Humvee shock absorber and spring options?

[dhaumann69166]

I was wondering if anyone has put different springs or shocks on their Humvee? I don’t ever haul anything and the biggest thing I pull with my M998 is my jet ski so I don’t really need the stiffness of the 1 1/4 ton suspension. I am trying to find out if any 3/4 or 1 ton variable rate springs are the same size? Also has anyone found a better shock absorber than the stock one? I have found conversion kits to switch over to King coil over shocks, insanely expensive, but havent had much luck finding aftermarket replacement shocks.

 

[osteo16]

Interested and watching......and waiting.....patiently......

 

[TDButler]

Midwest Military Eqpt. has a set of springs on the website listed as “leveling springs”. They offer front only kits or a full kit with all four springs. Says that they are 30% lighter spring rate than factory and give about 1.5” of lift too. I was interested in the same thing and will likely be inquiring about these springs, no one seems to have experience with them so may have to try it out to find it out. As far as shock absorbers, new factory replacements are available all over, on the same website as well. If you want to spend a little extra the Dick Cepek replacements are well talked about.

 

[whisktangofoxtrot]

Rod and hall make springs and shocks for the HMMWV. They were used on the M1025A2

http://rodhallproducts.com/

 

[kzeyus]

Browse Products & Services | American Humvee

Find custom Humvee parts for your custom build, repair or project

www.militarytruckworks.com

 

[osteo16]

Wow... that’s a lot of green backs... I’m out

 

[gimpyrobb]

I've got a bunch of stock shocks new in the box, up at the Beefco warehouse.

 

[Crapgame]

There is a Fox mfg remote reservoir nitrogen-charged shock similar to the Rod Hall product at about 1/4 the cost. There are probably 4-5 different front spring types and 4 maybe 6 rear spring types.

 

[Gear Report]

Browse Products & Services | American Humvee

Find custom Humvee parts for your custom build, repair or project

www.militarytruckworks.com

I've heard good things about these springs.

 

[LouWon]

We hit the trails last week and the washboard effect was so bad that the ride was not fun, so I just bit the bullet and placed the order for the soft ride springs from American Humvee, I will provide an update and review, I will have pics of before and after plus measurements.
To be continued....

 

[LouWon]

Well the coils are here, but the Humvee is still at the cottage.
I should have it here next week to work on it and I also will put 10K shocks on it
I'm installing the 10K shocks first to see what kind of ride I will get, then decide on the 1.5K nitro shocks are worth the money

Stay tuned for more...

 

[LouWon]

Sorry about the delay on this, but the rear is finally done, I had a broken bolt in the half shafts so I replaced them both and did the hub service at the same time.
As stated before new 10K shocks were also installed.
Since I usually do the work myself, I did find that two ratchet straps will help, one across to the other side to help for the coil clearance and the other to keep the hub out of the way.
I did have concerns about the fitment, but I contacted American Humvee and they said that this was normal and they would settle into place.
Check the pictures and let me know if you have any questions
I will re-measure the height once all four coils are replaced
Hoping to get this done before weeks end
As usual, stay tuned...

 

[LouWon]

Got the front done, and this is my personal opinion about these coils
I don't know if there's a break in period or not , but for the the first road test on a paved road, I cannot say that there's a big difference.
I drove on the same MI roads with potholes and bumps that I drive to and from work, if no one told you that these where soft coils, you would not know the difference
I do like the fact the fact the front was raised about 2", I needed the clearance with the tires I have on.
I did my road test with 25lbs of pressure and I run Nitto's 20 X 13.5 X 38
I will drive them for a while and try to hit some dirt road and will report in a few weeks, any questions , just ask.
And as for the $1,500.00 shocks that they recommend, unless someone will lend me a set for a review, I will not be a buyer.
At this time, I would say hold on to your money

 

[infinitymotors]

What wheels and tires are you running?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LouWon]

I got the Black Rhino Arsenal 20 X 12 with the -44 offset, Nitto's Ridge Grappler 38 X 13.5, they have the beads for balancing, nice and smooth ride.

