suspension
 

What is this suspension under my 87 k10 short box, it looks way to beefy for a k10.
Is it k20 ????

Re: suspension
 

I've got a 87 v20(same as k20) pickup with stock suspension. The front leafs are nearly flat, not arched like those. It only has two or three leafs in the front, not that stack.

I don't think you can go much by the number of leaves in determining the weight capacity. Different aftermarket companies would build them with different spring rates per leaf, different widths, thicknesses, quantities, etc.

Re: suspension
 

Aftermarket 4" lift spring with raised steering arm in the front and 4" lift blocks in the rear.

Re: suspension
 

and a add - a - leaf in the rear also .

what color spring eye bushings up front ? this tends to help id the brand . or is there any stickers or inked on part no's ?

Re: suspension
 

I just switched all the bushings out to new ones , they where poly a dull orange colour , didn't see any markings.
Thanks for the help , now I know what's under it.

Re: suspension
 

they were prob red before fade out .

could be a few brands of lift that run that color . makes it a bit harder to narrow it down . but if i had to guess off the pack style and leaf count up front and popular for there CHEEP price point rough country . i dont run them tho as there is a reason there so cheep in price . the ride is real stiff over other brands .

Re: suspension
 

I replaced them with energy susp.

Re: suspension
 

Good eye on that add a leaf!

Re: suspension
 

Another question on the steering , it turns nice and sharp the one way and not near as sharp the other way , couldn't of been like that from original ???

Re: suspension
 

your reaching the limits of push/pull stock steering at this lift height and still being effective both ways .

most guys now swap in crossover steering kit and it makes it so much better .

Re: suspension
 

Looks more like a 6'' lift kit---and the steering shock is mounted wrong on the housing

Re: suspension
 

Give me more on that please

Re: suspension
 

For a quick and easy fix swap the pitman arm on steering box for a 2" drop version and you will be back in the ballpark. It will get the draglink close to level. Might want to think about adding swaybar drop brackets or better yet the ORD swaybar disconnect with shackles. Will help with spring movement.

Re: suspension
 

x2 on this info . just dont let the link get level or slopped to the box from the axle . or you will get bump steer problems.

and more info on 6" = rear block at 3.5"-4" and a ADD-A-LEAF = 6"

Re: suspension
 

Which part?

Re: suspension
 

the wrong mounting of shock

Re: suspension
 

Here's a pic of the steering pitman arm , I don't know if it's stock or not ????

Re: suspension
 

Yea that looks stock to me, personally I’m a bigger fan of the raised steering arm on the axle but that’s just my opinion.

Re: suspension
 

If you look at the first pics he already has a raised steering arm. Because springs are 6"+, more correction is necessary to get stock type turning at ride height.
@4u2nv Pitman arm on steering box is stock. Change it to a 2" drop. As I mentioned the steering arm has already been changed.

Re: suspension
 

and sway bar kit from one of these guys to avoid the drop brackets .

yes stock box / pitman arm . needs a drop arm now i see that angle .

steering shock is on the bottom of the axle bracket . needs to set on top of the bracket . pull bolt and move on top and reinstall bolt and good to go .

disconect kit https://www.offroaddesign.com/swayba...gm-trucks.html

but side note our square truck this tall and spring packs like you have now the sway bar does almost nothing so lots of guys just remove them . the stock gm springs were real soft and these lift springs are stiffer and dont need it as much . but thats personal preference . that sway bar the way it is now is got the front end so bound up from pulling forward and then the shackles wana flex back its fighting its self .

i run a k10 with 1ton axles and 6" lift / 3" body lift and 38x12.50x16.5 tsl swampers for years no sway bar and no problems .

and if you dont have one up in there get one of these quick before the frame breaks .

73-80 frame https://www.offroaddesign.com/bolt-i...wd-trucks.html

81-87-91 frame https://www.offroaddesign.com/bolt-i...wd-trucks.html

Re: suspension
 

Thanks all , looks like I will be doing some changes.
By removing the front sway bar will that improve some ride quality ???

