suspension differences across the years...
 

Howdy

Wondering about differences in ride quality across the years. I've got a 76 k10... How would that compare to an 86 k10 for example? What about a 96?

I'm about to have to start commuting longer distances and want a better (more tame) ride out of a 4x4. I've never driven a mid 80's K10, and I might end up trying to find a mid 90's Z71 single cab short bed...

Anyone owned the different year range?

Cheers
Taylor

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

87 back has leaf springs and rides like a truck should,The 88 and newer has ifs which will ride better on the road.If you don't have to have a pickup and want a 4x4 look at jeeps the 90s cherokee isn't bad or the grand cherokee 04 and older rides a little better.

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

Hiway driving hardly presents enough difference to matter. I always preferred the ride of a 4wd over a 2wd, less pitch and roll. 2wds always felt mushy. I think torsion bars ride slightly stiffer than coil sprung 2wds, though

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

From 80s squarebodies to my 03 chevy or 04 dodge, anything and everything rides better than a squarebody lol but all my suspension is out of date maybe new bushing and springs and shocks might help some. No matter the situation if i was driving for comfort i would pick ifs over a straight axle any day, new bushings/spring/shocks/52s on the front doesn't matter.

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

It's not just Solid front axle vs ifs. Get the right spring rate springs all the way around and a square can ride good. Shackle flip out back helps a ton too. Add in some quality shocks and it will surprise you. An IFS truck with the torsion bars cranked up to gain lift rides just as bad as a square on stock springs or stiff lift springs.

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

Well, not quite. You don't get one side pitching to the other side effect that only a solid axle will give, such as on a hi-crown 2-lane. One side compressing doesn't cause the other side to droop...or make the body rock side to side. That's where the "independent" comes into play. But we're talking his longer commute to work. I assume that will be adding hiway miles anyway.

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

smooth ride? hands down IFS
got solid axle '85 crew & ifs '90 stepper. even if i had the money to keep gas in the '85, i would still dd the '90. like special says, the other tire aint reacting to what the other tire is doing.
for off road, i'll stick with solid axles though, IFS constantly sky's the front wheels (but the fastest trophy trucks are IFS.....)

Re: suspension differences across the years...
 

I have to say the 90s trucks do have far better road manners my k5 with all new bushings and steering components still wonders and my k5 also has a good suspension setup and 08 Silverado seats so ride is comparable. But with more spirited driving on mountain roads will leave a solid axle truck in the dust. me and a few buddies have done time attacks on a certain stretch of road with me driving my k5 and my buddies 98 extra cab there was easily a 4min gap in times my k5 has more horsepower better gearing and less weight (top removed). The 98 only has limited slip both trucks have a 2" lift and 33x12.50r15 tires. The 98 is heavy but with the wide footprint of the IFS you can through the truck around corners and stand on it the truck hooks kind of a point and shoot method of driving. Now my k5 is made for wheeling so it has a rather soft suspension so if you try to through the rear out it either grabs at absolutely the wrong time or it gets to bent out of shape to grab so you have to slow down for the corners more bringing truck out of power band. I guess if I was going to do a square for a commuter it would be a 1987-91 V series with a mild lift 4" or less with soft springs and traction bars and a functional sway bar

Sorry for the long winded post