 

[LouWon]

After playing with tire pressure and different road test, I found out that the coils make a difference, but not at $1,200.00 one.
So this is where I am, I remembered seeing an old car on the road with dead shocks and how the car was bouncing up and down, then it hit me, that's kind of what I would like, but not as soft as that.
So I decided to remove my new 10K shocks and just run on the coils as a test, so don't be too quick to judge here, but the ride improved so much ,that this was the ride I'm looking for, when over the same road at 25lbs of pressure and wow, this is nice.
I have concluded that the 10K shocks are way too much for an empty Humvee, probably a light duty 1/2 truck shock would do the trick.
I have contacted a fabricator to see if they could make me a bushing that would accept a lighter truck shock using the original Humvee mount
I just need to find shocks that would be for a light duty truck and fit the specs below
Approximate collapsed length is 12-1/4" center eye to center eye.
Extended length is 16 and 3/8" center eye to center eye.
Travel is 4-3/4".
The bump stop on the shaft is 1-1/2" tall which is included in the travel length.
Diameter of loop is 1" and width of the loop is 1-3/4"

Do any of you think that this makes sense, my truck is stock and empty, just want a smoother ride on the trails.
Let me know what you think, good or bad, even if this means I've gone crazy

 

[Milcommoguy]

GOOD POINT
No judgement here. Very smart actually. I did something like that. Changed up my springs on the front to snow plow (28 dollars ea new) and got the height / lift back. Mounted up 4 of those cheap NOS trailer / HumV shocks that were flooding the market a while back. Looking and feeling good... then.

When done, road like the control arm were welded together. Damm near bang the hood right off. This can't be right ?? So... messing around I unbolted the lower shock mount and just let it hang for a test run. Wow... the springs now act like springs and absorb the bumps without the hard bang and teeth chipping ride.

So I do agree that is a consideration for a more civilized ride. No need to be all OEM when tuning for a civilized ride. Who carries all that weight anyway? OK ok... all those up armored and gunned up dudes.

Don't know what's out there that could bolt right up. Had the same hard ride with the M1008, unless it was load with 20 bags of cement mix.

Guess the search is on or it's band saw and welder time, CAMO

 

[LouWon]

Found this place where you can look up by travel, collapse and extended length, I do like the ride better than ever, but a average shock would do the trick.
If the fabricator declines my request, I will probably do it myself like, find some 1/2 ton truck shocks and fabricate the mounting
Wish I could take an OEM shock apart and modify it like "Action" mentioned

ShockWarehouse

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[LouWon]

I don't know if this helps or not, but you can get the lighter load coils, such as the 954lbs rate, specialy if you are not loaded.

Part Number	Type	GVWR	Application	Rate lbs/in	Tie Color	Wire Dia	Free Height
12338316 1B2	Standard Front	10,300	2door W/O winch or plow	954	Yellow		13.36"
12338316 1B9	Standard Front	10,300	W/O winch or plow	954	Yellow		13.36"
6005786B9	Standard Front	10,800	W/O winch or plow		Blue
06005786B2	Front	10,300	Winch	1250	Orange	0.989	13.36"
06005787 B2	Front	10,300	Note: 1	954	Red		14.0"
12338316-2 Note: 2	Front	10,800 / 12,100	Snow plow	1728	Green?	1.052	12.36"
RCSK1842 81B9	H/D Front	12,100	Fire trucks	Note: 3	Natural
12338316 B2	Rear	10,300	10,300	Variable	Grey
06006008 B2	Rear	10,300	10,800	2,300	Blue
06011073	Rear	12,100	12,100 H/D	3,000	Yellow & Red

 

[TOBASH]

Why not just get civilian Hummer H1 CEPEK adjustable shocks?

With all the custom brackets you want to make to cluge something else together that might not work, you might as well just get these time tested shocks and be done with it.