Jeep Wrangler is the most royal and challenging vehicle available in the market. Besides, it comprises a quintessential part of every adventure trip. Undeniably, the craze for this vehicle is unstoppable amongst the masses. Another impressive aspect of the Jeep Wrangler is its attractive and stylish looks that never fail to turn heads.
Being a robust vehicle, it is mainly famous for off-road driving over the terrains and rock climbing. Yet many users still question its ability to drive on the highways. If you are facing problems with how to make a Jeep Wrangler ride smoother, the following guide will be helpful for you.
Reasons Due to Which a Jeep Wrangler is rough to ride
Firstly, the Jeep Wranglers were designed especially for off-road driving purposes. Owing to the fact, these are not much suitable for driving long distances on the highways.
“Being every outdoor enthusiast’s favorite, the suspension of the Jeep Wrangler was engineered to work better on rough and uneven terrains. Yet, the newer models of the same offer smooth driving performance even on the highways.”
Most importantly, the Jeep Wranglers have all-terrain tires that are ideal for off-roading. Though the tires never directly hamper the performance of the vehicle on the highways, the suspension does. However, the below mentioned are the key reasons that are responsible for making the ride rougher.
Springs
Older models of Jeep Wrangler consist of leaf springs, whereas the recent ones have coil springs. Undoubtedly, the coil springs are highly efficient in absorbing the vertical impacts when the vehicle drives over holes and bumps. That is why the latest models of Jeep Wrangler perform smoothly on highways.
Shocks
After a certain usage period, the shock dampeners of the vehicle become stiffer, affecting the quality of the ride. If the shocks of your Jeep Wrangler have worn out, it will not decrease the vertical impact. As a consequence, the vehicle will bounce up and down continuously. A feasible way to prevent this is by getting brand-new shock dampeners for your vehicle.
Spring Firmness
Nowadays, there exists a variety of firmness rates for the coil spring. A majority of Jeep Wranglers arrive with a firm spring. Nevertheless, the factory springs are not of the best quality every time. Although it does not make any difference in off-road driving, it can lead to bumpier rides on the highways.
Tips to Make a Jeep Wrangler Ride Smoother
Though a Jeep Wrangler is popular for off-road driving, many people use it to drive on highways. At times, the performance and ride quality seems to be rougher, which can be inconvenient for the user. Try out the following tips.
Replacing the Tires
A majority of Jeep Wranglers have tires that are made for traction. Due to this, the wheels comprise a firmer grip on the surface of the roads. Though it can be suitable for off-road driving conditions, it might not be comfortable while driving on highways. As a result of this, the ride becomes rougher.
“However, if you want to make your vehicle ride smoother, swap the old tires with the new low-profile ones. By lessening the traction, one can reduce friction while cruising on the highways. In addition, it will also help decrease the height of the vehicle.”
Get the Coil Springs
Generally, the old models of Jeep Wrangler might contain a leaf spring, unlike the recent ones that have coil springs. Further, the coil springs are highly suitable for tackling vertical impacts with ease. Hence, if you pass over a bump, hole, or uneven surface, the coil springs uniformly distribute the impact.
Contrary to this, the leaf springs are not much efficient in reducing the impact. Moreover, the new coil springs have diverse firmness rates reacting as per the pressure that one applies to them. Still wondering about making Jeep Wrangler ride smoother, replacing the leaf springs with coil springs, and seeing the difference.
Changing the Shock Dampeners
If the Jeep Wrangler is merely on springs, it will bounce upwards and downwards after encountering speed breakers, bumps or potholes. To prevent this, the shock dampeners aid in controlling such impacts. Using an old shock dampener can make the ride rougher. Usually, it happens when the shock dampeners become stiffer.
When the vehicle smashes a bump, the shock dampeners absorb the emitted force. Besides, the shocks of a Jeep Wrangler are crafted to be more challenging, specifically on rough and uneven road surfaces. If you want to relish a smoother and comfortable Jeep ride, swap the old shock dampeners with the ones which are road-friendly.
Adding Weight to the Vehicle
If you are still struggling, consider adding extra weight to it. By doing so, one can quickly increase the firmness of the tires’ grip. As a result, it will reduce the impact of rough and bumpy roads. For this, you can set up hardtop doors and roofs that are made using steel.
“Generally, the heavier steel will increase the weight of the vehicle, thus regulating the impact of uneven roads. However, please do not install the canvas rooftops as they will not make much difference to the vehicle’s weight.”
Go for Polyurethane Bushings
Most Jeeps have rubber bushings that are shielded against road vibrations. These bushings are less maintenance and inexpensive as well. However, the only drawback of rubber bushing is that they tend to compress, expanse, and flex. Consequently, it disturbs the alignment and deteriorates the handling too. However, the best way to improve the handling is by swapping the rubber bushings with the polyurethane ones.
