Need to soften the suspension

[jetboat]

68 gmc 3/4

I pulled the contractor bed off, found out it weighed 1100#, plan is to put on a stock bed.... Long story short, I can stand on the back of the frame and jump up and down and the suspension doednt even move. What is my best means to soften this up??? the truck is on 35's and dont want to lower any...just make it so when I'm going down the road my teeth dont hurt.

[Zoomad75]

Just a hunch, but I bet with a contractor bed being on it before, somebody might have added some add-a-leafs to keep the rear level with the added wieght. If not add-a-leafs, they might have had the rear springs built up to handle the wieght.

You can take an add-a-leaf out, but it might drop the rear some. I'm thinking it won't drop much to any at all due to the less wieght of the stock bed.

[earl87gta]

after you put the new bed on you will probably have to remove some of the leafs to leval it out.

[special-K]

What exactly do you have for springs?A little more info will help us help you.How many leafs?Are there any that don`t have a side taper?What condition are the shocks in?
I`m wondering if what you have is normal 3/4t behavior.a couple hundred pounds won`t affect the springs that much.
I assume it`s lifted...how?Softer riding spring packs are available and shackle-flips ease up the action,too.You may want some new combination of those.If your shackles are seized up(like all the others),you`re not getting any action from them other than give in the bushing leaving all the give to the leafs themselves.

[68K20 x Drill]

I can jump up and down in the back of mine and it doesn't move. Add a level bed of sand(1500lb?), and the overloads just touch.

[jetboat]

5 springs
all look to tapper none look like over loads
shocks look new (rs5000)

how can you free up the shackles?

[special-K]

Replace.They are cheap at the dealership.The bolts seize with the sleeve in the bushing.You`ll need new bushings.There are geasable shackles sold by Offroad Design,I believe.The shackle-flip lift softens up action,too.

[jetboat]

The dealers around me dont even have a book for 67-72 for parts

[JAKES 68GMC]

I can jump up and down in the back of my truck and its like a trampoline!

[Erl]

I believe my 68 GMC 3/4 is stock and it has three thick springs on each side. The 67 and 68 use the same spring size, meaning the 69 thru 72 will not work. The ride is very stiff on mine. I am going to have Detroit Spring build me a custom set next year. They will be a soft ride, more thiner springs in the set.

Erl

[ND_guy]

My 67 k20 has three thick leaves per side but does provide a decent ride, but my front springs are a whole different story!

[68K20 x Drill]

3? i think mine has 8 or 9, not counting overloads! Must be not stock.

[Erl]

I also have a 2 1/2 inch Skyjacker soft-ride front spring lift and blocks on the rear. It will still beat you up. The lift kit did not change the ride quality. ND guy I wonder why your truck has a better ride. Are the roads that smooth up there?

Erl

[JAKES 68GMC]

my truck rides really good for an old truck, but like i said, you can jump up and down in the bed and its like a trampoline.

[special-K]

I believe the shackles are the same up through the years.II bought new ones from Chevy for my`91 Suburban.They look just like the ones I bought for my`72.I never compared part#s,though.
Jetboat,your dealer uses a book and not a computer?They need help sometimes gettin`off their arses.

[va_tlc]

i fear pot holes and rail road crossings. when i approach these i reach for a mouth piece real quick

[jetboat]

When ever I have went to the local dealer for parts they use the computer, when I called about parts for the 68 the parts guy said "I dont even have a book that goes back that far" I did find them on Autozones website, I think they were $20 each

[special-K]

They were $8.00 from Chevy.I`d let the manager know about the parts man they pay to not do his job.And,point out how he lies on the phone...what book?