Re: suspension
 

Good catch Richard, I only skimmed over everything and had to go back and re read it all. I missed the first time around he was that high. The dropped pitman will get you a lot closer, however if you can swing it, I’d look into crossover. I bet as a whole you’d be happier with that route, it’s pretty pricy though so I get that side of it.

Re: suspension
 

remove or do the disconect kit yes it will let the axle move more the way it needs to .

think of it in its current setup its holding it in 1 place and not letting it flex .

Re: suspension
 

Good recommendations by 57taskforce and sweetk30. By to look of your front springs they are of the stiffer variety. I am installing crossover on my truck. It is nice but I do not think it is necessary without a flexy suspension. I will have a 4 link with coilovers. As far as the swaybar, removing it would help as much as adding the disconnect kit. Obviously removing it is cheaper than adding the disconnect kit. Removing it costs nothing but time. You can put it back in.

Re: suspension
 

The shock should be parallel like the drag link. Remove the shock from the axle housing mount and put it on top, 1 nut and lockwasher-- rotate the shock housing, tighten nut from bottom----will take about 4-5 minutes

Re: suspension
 

To add to that, if you’ve indeed got a set of stiff front springs, which I agree it does look that way, the front sway bar likely isn’t doing that much for you anyway. The spring rates are probably high enough that body roll isn’t as much of a concern. I know it’s a bit of a debated topic but Really I don’t see the need for them in most leaf spring front end applications. There’s a few /situations like with a heavy over roof camper or something similar where the sways are helpful. The 67-72 K trucks never had them and I’ve never driven one and said, “damn I really need a sway bar”. With coil springs or IFS they are a pretty important part of highway manners for sure.

Re: suspension
 

Oh they are stiff, I'm surprised the front windshield is still in it , LOL

Re: suspension
 

About the steering again , could it be that someone ahead of me has the amount of turns on the steering wheel each way wrong , if you know what I mean .

Re: suspension
 

adjuster on drag link / pitman to axle arm is for centering the steering wheel only .

the problem with lifted stock push/pull steering is the limit one direction gets less and less the taller you go . and to magnify the problem start flexing the suspension and it gets even worse to the point of maxed out steering and no way to make it turn .

this is why crossover conversion is the best if taller than 5-6" range and any real off road use .

Re: suspension
 

Thanx, you have been a great help

Re: suspension
 

no problem . been playing with lifted squares since 2001 ish

and i read a lot and ask a lot and remember a bit here and there and try and pass it along .

Re: suspension
 

Try this- turn steering lock to lock counting the turns. May be easier putting front axle on stands. Depending on the box installed should be around 3.5-4.5 turns. Position steering travel in the middle, ignore steering wheel position at this time. Adjust draglink until wheels are pointed straight. You should be able to pull the wheel from the column and re-position to make it straight. With the short draglink angled down bump steer will be more pronounced and you will loose additional steering one way at full droop or full compression. Most likely fine for highway driving.

Re: suspension
 

you have never had the wheel off then have you ? gm indexed a few items so there all playing off the master spline spot . yes you can move the wheel but the horn button pass threw wont line up and the lock plate cant be moved easy .

its just the nature of modifications one thing leads to another .

Re: suspension
 

The thing I ran into in the past with reindexing the steering wheel is i happened to have too close to tripping the canceling cam for the signal switch when pointed straight. It’s really irritating when you set the signal lever going straight and move the wheel only a few degrees in one direction and have it cancel the signal lights. I fixed that real quick I can assure you.

Re: suspension
 

I have never had the steering wheel off , but that doesn't mean someone before me hasn't , when I got the truck the horn didn't work so I went at that and got it working but the left turn signal won't cancel out .
When the steering wheel is turned to the right it will squeal out on the pump way sooner than the other way and if not careful on the way I go about it I will end up doing a 2 point turn.