A good aspect to consider about polyurethane bushings is that they are affordable, durable, and stiffer. As a result of it, the handling becomes much better, thus making the ride smoother. Likewise, the polyurethane bushings do not stretch, flex, or compress. Eventually, it prevents any changes in the alignment of the vehicle.
Setting Up a Camber Kit
While figuring out how to make a Jeep Wrangler ride smoother, a camber kit can be another great option. One can easily install a camber kit to attain a smoother ride. Basically, it reduces the impact of uneven, bumpy, and rougher road surfaces by flattening the tire tracks.
As you lower down the vehicle’s height, its wheels might end up working at opposite angles. Therefore, a camper kit will assist in lessening the shock as well as the roughness of the ride to a significant extent.
Controlling the Speed
Lowering the speed while driving might put an end to all your tussles. Driving aggressively can make the ride rougher due to the high intensity of the impacts arising out of bumps. Besides, it can also lead your vehicle to jump roughly into the gear, thus making the ride choppier.
Apart from it, most lifted jeeps have an engine with higher torque. By regulating the speed of the vehicle, one can get rid of all the disruptions while driving. When you lower the vehicle’s speed, it will move smoothly without any roughness. If you are driving on the highways, try to limit the speed throughout the journey, specifically on turns, for enjoying a smoother and safer ride.
Fix the Improper Alignment
A big reason why a Jeep Wrangler is riding rough might be improper alignment. Commonly, it takes place if one drives the vehicle off-road regularly. Firstly, check whether the wheels are at the right angle or not. If not so, take the Jeep Wrangler to a professional mechanic to rectify the alignment. If the tires of the vehicle are adequately aligned, it will enhance the ride quality to a noticeable extent.
Opt for Gas-filled or Reservoir Shocks
To improve the spring rebounding, use gas-filled shocks as they are stiffer. In addition, these shocks decrease the duration of the spring rebound in comparison to the hydraulic shocks. Similarly, it will also maintain the low gravity center, which is due to the changes in the level of shock height.
Make sure that the shocks are of 0.2 inches high. Alternatively, one can go for the reservoir shocks too for attaining a smoother ride. Yet, a significant disadvantage of these shocks is that they are a bit too pricey than gas-filled ones. Nevertheless, if the price is not an issue for you, chose the reservoir shocks without a doubt.
Most importantly, the reservoir shocks offer a superior level of fluid and motion displacement. Thus, it leads to better heat dissipation as well. Other than this, the reservoir shocks will eliminate the fading and roughness from the ride, making it more comfortable and seamless.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the signs of bad shocks?
We should first identify as what are the signs of bad shocks. The shocks vibrate in the bump leading wheels and tires to shake. Also, a vehicle’s suspension bottoming is an indication of your vehicle’s shock replacement.
How to get a good shock?
It is quite evident that shock absorbers are used to control a vehicle’s suspension and springs. Apart from that, shock absorbers help tires to grip safely on the road during the drive. Hence, you should always get hold of shock absorbers that are efficient in driving, steering and braking flawlessly.
How smooth is the jeep’s ride?
Older jeeps are not well known for their smooth drive on main highways. The new jeeps are much smoother on driving roads, but with some typical advancements.
What is the role of shock absorbers?
As the name suggests, shock absorbers subside and absorb the vibrating and bouncy effects of the vehicle while riding on varied terrains. This helps you enjoy a smoother ride, even on rough terrains. Besides all this, it also helps control the movement of the jeep wrangler and improves steering responsiveness.
How do you determine the time for shock replacement?
The jeep’s shock should be replaced in any of the appended conditions.
- If, over time, shocks are worn out. You will come to know this when you experience bounce and vibration, even on a smooth road ride.
- The other condition would be when you need to lift your jeep. In this condition, you would definitely need a longer shock.
Why are shocks worn out and do they really affect the drive?
Shock absorbers are usually worn out if you use them on a regular basis. Apart from that, factors such as weather, distance traveled, and the load carried in the jeep also affect the shock deterioration. Jeeps run on city roads and bumpy terrains tend to wear out more quickly than those driven off-roads.
Worn-out shock absorbers will drastically affect your driving experience. This will increase the vibration and shakiness in your vehicle as the efficiency of absorbing the impact from the ground will be reduced. If the worn-out shock absorbers are not replaced within a stipulated period, it will compromise your safety as well in the long run. Hence, it is good to get the replacement done as soon as you experience any such glitches.
Conclusion
One can use the Jeep Wrangler for both regular and off-road driving as well. Yet sometimes, the user might experience rough driving, especially on the highways. Furthermore, it happens due to various reasons, such as worn-out internal components and vehicle misalignment. In such conditions, the first thing that pops up in mind is how to make a Jeep Wrangler ride smoother.
To ease the job, go through the tips mentioned above. Additionally, one has to maintain the vehicle’s speed according to road conditions.
“Do not ride aggressively on all types of road surfaces as it can compromise the ride quality, comfort, and safety. Above all, keep the Jeep Wrangler in top condition to get the most out of it.”