I hate my suspension, need help upgrading!
10-12-2009, 06:11 PM
#1
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hate my suspension, need help upgrading!
Ok, my truck is lowered 2 inches in the front with Beltech lowering springs and in the back with a 2 inch lowering shackle. I bought the kit for 50 bucks used it for a couple years, and now I need to move on since my truck handles horribly (it leans a lot, squeaks, throws me around over bumps and bottoms out in the front and rear.) I have more $$ and knowledge to do it properly now so what do you guys suggest?
I would like the truck to be 2 inches lower (than stock) in the front, and 4 in the the rear.
Now the problem is I am a pool man on Fridays and when I load it up with 400lbs the rear drops a bit to where the axle is only about 1 1/2 inches from the bump stop with one notch already cut off. Also I need to replace the rear leafs since they are shot. I looked into rear lowering springs, but I was told they are not very strong and probably wouldn't hold up too well. Should I notch the frame for it being 4 inches lower in the rear, or is there a better method of stiffening up the rear to not bottom out. I also want to do rear sway bars so witch diameter and brand would you suggest.
As far as the front, it is really bouncy and unless I crawl at about 5-10 mph over a dip I will scrape the ground. and how should I proceed to stiffen up the front. also I would like to replace my front sway bars with better ones.
Then at the end I was wanting to throw the Edelbrock IAS shocks on it since I have heard nothing but good about them.
What do ya think?
I would like the truck to be 2 inches lower (than stock) in the front, and 4 in the the rear.
Now the problem is I am a pool man on Fridays and when I load it up with 400lbs the rear drops a bit to where the axle is only about 1 1/2 inches from the bump stop with one notch already cut off. Also I need to replace the rear leafs since they are shot. I looked into rear lowering springs, but I was told they are not very strong and probably wouldn't hold up too well. Should I notch the frame for it being 4 inches lower in the rear, or is there a better method of stiffening up the rear to not bottom out. I also want to do rear sway bars so witch diameter and brand would you suggest.
As far as the front, it is really bouncy and unless I crawl at about 5-10 mph over a dip I will scrape the ground. and how should I proceed to stiffen up the front. also I would like to replace my front sway bars with better ones.
Then at the end I was wanting to throw the Edelbrock IAS shocks on it since I have heard nothing but good about them.
What do ya think?
10-12-2009, 10:20 PM
#2
Hotchkis suspension all the way. They (used) to make springs, front and rear, for the trucks and have a sway bar kit as well. There is a guy on eBay that still sells the springs I think, otherwise you're gonna have to scour the forums all around to try and find a used set.
I also run the Edelbrock IAS shocks and they work like they say. Soft for rolling bumps, and firm for the short, small bumps. The whole inertia valve thing... I've got two front ones with only a few thousand miles on them for sale if you want.
And whoever said the drop leaf springs were crap obviously wasn't talking about Hotchkis stuff, cause I've hauled plenty of stuff in the back of my truck (moving furniture, etc) and have only bumped the new, smaller bumpstops once in back. I've never hit the front bumpstops as far as I remember.
And no, you shouldn't need a notch in back for only a 4" drop, but some people do just cause they want to be sure.
I also run the Edelbrock IAS shocks and they work like they say. Soft for rolling bumps, and firm for the short, small bumps. The whole inertia valve thing... I've got two front ones with only a few thousand miles on them for sale if you want.
And whoever said the drop leaf springs were crap obviously wasn't talking about Hotchkis stuff, cause I've hauled plenty of stuff in the back of my truck (moving furniture, etc) and have only bumped the new, smaller bumpstops once in back. I've never hit the front bumpstops as far as I remember.
And no, you shouldn't need a notch in back for only a 4" drop, but some people do just cause they want to be sure.
10-13-2009, 09:08 AM
#3
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hotchkis suspension all the way. They (used) to make springs, front and rear, for the trucks and have a sway bar kit as well. There is a guy on eBay that still sells the springs I think, otherwise you're gonna have to scour the forums all around to try and find a used set.
I also run the Edelbrock IAS shocks and they work like they say. Soft for rolling bumps, and firm for the short, small bumps. The whole inertia valve thing... I've got two front ones with only a few thousand miles on them for sale if you want.
And whoever said the drop leaf springs were crap obviously wasn't talking about Hotchkis stuff, cause I've hauled plenty of stuff in the back of my truck (moving furniture, etc) and have only bumped the new, smaller bumpstops once in back. I've never hit the front bumpstops as far as I remember.
And no, you shouldn't need a notch in back for only a 4" drop, but some people do just cause they want to be sure.
I also run the Edelbrock IAS shocks and they work like they say. Soft for rolling bumps, and firm for the short, small bumps. The whole inertia valve thing... I've got two front ones with only a few thousand miles on them for sale if you want.
And whoever said the drop leaf springs were crap obviously wasn't talking about Hotchkis stuff, cause I've hauled plenty of stuff in the back of my truck (moving furniture, etc) and have only bumped the new, smaller bumpstops once in back. I've never hit the front bumpstops as far as I remember.
And no, you shouldn't need a notch in back for only a 4" drop, but some people do just cause they want to be sure.
So I take it that you used stock height shackles with the Hotchkis leafs?
and then you dropped the 2" lowering spring in the stock a arms in the front?
Thanks for the help!
10-13-2009, 01:35 PM
#7
Rear shocks plays a huge role in your ride quality. I rode around on the stock shocks with my 2/4 drop and yeah, it sucked ***. After putting on the Edelbrock IAS shocks, I've had no issues.
So no, I don't think a notch is necessary for 90% of everyday situations, but I DO plan on installing some helper bags for when I haul the heavy loads. Guess I should have mentioned that in the first reply.
So no, I don't think a notch is necessary for 90% of everyday situations, but I DO plan on installing some helper bags for when I haul the heavy loads. Guess I should have mentioned that in the first reply.
Trending Topics
10-13-2009, 01:50 PM
#9
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After the notch did you like the leafs?, or do you still hate them, and what would/did you change to make it better?