UPDATED: Replacing Rear Shocks: Reducing the rear end bounce.

[JohnFoxeSheets]

How would you rate the improvement? 0-10, 10 being the problem completely fixed.
Thanks!

I would rate it a 5. Definite improvement, but still room for more. I was recently on the Yolo Causeway on I-80 west of Sacramento traveling at speed (probably around 70) and the harmonic bounce was crazy. Not dangerous crazy, but comically crazy. That said, overall there's a definite improvement.

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[Dadams]

Right after doing the mod. I noticed the front bounce more. Now I don't notice it as much as I am probably just used to it. I can say for me it improved a 6 or 7. I would not hesitate to do it all over again.

 

[chcdmj]

Thank you all for your input. I'm on the fence between Koni (~$1K) and KW ($3K, I found a used set), and I hope I can quantitatively justify the investment.

 

[phidauex]

Thank you all for your input. I'm on the fence between Koni (~$1K) and KW ($3K, I found a used set), and I hope I can quantitatively justify the investment.

I'd say a 5-6 if 10 is completely fixed. It is much better, and for the price I'm happy. I'm sure there is more room for improvement, but I just got back from a 1500mi trip, riding in the front and the back, and I'm a lot happier than I was last time we did that route.

And if it helps, if you are doing the work yourself, the cost to me, including tax and shipping, was $480, including the shocks, the spacers and the Steeda bump stops, since I reused my stock shock mounts.

 

[chcdmj]

I'd say a 5-6 if 10 is completely fixed. It is much better, and for the price I'm happy. I'm sure there is more room for improvement, but I just got back from a 1500mi trip, riding in the front and the back, and I'm a lot happier than I was last time we did that route.

And if it helps, if you are doing the work yourself, the cost to me, including tax and shipping, was $480, including the shocks, the spacers and the Steeda bump stops, since I reused my stock shock mounts.

Yeah, even with $1K, I think a 50-60% improvement is good. Now I wish I could know how much the KW would improve. I assume it will be better (work on both front and rear, and fully adjustable)

 

[mkhuffman]

Yeah, even with $1K, I think a 50-60% improvement is good. Now I wish I could know how much the KW would improve. I assume it will be better (work on both front and rear, and fully adjustable)

Per what I read in the KW thread here on the forum, the ride is less bouncy but just as firm as we have now.

There is no modification available that will take the roughness from the short suspension travel away. Also, at max height the KWs are at stock GT height, which is lower than the non GT models.

 

[Tscates1]

I'd give them an 8 to 9. Amazing how much better it is on roads where the bounce wasn't a problem. And I agree that now I can feel the front bouncing where before the rear bounce was overwhelming. (Premium EX AWD)

 

[azerik]

Thank you all for your input. I'm on the fence between Koni (~$1K) and KW ($3K, I found a used set), and I hope I can quantitatively justify the investment.

I've thrown around the idea of those KW's many a time. I've spent a bunch of time with a couple different rear shock set ups (as there is no fronts possible other than the KW's at this time). I 'see' the front bounce more as I'm not being tossed all over anymore.
I'd rate the Koni's a solid 6
I'd rate Viking/QA1's a solid 8, possibly 9. (For double the price of the Koni's and more noise as the bottom bushing makes a squeak) <~ this set up is not documented but it's essentially the same as the Koni install but with different shocks. I could dial out the harmonic bounce I can still get a certain speeds in certain areas with the Koni's. It equated to no compression and 1 click from full rebound. Realistically if I can pin down how to unload some of the spring from the rear safely (key word here, safely) I'll get some others involved and I believe we'd be able to get the Koni's to a solid 8 as well, but I've had no desire as our record setting days of 110 arn't close to over yet.

I have 1 little section of concrete coming off a ramp that every time I drive over it I start thinking I'm actually riding a horse. Thankfully I don't need to use that road anymore as I can pick my kid up on the other side of the school and don't have to drive that patch. It was one of my test patches for testing several different shock set ups. It's currently 'bucky' at 20~35mph. If I hit it above or below it's pretty much not noticeable. But to keep with traffic I'm usually forced to 30mph. When I just want to just yell. "Ya ya Giddie Up!" (funny enough, there's 3 horse boarding places on that corner so there's a bunch of horses around to make it even feel realistic) Without the Koni's it didn't matter the speed it'd buck and continue to for about 50 feet past it. With the Vikings (dual adjust shocks) I was able to remove it.

 

[kennethjk]

Koni’s are back ordered and not available until the end of August. I guess a lot of MME owners have installed them.

have all the parts ready except the most important, the shocks. Hopefully they come in before I head to Florida.

 

[kennethjk]

Koni’s are back ordered and not available until the end of August. I guess a lot of MME owners have installed them.

have all the parts ready except the most important, the shocks. Hopefully they come in before I head to Florida.

Konis are in and being shipped today. Should have them next week?

 

[azerik]

Knice!

 

[kennethjk]

Finally got the Koni’s installed. I had the shop check my rear Steeda and no marks on it so that was good news. I don’t have the front Steeda thankfully and will now consider if I should have front Eiback sway bar installed.

drive home was about 25 miles and some rough roads. I didn’t change tire pressure yet. Running all 4 tires at 38 and original tires are at almost 19k miles. someone mentioned dropping pressure on rear tires a bit and will try that

actually thought the ride was a touch stiffer maybe not stiff but more road feel but def not as much bounce. Still had a big bounce over a speed bump.

will drive more over the weekend and see. I am sure I will like this setup better than original shocks so I feel better psychologically that the price was worth it ?

big test will be my better half. Will see what she says and that will determine how I feel. LOL

 

[azerik]

It'll be stiffer, but won't continue the bounce bounce bounce after a bump. Speed bumps turn into a bounce, dip, slight bounce.

 

[mkhuffman]

Finally got the Koni’s installed. I had the shop check my rear Steeda and no marks on it so that was good news. I don’t have the front Steeda thankfully and will now consider if I should have front Eiback sway bar installed.

drive home was about 25 miles and some rough roads. I didn’t change tire pressure yet. Running all 4 tires at 38 and original tires are at almost 19k miles. someone mentioned dropping pressure on rear tires a bit and will try that

actually thought the ride was a touch stiffer maybe not stiff but more road feel but def not as much bounce. Still had a big bounce over a speed bump.

will drive more over the weekend and see. I am sure I will like this setup better than original shocks so I feel better psychologically that the price was worth it ?

big test will be my better half. Will see what she says and that will determine how I feel. LOL

Agree with Erik. The initial rebound is the same, so the initial bump feels the same. But the after effect (the bouncing that happens after the first one) is diminished.

So the change is subtle unless you have bad roads that cause the harmonic bounce. I don't, so while it feels better and I confirmed with an accelerometer the harmonic bounce is a lot better, it is hard to tell on my local roads. I am still not going back, though.

 

[markboris]

And I will agree with both Eric and Mike. The ride will absolutely be more firm but that is what tames the continuous bouncing after the first one. It all depends on your roads. Actually rides a little more like an ICE Mustang with those rear shocks and will handle a touch better too.

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