Stock suspension question

[R.L.]

I listed this as stock so not to disapoint any of the low rider guys. I have a LWB that I shortned and made a SWB with trailing arms coil springs that ride like you're on a old feather bed, thats nice if the road is smooth but if you're on any bumps it just bounces and hops over them it could get dangerous if your in a turn at speed. I've put new shocks on the truck but they are the light duty Gaberals, my question is can I go to a heavy duty shock that has coil springs on them to stiffen the rear end up; or would it be more effective to go to a air shock? I considered a block to install in the coil springs to take one of the coils out but I'm not sure if that is what I want to do. What do you guys think.

[R.L.]

Come on folks no ideas I hate to start buying parts just to find out that I should have done something else.
Think I should replace the springs instead?

[geezer#99]

Making it stiffer won't make it better. No pun intended.
Stiffer shocks will make it worse.
What you got for tires and rims. Tire sidewall flex can be a source of a bad ride.
Maybe try some extra weight in the back to see how that makes it ride.

[SCOTI]

I wouldn't stiffen the rear suspension, I would try improving the shock quality.

[jcis4me]

I hane the same problem my bed was shortened and it bounces all over the place on rough roads, I put 3 50# bags of play sand in the bed and the ride smoothed out. 2 on each side in the very rear and 1 in the middle about a foot from the rear.
Marty

[R.L.]

Yeah I thought about adding weight in the bed but I cant use that as a permanit fix. I guessing the springs are setup for a long bed as jcis4me's truck acts the same way, I suspected as much becouse the truck rode fine before I shortned the bed.
I will try some heavy duity shocks that have external springs of there own, maybe they will dampen the ride for me.

Thanks guys.

[SCOTI]

If you have to add weight to overcome the difference in ride quality when going from a lwb to swb, I would think you'd get better ride quality w/less spring rate vs. adding more w/a coil/helper type shock.

Try some KYB GR-2's or Bilsteins.

[geezer#99]

X2 on what Scoti says. Also look at the whole truck. Weak springs, shocks and front suspension components can effect your handling too.
My swb 65 rides the same as yours. Smooth ride till I get into the bumpy corners.

[jcis4me]

R.L.
When I got my truck here the rear axle was about 3" forward, and was with in an inch of the front of the wheel well. I moved the axle back by drilling out the saddle and it move back to the center of the wheel well and the truck is riding better. Had to lengthen the drive shaft, but it rides oh so nice. Is your axle centered?
Top pic b4
Bottom pic after
Aloha
Marty

[R.L.]

Originally Posted by jcis4me

R.L.
When I got my truck here the rear axle was about 3" forward, and was with in an inch of the front of the wheel well. I moved the axle back by drilling out the saddle and it move back to the center of the wheel well and the truck is riding better. Had to lengthen the drive shaft, but it rides oh so nice. Is your axle centered?
Top pic b4
Bottom pic after
Aloha
Marty

Yes my wheels are centered, I rechecked after reading your post, thanks I'm thinking after the feedback I should look at new springs. I have new shocks and am not satisfied with the ride at all. I will do the sand bag thing in the meantime. I don't know what else to do but change the springs thats the only thing it could be.
Thanks for the help guys.

[jcis4me]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

If you have to add weight to overcome the difference in ride quality when going from a lwb to swb, I would think you'd get better ride quality w/less spring rate vs. adding more w/a coil/helper type shock.

Try some KYB GR-2's or Bilsteins.

I have leafs in the rear and took out the overload spring and the gas shocks bottomed out, so the overload is back in, it is hard to find the shocks I need because the auto parts here use the computer and cant cross reference the parts to make something fit, the parts girl or guy just gives me a stupid look when I ask them to cross reference a part!
So I will probably contact a shock mfg company to get a number for a shorter shock, and remove the overload spring.
As for your trailing arm suspension ask around at some spring shop maybe they can somehow relieve the tension on the coils but still retain the same ride height. just a thought.
Aloha
Marty

[R.L.]

Before I bought the best shocks available I put in a couple of blocks in the springs and in effect took out a coil and stiffened them up. It doesn't ride like a new truck but it doesn't float and bounce over uneven surfaces anymore. Those old springs are still soft enough to do what they need to but the stiffer ride helped me. I like the results, had to make the spacers from some old hangers\ small channel iron; the spacers I bought from the auto parts stores were too narrow, must be made for cars. This time it worked for me and I'm happy with the results.
I put a bottle jack between the Axel and the frame spread the springs till I could insert the block, let it back down then opened the block up app 1/2" installed one on the other side and took her out on a test drive.