Suspension upgrade - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1969 C/K CST · 09-07-2005, 09:52 AM

Looking for ideas and pics for a mild upgrade to my stock style suspension. Tougher parts. Slight increase in clearance. Maybe from 31/10.50 to 33/10.50. Things like shackles, shocks, leafs, and sway bars. Any help?

**Canadian694x4** · 09-11-2005, 01:55 PM

ttt...interested in this too...

earl87gta · 09-11-2005, 07:09 PM

depends on what your after for 31 or 33 I would use a sky jacker add a leaf in the back it will give you 2in and then use a ORD front shackle it will give you an 1in you could also use a ORD zero rate in the back or fron that would give you an 1in as well. For full spring I like BDS I have sky jacker on one of my blazers and they are sofft good for trailes but a little to much bounce for a DD or mud truck.

**special-K** · 09-11-2005, 09:32 PM

Buy a 2" spring lift.You can get softer-type for better ride and flex or stiffer HD-type.Right now,for the money,I`d buy Rancho 9000RSXs.They are truly adjustable to go with either type of lift.You can buy stabilizer bar mount spacers to retain that.Dual steering stabilizers.There are thicker shackle plates,urethane bushings...

1969 C/K CST · 09-12-2005, 08:53 AM

Thanks for the input. I have been looking for some spring options. I also have seen some shackles that are alot thicker than stock. Any pics of these options? Just want my suspension to be tougher and gain maybe 1" to 2". My truck isn't going to be a serious offroader. I still want good performance when I do choose to tackle something. Don't want to loose driveability. Is it too much to ask for the best of both worlds?

earl87gta · 09-12-2005, 12:28 PM

check out http://offroaddesign.com/

Musclerodz · 09-12-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earl87gta

check out http://offroaddesign.com/

I second ORD. For only 1"-2", I would use ORD ZERO rates, ORD shackles, and their greasable bolts and poly bushings. The zero rates are good for 1". You could run a block for the other 1" if need be.

Mike

**special-K** · 09-13-2005, 07:51 AM

Try DIY4x.com,too.I set up my`90 Blazer pretty much the way you are thinking.I wanted it to be practicle and driveable on the road,not "lifted",but better off road for when we "locked it in":BFG A/Ts(12.50/33),manual hubs,manual trans,urethane bushings,Hellwig rear sway bar,Bushwacker traction bars,Auburn Gear posi,Centerforce Dual Friction,HD hardened u-joints,front springs arched/1 leaf added to give about 1"higher/more level stance and clearance for bigger tires.I always wanted a winch.

midwestburner · 09-21-2005, 04:55 PM

I just put 2.5" Skyjacker leafs under the front with Off Road Design's HD shackle kit, 2.5" add-a-leafs in the rear, and Skyjacker Hydos all around on my 72. I am running 32x11.5 BFG MT's on 15x8s. For some reason, my front right side is still sagging. About 2.5" less than the left. Not sure what is causing this...I was guessing extra weight from the battery and heater assembly, but that shouldn't lower it 2.5"?!?!? I have pictures but they are too large to post. I'm not sure if I will be unable to resize them, but I can email some to you if you would like. Let me know. AJ

The truck has a 454, turbo 350, np205, 12 bolt/d44, Cheyenne Super package.

**special-K** · 09-22-2005, 06:33 AM

Your truck shouldn`t sag like that.Was it uneven before the lift?Are the shackles too tight,laying the same?Make sure they are torqued to spec.It should be less than the spring-eye bolts up front.Also,check that your frame horns are straight.

09-07-2005, 09:52 AM	#1
1969 C/K CST A.K.A- Crummy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NC foothills Posts: 3,025	Suspension upgrade Looking for ideas and pics for a mild upgrade to my stock style suspension. Tougher parts. Slight increase in clearance. Maybe from 31/10.50 to 33/10.50. Things like shackles, shocks, leafs, and sway bars. Any help? __________________ 2003 Silverado Z71 Are fishermen all liars?

09-11-2005, 01:55 PM	#2
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,307	ttt...interested in this too... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 22 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada!- 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 3 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 17 Yrs- 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 8 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

09-11-2005, 07:09 PM	#3
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	depends on what your after for 31 or 33 I would use a sky jacker add a leaf in the back it will give you 2in and then use a ORD front shackle it will give you an 1in you could also use a ORD zero rate in the back or fron that would give you an 1in as well. For full spring I like BDS I have sky jacker on one of my blazers and they are sofft good for trailes but a little to much bounce for a DD or mud truck. __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

09-11-2005, 09:32 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Buy a 2" spring lift.You can get softer-type for better ride and flex or stiffer HD-type.Right now,for the money,I`d buy Rancho 9000RSXs.They are truly adjustable to go with either type of lift.You can buy stabilizer bar mount spacers to retain that.Dual steering stabilizers.There are thicker shackle plates,urethane bushings... __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-12-2005, 08:53 AM	#5
1969 C/K CST A.K.A- Crummy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NC foothills Posts: 3,025	Thanks for the input. I have been looking for some spring options. I also have seen some shackles that are alot thicker than stock. Any pics of these options? Just want my suspension to be tougher and gain maybe 1" to 2". My truck isn't going to be a serious offroader. I still want good performance when I do choose to tackle something. Don't want to loose driveability. Is it too much to ask for the best of both worlds? __________________ 2003 Silverado Z71 Are fishermen all liars?

09-12-2005, 12:28 PM	#6
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	check out http://offroaddesign.com/ __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

09-13-2005, 07:51 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Try DIY4x.com,too.I set up my`90 Blazer pretty much the way you are thinking.I wanted it to be practicle and driveable on the road,not "lifted",but better off road for when we "locked it in":BFG A/Ts(12.50/33),manual hubs,manual trans,urethane bushings,Hellwig rear sway bar,Bushwacker traction bars,Auburn Gear posi,Centerforce Dual Friction,HD hardened u-joints,front springs arched/1 leaf added to give about 1"higher/more level stance and clearance for bigger tires.I always wanted a winch. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-21-2005, 04:55 PM	#9
midwestburner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 24	I just put 2.5" Skyjacker leafs under the front with Off Road Design's HD shackle kit, 2.5" add-a-leafs in the rear, and Skyjacker Hydos all around on my 72. I am running 32x11.5 BFG MT's on 15x8s. For some reason, my front right side is still sagging. About 2.5" less than the left. Not sure what is causing this...I was guessing extra weight from the battery and heater assembly, but that shouldn't lower it 2.5"?!?!? I have pictures but they are too large to post. I'm not sure if I will be unable to resize them, but I can email some to you if you would like. Let me know. AJ The truck has a 454, turbo 350, np205, 12 bolt/d44, Cheyenne Super package. __________________ 72 Chevy 2wd lwb 350/TH350 72 Chevy 4wd lwb 454/TH350

09-22-2005, 06:33 AM	#10
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Your truck shouldn`t sag like that.Was it uneven before the lift?Are the shackles too tight,laying the same?Make sure they are torqued to spec.It should be less than the spring-eye bolts up front.Also,check that your frame horns are straight. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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