handling a little better at highway speeds. Though if you treat them too roughly off-road, no telling how well they will stand up.

Gotta trade something to gain something else I guess.

lol, they have no right to refuse you tires, tell them to know there role and install the tires and not to think they are some kind of tire nazi.

NO LT TRUCK TIRES FOR JOO!

I went to walmart and they installed the LT truck tires I wanted no problem.

Why did you put up with that crap?

I got 235/75/15 cooper discoverer atr and they smoothed the ride a little compared to my 235/70/15..it wasn't a huge difference but noticeable. I'll sacrifice the 2mph odometer change for the more agressive bigger tire +smoother ride.

They stated some paltry-assed Walmart policy/statute crap at me. But two things: 1) Still coming down off the flu, and standing in the place after a 12+ hour work day - I am in no mood to argue policy. Given - if I was feeling any better, I would have hung him to the wall upside-down with his own boot laces. 2)What I was getting was far better than the fuzzy-sidewalled, dry-rotted no-name CRAP that the wheels were rolling on from the person I bought it from. Besides, no other place in town had stock on the tires I wanted. Plenty of Yokohamas and Khumos out there with warranties I could piss through after a cup of morning coffee. Sometimes, you have to make the best of a situation handed you. ;)

i got no namers on my 91 suck in the snow but i can roast them so easy dont try and they roast anyway

I have the Walmart branded tires on mine and I saved a boatload and they are excellent tires.

Saved $200 on a four tire install, now that is some serious savings.

I can attest to this - Just last night in fact I had gotten my old tires that came with the truck swapped out for some new rubber. Went from no-names to a complete 4 set of BF Goodrich Land Terrains @$67 a piece. Learned a new thing too - Walmart's policy on changing a tire is that they check the door pillars and tire designations. I wanted the tires in a 6-ply "LT", but was refused.. "The truck was built for P rated radials." Luckily, there was a Passenger radial in what I wanted in stock sized 235/70/R15's in the same BF Goodrich brand. All said and done:

These tires have an aggresive M+S rated bite, are sturdy enough to take off-road, but not rough country crossing - and ride really mellow. No tread noise at highway speeds either and they seemed to have improved handling pretty well as a side benefit. Sure beats the hell out of the "Custom" all season radials that were on it. Oh, and my assessment to Blazert LT was incorrect. Too much throttle in a stright line and she will easily roast these new tires too. ;)

But yeah, try going to a P-rated tire in the right size. The softer walls and lower tread belt count will make the tire more prone to flexing through a bump, making the ride smoother and handling a little better at highway speeds. Though if you treat them too roughly off-road, no telling how well they will stand up.

Gotta trade something to gain something else I guess.

Watch your air pressure hoss, Wallyworld has a habit of under inflating their tires. Make sure they ar aired to the tires recomended pressures not what Wallyworld thinks it should be. :2cents:

Of course! They were under by about 2 pounds each. And they also do not know what to torque your wheel lugs too. I sat in the parking lot as they gave me dirty looks and re-set my lugs with my own torque wrench. ;) You'll get a good price on your tires, but you'll get the guys that could not hack it in a real garage working on your truck like a team of monkeys.

Remember to check the tire pressure cold too.

Thanks for the tip - but y'er not talking to a shop monkey. ;) BTW, in case anyone else doesn't know, a "cold" tire is one that has not been moving for more than 8 hours. If you have to drive to a service station to fill up on air, do not drive faster than 40 MPH for more than 3 miles. It is then no longer "cold", but starting to warm up. More useless FYI from this wrench turning mental case. :icon16:

Thanks for the tip - but y'er not talking to a shop monkey. ;) BTW, in case anyone else doesn't know, a "cold" tire is one that has not been moving for more than 8 hours. If you have to drive to a service station to fill up on air, do not drive faster than 40 MPH for more than 3 miles. It is then no longer "cold", but starting to warm up. More useless FYI from this wrench turning mental case. :icon16:


What do you torque your lugs to....? 87lbs ? 92lbs ? Or ??

I got my tires from Sam's club. They don't torque the wheels right either. One was loose and I didn't catch it for a while. I think the wheel is off balance now cause it shakes my jimmy at 70 mph. I think I must have thrown a weight or something like that.

I gotta get my tires balanced.

Did it by the book that came with my truck. Owner manual says to torque to 93~97 ft/pounds for steel or custom wheels. I have aluminum customs, went for the sweet spot at 95 foot/pounds. The wrench monkeys only tightened them to what I guess to be about 85 or so. I back them off until they feel free, then bear down on them until my torque wrench breaks away @ 95 ft./pound. *Clickey-click* ;) Oh, and be a good fellow and make sure that you tighten cross-wise in a pentagram pattern - side-to-side until you hit all five lugs.