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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Changing the suspension on my dually???
Hey guys and gals. I have a question. This is my suspension at the moment. I was wondering If i could take some square tubing and cut a hole in one end and weld a tube inside it and put spring bushings in then replace my springs with it on each side. Somehow bolting it to the axle and keep my air bags in place or actually replace with bigger ones and then put a watts link behind the axle. I dont want to cut my frame and im not looking to lay frame or anything like that. I just want to maybe tuck the top inch or so of the tire and that would be fine. Mainly looking to lower it a bit more and improve my ride a bit. Just curious if its a stupid idea or not. Oh and the tires on the back are only 27" tall. gonna be swapping in 30.5" or 245/75/16. So any suggestions and pics would be great. Im gonna be pulling a 5th wheel or GN camper so I really dont wanna mess with the frame and bed at all. I use my truck as a truck.
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A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
So you're looking to raise the front spring mount? You can buy mounts designed for that: http://www.andysautosport.com/hanger...ruck/1982.html so I imagine if you do a good job at DIYing one there won't be a problem. It will change your pinion angle so watch out for that - you may have to play with the shackle to make it point where it should.
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1973 C20, 350/350 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,964
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Sounds like you're describing a 2-link......
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Northern California
Posts: 422
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Are you talking about a home made trailing arm suspension, replacing the springs with tubing? If so, I think you may be safer buying a kit, so the engineering has already been done and you know it works, especially if you are talking about towing with it. Not to discount any fab skills on your part, but why reinvent the wheel.
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#5 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
Quote:
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A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Yeah pretty much. I was just looking at 75Dually's thread on his page and he did pretty much what i was thinking but I was thinking of running the bars on top of the axle instead of underneath and doing my gags on the side of the frame like they are but with beefier mounts and maybe a pan-hard bar or watts link.
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A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Northern California
Posts: 422
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
After seeing the picture, it seems to make more sense now. Just curious though about stability while towing, or will the watts link take care of it?
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Watts link or panhard bar will take care of any side to side movement. Its basically a trailing arm setup from the 60's trucks with shorter arms and not triangulated.
__________________
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,964
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
The truck-arm 2-link arrangement allows for articulation because of their length (51+"L, I-beam construction (allows twist), & triangulation (twist & articulation). A short bar 2-link arrangement does not allow that articulation.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
Now its entirely possible im wrong. I am not an engineer by not means so please tell me. Thats why im asking if its a dumb idea or not.
__________________
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,964
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
Raise one wheel higher than the other & anything positively attached to it is going to want to follow the same arc. The end attached to the rear will follow but what about the opposite end @ the hanger? What happens there? So in the real world.... your app would be short links positively mounted @ the rear-end housing & firm bushings approx 25" away. Picture turning right into a parking lot from the street where there's a slight incline as you transition during the turn. The right side is going to need to lift while the left is going to squat while turning. While not off-roading, there will be some serious stress on the front mounts. The short, fixed position bars won't allow much twist so the front mounts will be where the stress is focused.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Basically this only with the axle underneath the bar.
__________________
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Found this as well. this could work nicely.. I think I would need bigger bags however.. http://www.ridetech.com/store/universal-hd-4-link.html
__________________
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,964
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
I'm not sure if 75dually moved his hangers forward or not. You can prob find that info in his thread or send him a PM & ask him to verify.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Scottsdale Arizona
Posts: 125
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Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Not trying to hijack the thread but I'm getting ready to do the same thing to my 72 C30 Dually. Need to bring the axle forward a couple feet so a regular 8' bed will fit on it. Any progress on your truck? I was thinking rod ends to compensate for the articulation and maybe a triangulated arm to attach to the top of the rear axle.
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#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brighton, TN
Posts: 1,267
|
Re: Changing the suspension on my dually???
Quote:
__________________
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together. |
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