Bump stops - who needs 'em?

[Phrank]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm a pretty handy guy, I have no experience with steering and suspension systems.

Yesterday when I pulled my front passenger wheel, I found what used to be a bump stop laying at the bottom of the spring. From the look of what was left of it, it had been residing there for quite some time. I haven't noticed any issue recently and my Jeep (Sport S, bone stock except for 33" Rubicon take-offs) is never anywhere full flex. How big of a hurry do I need to be to replace it? The front driver side BS is still in place, but it's looking pretty rough as well.

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[Roky]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm a pretty handy guy, I have no experience with steering and suspension systems.

Yesterday when I pulled my front passenger wheel, I found what used to be a bump stop laying at the bottom of the spring. From the look of what was left of it, it had been residing there for quite some time. I haven't noticed any issue recently and my Jeep (Sport S, bone stock except for 33" Rubicon take-offs) is never anywhere full flex. How big of a hurry do I need to be to replace it? The front driver side BS is still in place, but it's looking pretty rough as well.

They’re there to keep the tires out of the fenders and protect the shocks from bottoming out, if you’re never flexed enough for that to happen, then take your time….

 

[DarthAWM]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm a pretty handy guy, I have no experience with steering and suspension systems.

Yesterday when I pulled my front passenger wheel, I found what used to be a bump stop laying at the bottom of the spring. From the look of what was left of it, it had been residing there for quite some time. I haven't noticed any issue recently and my Jeep (Sport S, bone stock except for 33" Rubicon take-offs) is never anywhere full flex. How big of a hurry do I need to be to replace it? The front driver side BS is still in place, but it's looking pretty rough as well.

It's all fun and games until you encounter an unexpected bottoming hit. Without a bump stop tires are hitting fenders and shocks are being bent or broken. The key here is unexpected, sure you drive your Jeep easy but that one in a million occurrence could cost you more then a the couple hundred bucks or rubber and labor

 

[LukeDagny]

My front axle OEM foam bump stops disintegrated, and I would experience an occasional bottoming while driving on pavement.

Since the OEM foam bump stops weren't very durable, I replaced them with urethane bumps stops. BAD move with stock suspension.

The urethane seem to be slightly longer than OEM and there's no give. I can bottom on the urethane bump stop driving through a parking lot at 10 MPH.

I installed the urethane bump stops without removing the front springs. I was able to squeeze them through the spring coil with the wheel drooped.

I pried out the remnants of the old foam bump stops with a screwdriver, but I can't get the urethane bump stops out unless I remove the front springs..

 

[Phrank]

I appreciate the info - I'll move this up on the project priority matrix.

Install looks pretty straightforward - any pitfalls to watch for? Also, for my application is there any need to buy anything other than the cheapest option?

 

[Terrymo]

I appreciate the info - I'll move this up on the project priority matrix.

Install looks pretty straightforward - any pitfalls to watch for? Also, for my application is there any need to buy anything other than the cheapest option?

People are giving OEM suspension components away on this forum often with very low miles. You might find some for the cost of shipping.

 

[Phrank]

People are giving OEM suspension components away on this forum often with very low miles. You might find some for the cost of shipping.

Good call - I'll keep an eye out.

 

[bd100]

I have some Timbren off-road bumpstops waiting for install, but I think it'll require removing the springs. Anything smallish may not require spring removal.

 

[LukeDagny]

I appreciate the info - I'll move this up on the project priority matrix.

Install looks pretty straightforward - any pitfalls to watch for? Also, for my application is there any need to buy anything other than the cheapest option?

I purchased OEM style bump stops for ~$20. I'm waiting for some garage space before I install, because I will have to drop the axle and remove springs, to get the urethane bump stops out.

There's a 5 minute Youtube video showing how to install OEM style without removing the springs or dropping the axle.

 

[bllprk]

Love these!!!

https://metalcloak.com/durospring-replacement-jounce-bumper-jeep-jk-jl.html

 

[roaniecowpony]

While flexing, you may hit the stops. But my thought is that flexing is more gentle on the bumps than just heading down the road and crossing over another road where you hit the gutter at speed and bottom against the stops.

 

[LukeDagny]

Love these!!!

https://metalcloak.com/durospring-replacement-jounce-bumper-jeep-jk-jl.html

I've seen a video of those in action and they seem to work well.

 

[LukeDagny]

While flexing, you may hit the stops. But my thought is that flexing is more gentle on the bumps than just heading down the road and crossing over another road where you hit the gutter at speed and bottom against the stops.

That's what I'm experiencing. The urethane bump stops look longer than OEM and gives me very little up travel. I haven't measured, but it looks in the 1" range. 5-10 MPH through a parking lot, rolling over a speed bump, and I bottom.

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