Hey guys, been looking over the forum and searched and cant seem to find anything that fits my circumstance. I have a 97 Blazer 4wd 4 door. I bought this truck and it needed quite a bit of work done to the front end. When I test drove it it was bouncing up and down with each dip in the road from the front end. Immediatly I thought shocks. It also needed ball joints.

As I was repairing all the ball joints I tossed in a set of cheap $20 shocks. I also bought new control arm bump stops. Put it all back together and it still bounces like crazy going down the road. It reminds me of a huge old boat from the 70's. LOL. Im at a loss as to if the cheap shocks are the problem or what else it may be. Please give me your 2 cents... Thanks

Thought I might also add. I installed new sway bar end links because the bushings where all rotted. It helped, but very little.

 

Is this a 4WD? If so, possible that one of the torsion rods is loose, broken, or too tight. Is there a lift kit on the vehicle? Also check control arm bushings. If the sway bar bushings were rotted, good chance the control arm busings are as well.

Be sure to report what you find.

 

Yes it is 4wd. The control arm bushings look like they could use a change also, but if you do this dont you have to have it aligned because your changing your camber?

As for the torsion bars, all I know is the truck dont sag on one side or the other. Im not sure how to tell if they should be replaced. Thanks for your opinions, let me know on the alignment question. Thanks

 

You did not ID the year-but common issue! And since you are in there: replace it all!

 

Its a 97 as stated in my original post, Oh and I forgot to mention no it was not lifted and is stock..

Step66 what is a common issue? My original question?? Please give me more detail if you could thanks

 

Does the front look even a little bit higher than stock? some people liked to crank the torsion bars up all the way up to gain a little height, but a much worse ride. You could try adjusting them, just one bolt on each side.

 

I will take a look at it from different angles.. I wouldnt think anyone would do that. Its a Starcraft Conversion so its got all the fancy (crappy) lower body moldings on it.. I'll get back to you on that.

 

Ok, I took a look at the truck from different angles and also measured the height. It is equal with in a 1/8". I took a measurement from the ground to top of wheel well. I needed my tires balanced, so while I had it in the shop I asked the mechanics about the bouncy front end. The mechanic I spoke with thought that it might be the cheap shocks I bought. I only had them on for less than 3 weeks. Im going to pick up a decent pair of shocks to see if that makes a difference. I'll keep you all posted as to my findings.

 

Well believe it or not guys, it was the cheap shocks that I bought. I took it in for a tire balance due to a slight shake I had and asked them to check the suspension. They asked about the shocks and I told them I just put them on. They suggested that I take the shocks off and bring them back. I did and the auto parts store actually warrantied the shocks. I have a decent set of Monroes on it now and no more bounce.

I want to thank you guys for your help and input. I wouldnt have guessed I got a bad set of shocks.