Progressive Rate Bump Stops... Do They Make a Difference?

Seems that the most common bump-stop for lowered applications is the "pancake" style. About all this style of bump-stop does is prevent metal-to-metal contact, but once hit, is kind of like being hit in the head with a rubber mallet



Does a more progressive rate bump-stop make any real difference in terms of comfort when bottoming-out, or do they simply just get in the way and reduce the much needed clearance that most of use need?

An example of a progressive rate bump-stop:



The following are apparently EVS foam instead of polyurethane... perhaps making them a bit less harsh and having less of a rebound effect?:

 

Progressive rate help by controlling the jounce like a shock absorber. They are normally always in contact with the control arm (like on a Chevy Silverado with torsion bars IFS. The progressive rate bump stops smash down really well and shouldn't minimize clearance like others. The poly and rubber bump stops only cushion the jounce on a hard bottom-out.

 

Although this isn't my truck, here's an example of what got me thinking...

This Tacoma notch doesn't have the pancake that the DJM notch kit came with, but I'm not sure it putting this longer bumper-stop on is worth it:

 

my notch came with pancake bumpstops they stopped selling em with those awhile back because it pretty much made the notch useless

and i noticed my notch looks deeper than that one installed i think DJM revised a bit but from experience yes its like being hit my a rubber mallet sometimes but if the travel between the axle and the bumpstop is small the impact isn't too bad if its a big gap and you hit you will feel it for days the progressive ones make a difference but then you loose the purpose of the notch which is clearance i rather have 3" of clearance and a pancake bumpstop then have 1/2" clearance and a big bumpstops QA1's and notch will make a world of a difference

but the pancake does make a difference as compared to metal to metal its night a day

 

Are these are only for the rear?

I had my DJM 3/3 installed by a shop. I occasionally hit the inside of the front liners if I'm cornering somewhat hard and hit a bump. Wondering what there is out there to catch it before I eventually tear something up.

 

I would say bilstiens for better handling up front be your best bet or xii performance stock height coils are you running the big bumpstop up front
I pretty shredded my plastic liner up front but nothing serious I mean when you lower the front its sorta bound to happen
Know what I mean

 

I think whatever bump stop is there is the OEM one. Is there a better one?

 

i dont even use my bumpstops since i did the djm notch, havnt bottomed out yet! Ill hit the wheel wells before that

 

So what you're saying is that I should mount the bump stops on my fenders?