Spring Isolator ? and a few pics

[dnice3az]

Hey fellow hoeyuk enthusiats. I've been reading up on old threads about removing the spring isolators for an additional 1/4" to 1/2" drop. What I want to know, is it safe and how does it affect the ride after the fact? I've got a 2002 Hoe that is dropped 2/4 (keys/coils). As far as I know, I still have the isolators in but really don't know as it was lowered over 5 years ago. I wouldn't mind the extra drop out back. Does anyone have pics of what they look like? Sorry if I sound like a newb but I want to be sure before I do anything. Thanks in advance.

By the way, here are some pics of the truck.

And this is what is used to look like back in 2003...

 

[blueflamed03]

wow...that is a SICK Tahoe!

I like the stance now man!

 

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

sweet ride...

 

[tybardy]

you look almost completely level, IMHO, i think you are good...

The isolators are a rubber "grommet" that is on the top and bottom of each coil. they help to keep the coils from slipping around ever so slightly. Like you said, i hear if you remove them you get up to an extra 1/2"

After i broke my arm, a friend of mine (who's opinion I value a great deal when it comes to suspension, he's had a great many chopped, bagged, slammed, hammered rides) came over to finish lowering my truck and left the bottom isolators in and took the top ones out. He said the isolators do effect the ride just a bit, he went on to tell me the bottom ones effect the ride more then the top ones. So we met in the middle and i left the bottom and removed the top.

thats about all i know... hope this helps...

once again, i love your hoe... its one of my favorites.

 

[Modded]

My insulatos combined would give less than 0.5" of drop, I;d rather just leave them there. I went w/o them for a while but the dealership put them back in.

 

[Grocery Getter]

As far as I know they are for sound and do not effect the ride. I took mine out and my truck rides like stock. The free travel mod is the key to a smooth lowered ride. I'm running no bump stops and no isolators with no issues related to ride or noise. It really makes no sense they would effect the compression/decompression of the springs and metal on metal is less likely to slip than plastic on metal so slippage is not an issue, you might be able to argue that the plastic buffers the bumps slightly but it's a spring....it's going to absorb everything given enough room to travel(insert free travel mod here). Now, metal on metal has much more potential to squeak then plastic on metal when the spring compresses it may rotate ever so slightly and the ends of the spring may potentially squeak against the metal and that is where the isolators come in IMO. Now, if the pressure in enough to dig through metal and that was the issue a plastic isolator is not going to be much help on that unless they are meant to wear out and be replaced.

Now let me qualify my statement: I am no expert and I could be totally wrong, I'm just going with what sounds logical. The simplest answer is usually the right one.

 

[dnice3az]

Appreciate the positive input everyone. I'll probably end up just leaving as is.

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

you look almost completely level, IMHO, i think you are good...

The isolators are a rubber "grommet" that is on the top and bottom of each coil. they help to keep the coils from slipping around ever so slightly. Like you said, i hear if you remove them you get up to an extra 1/2"

After i broke my arm, a friend of mine (who's opinion I value a great deal when it comes to suspension, he's had a great many chopped, bagged, slammed, hammered rides) came over to finish lowering my truck and left the bottom isolators in and took the top ones out. He said the isolators do effect the ride just a bit, he went on to tell me the bottom ones effect the ride more then the top ones. So we met in the middle and i left the bottom and removed the top.

thats about all i know... hope this helps...

once again, i love your hoe... its one of my favorites.

Thanks TY...btw, I'm suprised our paths haven't crossed as my kid has daycare out in Gilbert.

 

[tybardy]

yea no doubt... i think me, chistoso, and grocery getter are gonna get together and snap some pics for the callander... maybe grab a bite and a drink... you down?