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Back suspension jarring over bumps-help please!


NovaPath
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My 01 pathfinder seems especially jarring over speed humps/speed bumps. It is almost like the back end bottoms out or something, but taking a speed hump at 15mph will leave you feeling very uncomfortable once the back end hits it.

I'm thinking of replacing the shocks to see if that helps, does anyone else have any ideas? I can't imagine thats just how these things are...but I guess with the solid axle rear it's possible? Would it help to put some rubber spring spacers in?

Please Help!

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My understanding of the death sway is more of a side to side movement, this is a harsh slap type of feeling coming from the rear end, could that be caused by the same bushings?

 

I am located in northern Virginia.

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go outside to your truck stand on the bumper or trailer hitch and try and bounce it... if it is easy to push up and down your shocks are dead. the springs are there to support the weight of the vehicle, the shocks control how fast everything moves up and down. when they are dead the springs are overwhelmed by the speed of the rear end moving up and then the rubber bump stops are smashed by the rear axle.

the rear shocks are fairly easy to replace yourself.

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I will do this tomorrow and report back. I know that one of the rear shocks was leaking slightly, but I have not noticed any bouncing yet. I was waiting for the bouncing prior to replacing, perhaps that was a misinformed decision.

 

 

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I will do this tomorrow and report back. I know that one of the rear shocks was leaking slightly, but I have not noticed any bouncing yet. I was waiting for the bouncing prior to replacing, perhaps that was a misinformed decision.

 

 

if in the future any part of your truck is leaking, think of it as bleeding precious bodily fluid. No good will come of it.

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Well the rear shocks seem to be working just fine when given the jump test. I definitely understand what you are saying bushnut, and the car that this one replaced I OVER maintained. Part of the reason I got rid of it(aside from being impractical in the mid atlantic weather and traffic) was because I needed a break from my obsession. I committed to myself(and my wife!) on this one that I would take the "if its not broke don't fix it" approach. All in all it is in pretty good shape, but I would like to sort out this issue. I may add some spring spacers and replace the rear shocks, if that doesn't fix it I'll probably just live with it.

 

Thanks again for your help

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If the shocks are ok if may very well be the rear control arm bushings. Come to think of it mine would do the same thing when going over speed bumps. I didn't have that much death wobble but it did feel better over speed bumps after I replaced the 4 rear control arms. Have fun

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sounds like the guys have it pretty well in hand from what i have read. I have rubber bump stops mounted to the bottom floor inside the spring for the rear. not sure about the 01 if im honest. but see if those are missing or fell off or something if you have them. there is somewhere on the forum u can grab a FSM that will help guide you as well.

 

Pat

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If the shocks are ok if may very well be the rear control arm bushings. Come to think of it mine would do the same thing when going over speed bumps. I didn't have that much death wobble but it did feel better over speed bumps after I replaced the 4 rear control arms. Have fun

Just corrected this issue with mine a few months ago. I'd check the upper links on the rear end. Mine would get incredibly stupid at 60-65 mph if I hit the slightest bump in the road.

 

 

Bubba.....

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