Timbren Install - Diesel Forum

jschira · 03-25-2003, 09:34 PM

Installed a set of Timbren rubber stops on my X yesterday night and took it out for a test ride tonight. Very impressed. The ride is firm, but not sharp or jarring. Wifey came along and thought the ride was mucho bueno. Still a truck, but not bad at all. :

The is a "T" intersection by my house. The side street is about 8"-10" lower than the through street and this "dip" runs all the way across the through street and into a storm sewer. This makes the dip about 25' wide and 8"-10" deep. I took that puppy at 50 mph. Real smooth and firm. No bouncing or porpoising at all, the truck settled down to flat and level almost immediately. No rebounding, no kick in the steering wheel. I don't know if it was the Ranchos or the Timbrens, but Mikey likes! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Going to order the rear set.

For those of you considering changing out the springs to stop the bottoming out and/or porpoising, you might try a set of Timbrens first. I expect even better results when pulling my trailer.

Install was about a 1 hour job. The new bolts are 17 mm, sort of an odd size. Make sure that you have 17 mm sockets and wrenches before you start.

$150 for a pair of rubber doughnuts still seems a little high, but the quality is unbelieveably superior to the factory bump stops.

dmftoy1 · 03-26-2003, 06:35 AM

do you have any pictures? I might consider putting a set on the front. I think I'm going to do the airbags on the back.

Regards,
Dave

jschira · 03-26-2003, 07:07 AM

Sorry, no pictures. Kind of hard to see tucked up there the way that it is. It basically looks just like a bing bumpstop.

Pharmer · 03-26-2003, 12:14 PM

I ran Timbrens for about 45K miles before changing to U-codes. They are an excellent way to quickly improve the handling and the ride. To save time you can use the original Ford hardware to bolt to frame. Timbren is a good company. They sent me free of charge a replacement set of boosters with a softer compound to help absorb bumps without too much shock. The original set was a very hard compound, hopefully they sent you the revised part.

Compared to the U-code springs, the Timbrens make you feel every bump in the road because they maintain contact with the top of spring pack. The upgraded springs maintain a tight ride and allow absorbtion of the bump without bottoming out. Otherwise the results are similar.

Timbren sent me spacers to allow use with the U-codes, but I have not tried the combination yet. Now that the weather is warm I may have to try it out.

jschira · 03-26-2003, 01:09 PM

Soft spring + Timbren = Stiffer spring??

I dunno, but it seems to me that if you run a stiffer spring, the results should be similar to a soft spring with the Timbrens.

I agree that the Timbrens will "stiffen" the D code standard spring. Whether the result is stiffer or softer than U codes, I leave to you, since you ran both.

I like the anti-sway aspects of the rear springs because I tow a trailer. I like it nice and tight back there.

The ride is definitely firm, but not harsh or jarring. WAAAYYYY better that my '99 SD, which is what I was looking for.

No way to make 7700 lbs. of Indy and Kentucky iron run like it's on a feather bed.

Bruce1954 · 03-27-2003, 06:38 PM

Kevin

I would just put a set of 2003 stops on it and call it done!

Then Ebay your Timbrens

Bruce

Pharmer · 03-28-2003, 07:59 AM

Bruce,

I knew you would jump on this. I've been running the stock bump stops since the U-codes were installed. Looking at the top of the spring pack, they have not bottomed at all. You are correct, I really have no use for the Timbren's or the the 2003 stops. Since I have the spacers I thought it would'nt hurt to experiment.

I'm thinking of getting some polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar. Has anyone done this?

Kevin

RichS · 03-28-2003, 09:37 AM

jschira,

The Timbrens aren't just rubber donuts. I even read where one person suggested using hockey pucks instead of the Timbrens.

Actually, the Timbrens use a progressive rate rubber compound, so they have the ability to change the spring rate between sets of these rubber donuts. That's why they have application specific model numbers depending on the vehicle and useage. They have been around for a long time and started out building suspensions for the biggest of the big equipment.

I put a set on the rear of my F350 4WD, CC, LB for carrying my camper and it was probably the smartest thing I ever did. Much better, as a friend found out, than airbags, F450 springs, helper springs, etc. He wishes he had tried the Timbrens first before spending the money on all of the other things he tried.

Hadn't thought of using them on the front of the Excursion, but then again, we don't pick it up until Monday! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Rich

dallas13 · 03-28-2003, 02:06 PM

Do these raise the height of the vehicle at all. I wanted to gain an inch or two in the front end and wonder if these will do that??

Thanks

RichS · 03-28-2003, 07:20 PM

No, they don't.

Rich

jschira · 03-28-2003, 10:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]
jschira,
Actually, the Timbrens use a progressive rate rubber compound, so they have the ability to change the spring rate between sets of these rubber donuts. That's why they have application specific model numbers depending on the vehicle and useage.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, they might be FANCY rubber, but they are still just rubber. Still $150 too.

jschira · 04-05-2003, 12:13 PM

OK. I posted some pictures of the install. Click on the link below.

jschira · 04-17-2003, 06:33 PM

Installed the rears yesterday. Added some pics to my gallery.

The picture show about 4"-6" gap. I had the body jacked up. When lowered, there is only about a 1" gap between the Timbren and the stop.