Looking for a SOFT ride
09-20-2012, 03:22 PM
#22
Registered User
Yes, I am prepared to accept that the stock leaves are incapable of delivering the ride I want. One idea I have is to remove all the leaves from the pack but the one that locates the axle and then put a coilover in the position of the shock. The much greater ease of fine tuning the coil spring would make things pretty simple. The one requirement I can think of would be to reinforce the shock mount to make it load bearing capable and modify it to accept the eyelet configuration of a coilover.
09-21-2012, 10:06 PM
#26
Does anyone know what the stock front spring rate is? I suppose it's possible to figure it out by putting weights on my truck and measuring the change in fender height but that leaves room for variables to introduce error. Such as where the weight it applied, for one.
What I need for a softer ride without any lift is pretty simple: less spring rate coupled with more arch. It seems so easy. And yet...
What I need for a softer ride without any lift is pretty simple: less spring rate coupled with more arch. It seems so easy. And yet...
09-22-2012, 05:47 AM
#27
Registered User
my truck, a 79, i had a rough country 3" lift springs with the rc shocks that came with the kit.
it rode so much better than it did with the stock worn out springs.
when i got the back working the front rode even better.
imo, i'd deal with the back first then the front will be easy.
like has been stated a solid axle is going to ride rougher unless you link it and coilover.
thats one reason toyota went ifs.
it rode so much better than it did with the stock worn out springs.
when i got the back working the front rode even better.
imo, i'd deal with the back first then the front will be easy.
like has been stated a solid axle is going to ride rougher unless you link it and coilover.
thats one reason toyota went ifs.
09-22-2012, 09:26 AM
#28
My truck has a 3" lift with two shocks per wheel and I ran different types / brands of shocks over the years when I raced my truck. I tore my truck down in 1990 and built it into a show truck but maintained the same suspension. My wife has a bad back so if I wanted her to go with me in the truck I had to smooth the ride out. I ended up installing Rancho 9000XL series adjustable shocks and that solved the problem; the wife can now go anywhere with me in the truck. I know everybody has their own opinion yada, yada, yada! about shocks but the adjustable shock feature lets you dial the suspension in for the ride you want. I would look at any brand of shock that has adjustment features and compare.
I second this, but do not expect them to last. I have blown too many Rancho's to want them anymore. But they do ride nice while they last.
09-22-2012, 09:41 AM
#29
Registered User
The Rancho shocks have a lifetime warranty. I have had mine on for about 6 years with no problems. If a shock does fail I get a free replacement so I only pay for shocks one time.
[/IMG]
[/IMG]
09-25-2012, 04:57 AM
#33
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Palestine, IL
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My rancho springs and xl9000 shocks pretty much ride rough I don't know if I can get 6 inch springs that ride smooth really would like to though I can't hardly get mine to flex thinking about custom built springs
09-30-2012, 01:56 PM
#34
Registered User
if your springs look anything like mine, there isn't a shock in the world that can smooth it out. i have about an inch of up travel before the spring hits the bumpstop and transmits every bump to my spine.
i'm going to go with wagoneer springs up front, they are supposed to be pretty soft. chevy 63's in the rear at some point as well. should help me clear the 33's a little better, too.
Al
i'm going to go with wagoneer springs up front, they are supposed to be pretty soft. chevy 63's in the rear at some point as well. should help me clear the 33's a little better, too.
Al
Last edited by Al's Chop Shop; 09-30-2012 at 02:05 PM.
10-02-2012, 11:02 AM
#37
you can give those springs arch again if you take them apart and rebuild. keep main and military wrap and add rear springs under those, 3 more would be fine. the ride can be adjusted by how you cut down the added leaves. with the stock main and mil wrap, the ride can only be improved so much. i have this setup on my 80 pickup with bilstein 5100s and it rides good. i did the exact same thing to my 85 but used 3" lift spring mains and it rode a bunch better.
10-02-2012, 06:35 PM
#38
Registered User
you can give those springs arch again if you take them apart and rebuild. keep main and military wrap and add rear springs under those, 3 more would be fine. the ride can be adjusted by how you cut down the added leaves. with the stock main and mil wrap, the ride can only be improved so much. i have this setup on my 80 pickup with bilstein 5100s and it rides good. i did the exact same thing to my 85 but used 3" lift spring mains and it rode a bunch better.
yeah, it might end up as a bastard pack with toyota mains and waggy leaves get it where i want it. the waggy main is like 2" longer than the stock main so i'm not sure if it will fit with a longer shackle that i have for it, if not, the toyota mains will be the base. i hope to dig into it soon and come up with a good solution, i just need to pick up taller jack stands first.
i'll definitely look into the 5100's when its time.
and robb is right, i have more than a few jeep springs lying around to come up with something good.
Al
10-17-2018, 01:58 AM
#40
Registered User
89' pickup suspension
I'm sort of having the same situation as y'all. My truck is completely re done except for the suspension part. well most of it is original. We threw some heavy duty moog shocks in the rear along with up in the front. But the leaf springs in the rear are as flat as a pancake, those are getting replaced soon but I dont know what I should go with as far as that. Also the front of the truck seems to just drop when I hit a bump. Like it'll have no softness to it, it sounds like a bomb gets dropped inside my truck. I want to really soften it up but also dont know what to throw under the truck. I'd appreciate the suggestions. When I get the chance I'll show some pictures.
