Bump Stop theory
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 196
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From: Pensacola, Fl
Bump Stop theory Well I discovered a few years back that 3rd Gen bump stops are a direct bolt on for a 4th gen and could be had at the local pick-a-part for just a couple bucks. Well those bump stops were still good two years later when I sold the car. Today I went looking for a set to replace the ones on my 98 TA and a buddy needed some for his 01 TA. Well every 4th gen we found the bump stops were slap worn to nothing. Not a trace of rubber on them. Every 3rd gen we found the stops looked great. The rubber wasn't cracking at all on any of them and the rubber was good. My buddy and I can only conclude that they must have used a cheaper rubber on the 4th gens because we couldn't find a single 3rd gen with bad stops on it. The best part is I got both bump stops for $2. Better than the $70-100 for the ones online.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola, Fl
So, is there a reason more people aren't using the 3rd gen stops or is there some benefit to spending $100 on polyurethane stop? I know it is a small part that isn't important performance, but just find it strange that no one else has ever really talked about this and that most are still spending all that money on replacement stops when these can be had so cheap.
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola, Fl
Yeah, but what I am getting at is these are cheaper than the Jeep bump stops, a direct fit with no modding needed, and work just as well. Why go through all that mess when you can just get a set of 3rd gen stops from a junk yard for a couple bucks.
IMO, the softer foamy rubber bump stops used on the 4th gens do a lot better job absorbing the impact of the axle tubes compressing them than the shorter hard rubber(or urethane) bump stops do. The trade off is they don't last as long, especially when the car has lowering springs, and they're expensive compared to the hard rubber and urethane bump stops available. So I'll have to agree the hard rubber or urethane BS's are an acceptable compromise if you need new ones.
Yes they're actually rubber... direct bolt-on as well, no need to cut anything like with the polys. And they feel exactly like stock 4th gen stops. I bought used 3rd gen stops off eBay, they still looked new when I bought them and still look new today after many miles... and I do hit them.