Breeze

I have a 04 Path SE. I feel the shocks are too tight and i feel every small crack on the road, hit my steering wheel. I would like to know, if there is a softer version than the one installed from the factory ?

I mean i dont offroad, i am mainly a highway rider and i would like a soft and cushy ride. I drove a ML320 and a Chevy truck and boy the ride was so plush. Is it because they are ladder frame vehicles and Path is a unibody ?

 

X-Traction

Unibodies definitely thump more over bumps, because there's one less layer of separation between the road and your rear. You'll have to install softer shocks, maybe next time they need replacing (which may be a long time, since we're still on our '91's original shocks). A cheap way would be to check the manual and reduce tire pressure to the minimum. But that will cost you mileage and handling. I wasn't aware the ML320 was a body-on-frame, but then I don't know much about them.

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'91 Pathfinder SE 5spd (now sold)
'06 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L

Breeze

Yeah the ML320's have a ladder frame. Feels rock solid. And the axle that goes to the back is collapsible, which means, in an front crash the axle will collapse.But i think making them this way was expensive and to reduce cost the 2006 ML320' are unibody.

So where do we get softer shocks ? How do you rate a shock ? I know Rancho makes good ones for off-roading..

Xeno

Adding a steering stabilizer will take the jolts out of the steering wheel...

Animal

That and larger and/or wider tires. But, I'm sure someone makes a softer shock; not the Rancho 5000 series though, they are fairly hard.

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Life is too short to take it too seriously

 

Breeze

How do i look for it ? "Steering stabilizer" ? Is it something i can do it myself or need a pro ?

mkiv808

Tires can also make a huge difference on ride quality. At least they did on my Supra.

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1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder SE Limited
2002 Corvette Z06

Xeno

http://www.gorancho.com/products/sho...tabilizers.stm

Fairly easy...

Breeze

Thanks. Looks like its something i can do myself. But i need to buy me something to raise my Pathy from the ground a little bit, so i can get underneath.