suspension/handling recommendation

williamsburgjim · 06-04-2009, 03:04 PM

After 2 years of driving my used 2000 Passport and being really frustrated and unhappy with the suspension and handling, when it was finally time to get tires, I decided to take a chance and upgrade both tires and shocks. WOW.

Owners of these trucks will see a world of difference in just those two upgrades. It's like the way it should be-stock!

I recommend going up two sizes on the tires 265/70's (w/ stock alumin.rims) and basic monroe sensitrack shocks. Now it's like a normal handling vehicle with less body roll and way much better responsiveness/handling.

God, those Goodyear tires were horrible. The side-walls were starting to leak on all 4 and the truck would NOT corner at all... .

Jim

VinceH · 06-04-2009, 05:36 PM

I have been thinking about changeing my shocks on our 2000 rodeo. it now has 125k miles on it and it handles like a boat going over bumps. Plus the rear seems to be sagging ab bit... not sure what thats from...

Ramblin Fever · 06-05-2009, 10:35 PM

What tires did you install??

These tires, in the 265/75 R16's are great too...it's what I'm currently running.

williamsburgjim · 06-08-2009, 10:04 AM

I went with, check this out, a great deal on some Yokahama's ($125/tire).

I was a little leary at first cause i know their compound is a little harder than say Michellin's, but it worked out better than I expected. Of course, deciding NOT to go with the 75 width, made the sidewall height taller, thus giving it a nice ride on bumps. Yet what's amazing is that it handles way better that OEM set-up!!!

I'm starting to believe that car manufactures design/engineer/install the least expensive and marginal tire set-up for obvious reasons. I want to emphasize again that those two simple upgrades/mod's I did, IMO, brought it up to where it should be stock!!! And, it actually helped balance the vehicle in turns, and made it feel less 'tippy'.

Now I'm sure with your 75's you've improved that aspect of the ride even more.

Also, I couldn't find any real stiff shock and took a chance on the sensitraks. The parts store said they were better than stock (since he did sell a stock equivelent that was cheaper). They were the right combo for the tires, and compression damping is progressive enough to do what I wanted!

So all in all, I can't tell you how much happier I am. I planned keeping this as a weekend utilitarian type vehicle (I drive my other car for work-civic) and now might plan to keep it a long long time. It's white, and the body type won't really go out of style, IMO.

However, I'm told Isuzu is now gone, and that they'll only continue making parts for 10 years. Well, I guess by then I'll sell it. (Mind you, I'm one of those guys that put put 300 plus miles on my vehicles before i sell them -eg, my last Toyota truck.)

Again, i'm posting these thoughts cause I know there must be owner's who are really unhappy with this vehicle and want to help.

williamsburgjim · 06-08-2009, 10:09 AM

And yes Vince, that's the way mine was handling, like a daggon boat. It was real bad. I was bottoming out over certain dips in the road and WAY too much body roll. Granted, the stock shocks may have been worn (100k miles) but I've had other wehicles where I got way more miles before having to change shocks...

VinceH · 06-08-2009, 02:14 PM

The shocks are probably ready to retire.. I will have to change them out here soon... Glad to hear that it improoved your ride quality...

Ramblin Fever · 06-09-2009, 08:41 AM

265 is the width of the tire; 75 is the height of the sidewall.

Both of our tires are the same width, height wise is just a tad different - the 75 series is taller then the 70 series.

I'm running Yokohama ATS tires on my other truck, they're traction is wonderful, but they're wearing horribly at only 30k miles.

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