bhgl
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2024
- Messages
- 257
- Reaction score
- 203
- Points
- 43
- Location
- Northern Ontario, Canada
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Make / Model
- Mazda B3000
- Engine Type
- 3.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
Ignition stuff didn't cost me too much! Okay the coil was kinda expensive...Sideways hopping over bumps is inherent to solid axle, leaf spring suspensions. Assuming your suspension is currently healthy, that's not really going to change much unless you radically change something about the design (converting to a 4 link, IRS, etc).
A rear swaybar is a great upgrade to a reduce bodyroll and improve cornering feel/confidence, but it's not likely to do much at all to prevent hopping over bumps.
Lowering will drop your center of gravity, and improve handling. It will also give you the chance to get new shocks and a proper alignment at the same time, so you'll have confidence that some of the hardware/bushings/etc are new and not contributing to any of your issues.
Yes, this costs money, but it will likely have more of an impact on your enjoyment of the truck than the ignition stuff you just spent hundreds on (teasing).
The leaf spring clamps and the traction bar should help with lateral shifting, but you're right. It is inherent.
The sway bar should help with that a bit too by just giving some additional points of contact and some resistance to the axle.
A full suspension refresh would certainly help, but just like you said, wheel hop/lateral shifting is pretty inherent to live rear axle/leaf springs.