How do I make my truck ride like a Cadillac?

[1975stepside]

Instead of shake-shake, bounce bounce, rattle...I'd like it driving smooooother! Maybe new motor & trans mounts? Any ideas? Thanks!

[Low84]

That's a start. I'm no expert but I would imagine that in combination with dynomatting the cab and replacing all the bushings would help out quite a bit.

[1974k5blazer]

insulate the cab a ton and put air ride all the way around! or just buy a cadillac

[Bishops Trucks]

By a cadillac and take the trunk lid off.

[rod86]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

By a cadillac and take the trunk lid off.

exactly wat i was gona say

[Cherub]

+1 for the other posts.

replace cab bushings
insulate the cab
bag it

this will help but it will never be a caddy

[N2TRUX]

Tell us more about your truck. Lets start with the tires and work up. What size tires are you running? Tires that are too short, to stiff, or too heavy can have a huge impact on your ride. What about shocks? How long has it been since they were replaced, and are they the right shock for your application? Too soft can be just as bad as too stiff.

We can keep going from there, but we need more details.

[babyJay]

buy an Escalade EXT

[Pyrotechnic]

Put a heavy load in the back. Seriously.

I've had two LWB trucks, and they both rode super smooth like a Caddy with the rear loaded down. Once I even hauled a spare bench seat at the very rear of the bed, and the back of the seat stuck up like a spoiler and gave some serious down force (probably drag too ). I could weave in and out of traffic like the rear end was glued to the road.

The problem is that the springs are meant to maintain an acceptable ride stiffness and ride height at the maximum load rating. When unloaded, you have way more spring rate in the rear than you really need so the rear tends to be a little jumpy rather than calm like a Caddy.

The best solution is helper air bags. You remove leaf springs to decrease the spring rate, then the helper air bag pressure can be adjust to support a heavy load, or to provide less spring rate for running unloaded.

[Low84]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

Put a heavy load in the back. Seriously.

I've had two LWB trucks, and they both rode super smooth like a Caddy with the rear loaded down. Once I even hauled a spare bench seat at the very rear of the bed, and the back of the seat stuck up like a spoiler and gave some serious down force (probably drag too ). I could weave in and out of traffic like the rear end was glued to the road.

The problem is that the springs are meant to maintain an acceptable ride stiffness and ride height at the maximum load rating. When unloaded, you have way more spring rate in the rear than you really need so the rear tends to be a little jumpy rather than calm like a Caddy.

The best solution is helper air bags. You remove leaf springs to decrease the spring rate, then the helper air bag pressure can be adjust to support a heavy load, or to provide less spring rate for running unloaded.

I was actually picturing that happening as I was reading it. LOL!!!

[Longhorn321]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Tires that are too short, to stiff, or too heavy can have a huge impact on your ride.

I would also add that the wheels will have a huge impact. I personally am not a fan of aftermarket wheels for this very reason. I have worked on a lot of vehicles with the wheels and they usually rode like sh!%$. If you stick with the stock wheel/tire combo, you should be able to get a fairly smooth ride (for a truck..),assuming the shocks/suspension are OK as mentioned above.

[AceX]

Also, going with a tire that is more narrow will improve ride quality.

The biggest things that is going to affect your ride are the spring rate, shock, and most of all, the tires.

Bushings and the rubber bits aren't going to effect it THAT much when you compare it to the three items listed above.

Also, worn out seats can sloppy steering can play a significant role.

Basically, there's ALOT of things that effect the ride quality of your truck, you just have to go through systematically and take care of each one until you are happy.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Longhorn321

..... I have worked on a lot of vehicles with the wheels and they usually rode like sh!%$......

It's usually not the wheels that have an impact on the ride, it's the fact that they run low profile tires.

It's true that a larger wheel may have an effect due to added unspung weight, but it's a misconception that wheel that is bigger than stock is the problem. The low profile stiff sidewall performance tires are usually the culprit.

[1984 swb chevy]

I have had several lowered chevys and the best riding one had poly lift air bags inside the front coils. I put just enough air in the bags to fill the spring. That truck rode like a Caddy. I put together two other trucks with the same set up but didnt install the air bags and they didnt ride as nice.

[C&C Chevy]

Velvet ride shackles???

[Longhorn321]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

It's usually not the wheels that have an impact on the ride, it's the fact that they run low profile tires.

It's true that a larger wheel may have an effect due to added unspung weight, but it's a misconception that wheel that is bigger than stock is the problem. The low profile stiff sidewall performance tires are usually the culprit.

It has nothing to do with the size. If you spend enough time and money you could balance a 10 foot wheel with a giant mudder tire on it. Most of the ones I have seen tho have one or more of the following.... A: No weight showing on the outside. B: Crappy/inexpensive tires. C: Improper centering of the wheel on the hub/spindle.

BTW..Not bagging on N2TRUX opinion...I'v just seen a lot of rides where the owner got what he paid for.

[manimal]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

It's usually not the wheels that have an impact on the ride, it's the fact that they run low profile tires.

It's true that a larger wheel may have an effect due to added unspung weight, but it's a misconception that wheel that is bigger than stock is the problem. The low profile stiff sidewall performance tires are usually the culprit.

I have to agree. The tires have alot to do with it. The lower profile the sidewall the less it will absorb from the road.
To make mine more cushy I am planning on replacing the rear suspension with the early style rear trailing arms,and get rid of the leaf springs. I also plan on using 6cyl/sbc 1/2t front coils and bilstein shocks,polyeurethane bushings through out the entire truck.
Good Luck
-Lance

[Green77c10]

I have a 77 half ton stepside, but it was factory ordered with an 8 leaf spring pack in the rear :O i got rid of about 60% of that problem by taking the rear leaf springs off and took them in to a local spring shop. they took out i believe the third and fifth leaf, and the bottom super thick one they flipped over so its inverted. this lowered the rear by about 2 inches and made a HUGE difference in ride quality. hope it helps