Been kicking the idea around of ditching the front t-bars and switching to coil-over shocks up front on 03 2500HD 4x. Anybody done this yet? If so what shocks, spring rates, and valving you running? Any info would be helpful.

Thanks,

Chris

 

rock krawler susp does this with there lift kits on the 1500s but they dont offer kits on the 2500, but maybe they would have info thats helpful, if u get any please post as ive been wanting to go coil to get a better ride, especially when im 4x4ing

http://www.rockkrawler.com/pages/cat...x.php?r_cat=69

 

Whats the point in doing this? You wouldn't gain much travel unless you got long travel control arms, then you'd have to worry about your cv's being able to deal with that travel. Also you'd have to offest the coilover to clear the CV's, if you look at a Toyota Tacoma it can give you an idea of how it'd need to be done. The Rock Krawler kit is trash in my opinion, it uses the stock upper shock mount, which isn't designed to hold the weight of the vehicle. Their wheel travel claim is bull too, 15" travel is impossible with stock control arms

 

Thanks guys. I agree about the rock crawler kit. No way the shock mount was designed to carry the weight of the truck up front. The point to switching to coilovers? Great ground clearence, not much but it would be nice to get rid of the cross member where the t-bars tie-in, it is the lowest hanging point and not very strong. Better ride quality-T-bars can't complete with coil springs ie dual rate srpings, plus it's much easier to dial in ride with coilovers. I plan to build a new shock hoop with an engine cross brace, obviously engineered to handle the weight. I can handle the engineering and fab portion, I just need a starting point for the spring rates and valving.

Chris

 

Here's a pic of a truck I rode with the conversion and it rode like a dream. King coil-overs with remote res.



Half shaft clereance wasn't a problem.

Chris

 

It looks like it has a lot of negative camber in that pic, but it could just be an optical illusion. That is a cool looking conversion though. Got anymore pics? IF you ask on www.offroad-tech.com/forum about finding the coil rates, you should be able to get some help from Darketernal or Willyswanter. HTH

 

Nice teaser pic...got anymore..this topic has peaked my interest once again.

 

Thanks for the replies. I think the camber is just an illusion. The guy that owns the truck is working on getting me some more pics. The company that did the conversion for him is out of business now, typical great builders just bad businessmen. That truck also has a linked rear end with airbags and shocks connected about half way up the lower link kinda like a trophy truck, it rides like a Cadi on and off-road. I'll post the pics when I get them.

Chris

 

here's some more pics of the truck with the conversion sone already. Looks like they modified the lower a-atms and moved/gusseted the shock attachment, might have to get some welding help on that one. Last time I tried to weld on something cast, it didn't go well. Looking at the pics some more it doesn't look like it's going to be all that hard, just need to make sure I get the geometry and spring rates right. I'm sure there will be something that will go wrong but hell that's the fun part.

Chris

 

That looks pretty cool. If you notice, it appears they cut off the upper stop on the uca, thats why they have the bumpstop. If you're going all out, I'd get a custom lca fabbed up. The uca they used in that kit looks cool, but I prefer tubular arms more. Good luck on your project and definitely keep us informed!