Dobinson's IMS question

Has anyone just adjusted the seat height to regain lift after adding weight up front (say a bumper and winch)? If so, how was the ride after? Springs too soft?

I want a lift sooner rather than later but if possible I'd like to not have to replace things is and when I add a bumper and winch (which may or may not ever happen). Skidplates before bumper and winch too but those primarily add weight up front as well...

Probably waiting until I find a house to do the lift so at this point, just dreaming (and trying to consider options).

 

I think some people get light bumper and winch combinations so the difference in height from before and after isn't that much, so not everyone ends up adjusting it. If it's a lopro style bumper and winch with synthetic line, the lighter weight springs are usually just fine for that weight. If you think you'll do a full width steel bumpers, skid plates, etc, then you may need a stronger spring rate.

 

Right, so I'm currently debating between steel and aluminum for bumper and skids. Lots of rocks in the woods, lots of salt on the roads in the winter (and then weight).

Anyway, that's why I'm asking, if I go 2" then it sags when i add more stuff, if I can adjust it saves me from replacing coils (although, that's probably not the end of the world since everything would have to come apart anyway).

How long do the IMS generally last between servicing them? I do drive quite a bit (28k miles in 17 months).

 

Again, it all depends on how much weight you add. If you add 100lbs, then yeah, C59-300 can get turned up to regain lost height, but if you add 200-250, you need to change the springs.

There's no specific timeline, but most are getting 80-100k miles before considering rebuilding them. You really don't need to rebuild them unless you notice shock fade, a loss of gas, or a leak, and all of those are super rare in these as they're built to last.

 

Thanks. I'll take that into account when deciding which way to go. Even just skids and sliders probably put 100lb on the front end so maybe 302's are the way to go.

 

Not sure if this is too late to help, but I’ve got 302 coils in the front on IMS shocks. Crickey mike set the seat height for 2.5 in of lift with the weight of a hybrid bumper and winch. Later I added a really heavy skidplate set (about 175lbs) which dropped the height down more than I liked. I disassembled one shock and dialed in about 3/8” inch of increased seat height on the drivers side shock body.

Oddly enough, once I reassembled, I noticed that my ride height was perfect after just adjusting that one side. I’m guessing the swaybar caused the other side to come up slightly. In any case, the side is no longer lower than the passenger side, and the lift is back to around 2.5 inches. I never did anything to the passenger side shock.

The front suspension feels no different than before I adjusted the shock. You should be good with small adjustments to adjust for sag from weight.