My journey to static utopia on 24's (part 1)
03-04-2014 | 03:36 PM
#1
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
My journey to static utopia on 24's (part 1)
(((( WARNING THIS IS LONG ))))
First off this isn't a how to thread or a Q&A but more as a finding the ride quality and handling i like with my truck. So if your dropped and riding on 22's or less this might not be for you. I've read other threads about people liking there drop shocks but most are on stock rims/tires or close. I will add that this is only one mans journey and not saying this is for others. What i like others might not and vise versa. I'm not bashing X brand, im just expressing my unbiased opinion. So whoever reads this can take it with a grain of salt or try what i have done and see for yourself. But i warn you, you are on your own. Im a believer of you get what you pay for and $60.00-80.00 shocks cant compete with $150.00-200.00 as they cant compete with $250.00-300.00 shocks.
My truck is a 2013 single cab GMC w/t with a v6. The one thing that hasn't changed in all this is McGaughrys drop spindles, McGaughrys flipkit, McGaughrys helper bags @20psi and*American Racing Torque Thrust ST rims. My main concern was the shocks and coil springs. So that is what im focusing on right now. The first shocks i used were the stock in the front with McGaughry coil relocator and the drop shock for the rear that came with the McGaughry kit. The front road nice and close to stock but the back was way to soft. I took them off as soon as i could and replaced them with Gabriel airshocks. The airshocks road ok at best but never could get the back level because i had only one inlet going to both shocks. Next was the Belltech street performance drop shocks ( performance yeah right, not even close ) with shock extender it road to hard/harsh and on big dips it would throw the backend sideways. I kept them on till i could find a true/real performance shock and i in up buying QA1 single adjustment shocks and it was ten times better then all ive tried. But still the search for something better ate at me. This time i purchase from a new company call Vi-king. I bought there dual adjustment smooth body shocks and i love them.
As for the front all good things comes to a end. The relocator lowers the spring but also lessens the stroke of the shock. So i in up blowing one and bought a set of Belltech struts and have to say it rides a lil harder but not to bad to deal with. Now that i have the QA1 sitting around i decided to put them in the front so i bought a set of Hypercoil coils. Still havent put them on cuz im building top brackets to install them in the stock location. So that is where im at ( McGaughry spindle, Belltech strut in the front = four inch drop. McGaughry flipkit and helpers with Vi-king shocks = six inch drop ). The good thing is its getting better and better everytime i try something new. But never being satisfied the journey continues. Next is to buy a set of Vi-king shocks to put in the front to replace the QA1. Ok now on to the few pics i have.
First off this isn't a how to thread or a Q&A but more as a finding the ride quality and handling i like with my truck. So if your dropped and riding on 22's or less this might not be for you. I've read other threads about people liking there drop shocks but most are on stock rims/tires or close. I will add that this is only one mans journey and not saying this is for others. What i like others might not and vise versa. I'm not bashing X brand, im just expressing my unbiased opinion. So whoever reads this can take it with a grain of salt or try what i have done and see for yourself. But i warn you, you are on your own. Im a believer of you get what you pay for and $60.00-80.00 shocks cant compete with $150.00-200.00 as they cant compete with $250.00-300.00 shocks.
My truck is a 2013 single cab GMC w/t with a v6. The one thing that hasn't changed in all this is McGaughrys drop spindles, McGaughrys flipkit, McGaughrys helper bags @20psi and*American Racing Torque Thrust ST rims. My main concern was the shocks and coil springs. So that is what im focusing on right now. The first shocks i used were the stock in the front with McGaughry coil relocator and the drop shock for the rear that came with the McGaughry kit. The front road nice and close to stock but the back was way to soft. I took them off as soon as i could and replaced them with Gabriel airshocks. The airshocks road ok at best but never could get the back level because i had only one inlet going to both shocks. Next was the Belltech street performance drop shocks ( performance yeah right, not even close ) with shock extender it road to hard/harsh and on big dips it would throw the backend sideways. I kept them on till i could find a true/real performance shock and i in up buying QA1 single adjustment shocks and it was ten times better then all ive tried. But still the search for something better ate at me. This time i purchase from a new company call Vi-king. I bought there dual adjustment smooth body shocks and i love them.
As for the front all good things comes to a end. The relocator lowers the spring but also lessens the stroke of the shock. So i in up blowing one and bought a set of Belltech struts and have to say it rides a lil harder but not to bad to deal with. Now that i have the QA1 sitting around i decided to put them in the front so i bought a set of Hypercoil coils. Still havent put them on cuz im building top brackets to install them in the stock location. So that is where im at ( McGaughry spindle, Belltech strut in the front = four inch drop. McGaughry flipkit and helpers with Vi-king shocks = six inch drop ). The good thing is its getting better and better everytime i try something new. But never being satisfied the journey continues. Next is to buy a set of Vi-king shocks to put in the front to replace the QA1. Ok now on to the few pics i have.
Last edited by GWEE; 03-04-2014 at 03:45 PM.
03-04-2014 | 07:40 PM
#2
Do you have a part number for those viking shocks. Mines 4/7 on 20s and the whole thing rides like **** using the belltech streetperformance struts and rear shocks with the shock extenders. Been looking for something but i aint got the money to be a guniea pig so glad ur doing this.
03-04-2014 | 08:25 PM
#3
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
All i have right now are the rear Viking shock. What i did was measure eyelet to eyelet on the shocks to get my ride height. Make sure to measure both shocks.
I'm not finish ill end up trying Ridetech and take the leafsprings out all together but that's part 2 of my journey.
I'm not finish ill end up trying Ridetech and take the leafsprings out all together but that's part 2 of my journey.
)
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03-06-2014 | 01:00 AM
#10
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Seeing as you like trying different shocks, take a look at this company:
Off Road Truck Racing and Automative Suspension Lift and Lowering Kits
From what I gather they have a shock for every taste and need.
Off Road Truck Racing and Automative Suspension Lift and Lowering Kits
From what I gather they have a shock for every taste and need.