Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

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2012carlo
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 2:17 am
Location: Ravenna, Italy

Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by 2012carlo »

Good day Friends.
My 1980 Wagoneer have a rather hard and bumpy ride, mostly at the rear suspension. I am led to believe that the suspension was designed to carry five persons plus luggage plus trailer. With just myself onboard plus skinny wife, the ride Is unconfortable.
Is there any known solution ? I was thinking that maybe i can take out one leaf from the rear springs. Or maybe i can simply load 100 kgs of something as ballast in the boot.
Appreciate your suggestions.
Best regards.
Carlo Danesin
Ravenna - Italy
1980 Wagoneer with BMW 524 turbodiesel 6 cylinders engine - 5 Speed manual gearshift
2004 Land Rover Freelander 5 Doors 2.0 TD4
2006 BMW X3 e83 2500 6 cylinders gasoline transformed with LPG
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Stuka
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Re: Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by Stuka »

Do the springs look stock? How do the shocks look? I know you bought it with the engine and such swapped out, possible the previous owner changed the suspension.

From the factory, there was a few different springs offered. Decoding the VIN will let you know which springs they are. The higher GVW springs are stiffer than the lower GVW springs.

Another thing that can happen is old springs can rust weld themselves to the leaves above and below them. They prevents them from moving as they should when the suspension travels.
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Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

will e
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Re: Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by will e »

You're from Italy. That is so cool.

A 1980's waggy shouldn't have a 'hard and bumpy' ride. We need more info to help. Can you post some pics of the ride height and the suspension?
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tgreese
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Re: Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by tgreese »

Did the car originate in Italy or North America? We need pictures of the springs, showing the number and thickness of the leaves.

Realize that, as well as rusting, leaf springs fatigue and sag. Installation of aftermarket replacements is common. If aftermarket, they could be very stiff.

These cars were known as comfortable "cowboy Cadillacs" and rode nice compared to pickup trucks and other utility vehicles. However, they are not going to ride like a BMW sedan.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
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letank
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Re: Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by letank »

my 74 had a very harsh ride, only 2 leaves on the front -it was a 2 leaf version which is the HD one- When one the leaf broke I upgraded to a BJ's 2 inch lift which has more leaves... it was a much more comfortable ride...

Otherwise you may have shocks that are way too pressurized, you can remove the rear and test drive... then do the front shocks and test drive!
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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2012carlo
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 2:17 am
Location: Ravenna, Italy

Re: Wagoneer 1980 - Hard ride

Post by 2012carlo »

Regret i was out of town for a few days and unable to reply to your kind posts. Please note:
* The car in this very moment in in a workshop where they are renewing the clutch (yes, It Is a stick shift) and taking care of a oil leak from the gear. So now i cannot take pictures, i'll do that as soon as possible.
* The VIN Is J9A15NNL08109. Went to Olijeep, seems the car was actually built in 79. The GVW Is 6200. Does that mean hard springs ?

Tgreese, i know that i am spoiled by the BMW. But i remember that my previous GW was more confortable than this one. When the car will be back from the workshop, i will make some proper checks.

Thanks for your assistance.
1980 Wagoneer with BMW 524 turbodiesel 6 cylinders engine - 5 Speed manual gearshift
2004 Land Rover Freelander 5 Doors 2.0 TD4
2006 BMW X3 e83 2500 6 cylinders gasoline transformed with LPG
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