If you've invested any time on the trails lately, you've probably realized just how very much your jeep xj bump stops actually matter when the terrain gets rough. It's one of those components that many people ignore until they listen to a terrifying "clunk" or feel a bone-jarring thud whenever coming off a ledge. Most associated with us focus on the big stuff—lifts, wheels, lockers—but these little rubber or poly blocks are actually what keep the costly shocks from exploding and your fenders from getting disposed by your auto tires.
The reality is, if you're still running the factory parts, they're probably long eliminated. Jeep used the relatively soft foam material for that initial stops, after 20 or thirty years of heat, oil, and mud, they often just crumble in to dust. If you look inside your front coils plus see nothing yet a metal cup, or if your own rear leaf suspension systems are hitting uncovered metal, it's certainly time to have an upgrade.
Why you shouldn't ignore your bump stops
Think of your jeep xj bump stops as the particular final line of defense for the suspension. Their job is usually pretty simple: these people stop the upwards travel of the axle before something else does. With out them, your shocks become the "stop, " and shock are absolutely not made to handle that type of force. You'll finish up blowing out seals or even snapping a shock build if you bottom out hard good enough.
Beyond protecting your shocks, these people also keep your auto tires out of your sheet metal. If you've upgraded to 31s or 33s on a modest raise, you know how restricted that clearance will get. A properly sized bump stop ensures that will your tire stops moving upward just before it tries to relocate your fender flare to the particular middle of the trail. It's about finding that balance between getting maximum flex plus not breaking your own rig every period you hit the bump.
The particular classic factory substitutes
If your own XJ is mostly an everyday driver or perhaps you do very light path riding, you may simply want to stay with something close to the unique design. You may find replacement polyurethane material stops that take right into the factory cups in the front. These types of are way even more durable than the old yellow foam ones and won't rot away in a few months.
In the rear, the particular jeep xj bump stops are usually usually a rectangular block that bolts onto the frame right above the leaf springs. These types of are notorious for having the mounting bolts snap off if you try to substitute them. If you're lucky, they'll come right out, but it's always a good idea to start soaking all of them in PB Blaster a couple of days before a person plan to the actual work. It's a little job that can become a whole evening of drilling and tapping if you're not careful.
Going the aftermarket replacement route for raised rigs
As soon as you lift the Cherokee, the factory-length stops aren't going to cut it anymore. Since your axle is now further away in the frame, the share stops won't achieve the axle over time to prevent the shocks from bottoming out out. This is where a person have to obtain a bit creative or buy particular extended versions.
A lot associated with guys in the particular XJ community claim by the "hockey puck" method regarding front side. It sounds a bit "backyard mechanic, " but it actually works incredibly well. You generally drill an opening in the heart of a few hockey pucks and bolt them to the particular lower coil bucket. It's cheap, nearly indestructible, and enables you to fine-tune the height by adding or even removing pucks. In case you want some thing a bit more professional, companies like Daystar or Ironman4x4 make extended stops that serve the particular same purpose.
For the back, you will get "extended" pads which are simply taller compared to factory types. Or, if you've done a u-bolt flip kit, you might have a mounting point on best of the springtime plate. The objective is always exactly the same: make sure the particular stop hits the particular axle (or the particular plate) prior to the surprise reaches its full compression.
The particular fancy stuff: Surroundings bumps and hydraulics
If you're the type of person who enjoys to go quick through the wasteland or perhaps you find yourself hitting whoops at speed, standard silicone or poly jeep xj bump stops might feel a bit harsh. When you hit a solid rubber prevent at speed, it's a violent halt.
That's where hydraulic or even "air" bumps arrive in. These are essentially miniature shock full of nitrogen that will provide a modern slowing from the axle. Instead of the hard "thwack, " you obtain a smooth changeover. They may be significantly more expensive and require some fabrication (you'll usually have to slice out the stock bump stop podiums and weld in new cans), yet the ride high quality off-road is night time and day. It's overkill for a rock crawler, but for a go-fast build, they're nearly mandatory.
Tips on how to measure for the right length
This is the part exactly where a lot of people guess, plus guessing usually network marketing leads to broken components. To get your jeep xj bump stops called in perfectly, you really need in order to cycle your suspension system.
The particular best way in order to try this is to draw your coil suspension springs out (for the front) and use a floor jack port to lift the particular axle until one of two things happens: possibly your shock is about half an inch from being completely compressed, or your tire is on the subject of to consume the fender. Whichever happens very first is where your axle needs to stop. Gauge the distance in between the bump cease cup and the landing pad upon the axle, and that's just how long your bump stop setup needs to become.
It sounds like a large amount of work, but carrying it out once ensures you won't be replacing shocks or fixing mangled fenders later. Every single XJ is various depending on the particular lift height, the particular specific shocks you're running, and how very much you've trimmed the particular fenders.
Working with the "XJ struggle" during set up
Let's become real—working on a good XJ usually involves at least one broken bolt and a lot of swearing. Replacing jeep xj bump stops is usually no different. The front ones are usually held in with a friction fit within a metal glass. Sometimes they draw right out along with pliers; other times you have in order to pry them away with a flathead screwdriver while questioning your life choices.
The rear is how the real "fun" starts. Those 2 bolts holding the particular bump stop to the frame are usually famous for snapping. If they do, don't panic. A person can usually drill them out plus use a self-tapping bolt or, better yet, fish a fresh bolt through the unibody rail in the event that you have the patience. Some people even weld a new mounting plate to the frame to prevent the bolt issue entirely. Whatever you do, simply don't leave the particular rear without stops, or your leaf springs will ultimately take a long term "S" shape from over-compressing.
Final thoughts on maintaining it simple
At the end of the time, you don't need to spend the fortune on your jeep xj bump stops to make them efficient. Whether you're using the hockey puck trick, some prolonged poly stops, or a high-end hydraulic setup, the most important thing is that will they're actually right now there as well as the right duration.
It's one particular of those "set it and neglect it" modifications. After you have them adjusted properly for your specific lift and car tire combo, you can hit the trails with a lot more confidence. You won't end up being wincing every time you drop off a ledge, wondering if that was the particular sound of the shock mount snapping. Instead, you'll just experience a firm, controlled stop, and you can keep on moving. So, crawl under your rig this particular weekend, poke those old crusty foam stops, and when they fall apart in your hands, it's time to get to work. Your suspension will definitely thank you intended for it.