Best ride quality, Stock or Lifted?

[BigRed76]

ORD emailed me back today, they said they don't make a 2.5" shackle flip for the 67-72 trucks because they weren't comfortable with the strength because of how much higher the shackle mounts are in relation to the frame. If you look at the 4" shackle flip bracket for 67-72 you can see that the shackle mount just barely hangs down below the frame, so to do a 2.5" shackle flip it would put the shackle mount almost directly beside the frame rail.

[y5mgisi]

I have yet to find the stock leaf spring rates. But here is a table that lists several leaf spring rates.

http://coloradok5.com/springratetable.shtml

My plan for my 78 k25 is the 2" tuff country ez ride front springs, and hafl ton pickup springs from 98-2000 chevy/gmc pickup. They are 63" long and if you have ever ridden in a truck like that, you know they ride amazing for a fullsize pickup. And the fact is, its a factory leaf spring designed to be used in a pickup. They are obviously lighter duty since they were OE in a half ton, but hafl ton srping capacity is good for most folks. Heck my 2012 GMC 1500 has only 3 leafs but is rated to tow like 9500lbs. It rides amazing as well.

So, ez ride springs, good shocks, and longer rear springs and i think i'll have the best possible combo of smooth ride but still good stability.

Also, not sure about the 67-72 stuff, but TnA offroad offers a zero lift shackle flip for the 73-87(91) crowd.

http://www.totallynakedauto.com/GM_A...ift_shflip.htm

[special-K]

You can always add air lift auxiliary springs (bags) to get it back to 3/4-1t rating when needed.

[El Dorado Jim]

Nice truck you have! I have a 72 K20 that I put a 2 1/2" skyjacker lift kit on with skyjacker shocks,the kit came with new front springs and rear lift blocks,came with the old style rear U bolts, I went to a local spring shop and had them make me the newer style 73 and newer U bolts and I used plates from a 74 K20 ( just a U bolt reversal,so U bolts point up, not down).......any way, the truck rides real nice and I am running 33" tall tires , looks good too..... I have heard that Tuff Country EZ ride kits are really good too....

[BigRed76]

Well I think I'm going with a 4" lift. I've got a pair of brand new 4" tuff country EZ ride springs in the garage for another project, so I think I'll try those on the GMC first and see how I like them before I pull the trigger on putting 52s on it. Thank you for all of your input guys

[joeydurango]

I can tell you that the worn out stock springs on my truck were a smoother ride than the new 2" TC EZ-Ride lift springs (although for a lifted, all leaf truck, the ride is pretty nice). I would be curious to find out how smooth new, stock-height springs ride.

[y5mgisi]

Were your stock springs two leaf or three? Its hard to believe even though several of you have said it, that the tuff country ez rides ride worse than stock when they have by far the lowest spring rate compared to all the other off the shelf springs.

I am wondering if any of it has to do with the pre '73 front springs being 46" as opposed to the post '73 having 48" front springs.

[joeydurango]

I don't honestly remember. But remember, they were quite worn out and pretty saggy, so a fairer comparison would be between new stock springs and new lift springs. Also, as I believe Tim said above, the taller the arch, the rougher the ride, although I haven't looked at the spring rates.

[K5owner]

If you are looking for comfort some custom springs are the way to go. They won't be cheap but they will give you the best possible ride in a leaf sprung truck. Alcan comes to mind but there are others.
Honestly I am not that impressed with the ride quality of my EZ-Rides in my square body. They do flex better than the pro-comps I had before but around town ride a little softer but not much. Also the procomps held loads better when carrying stuff to the dump or a load of gravel. Something to consider.

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by K5owner

If you are looking for comfort some custom springs are the way to go. They won't be cheap but they will give you the best possible ride in a leaf sprung truck. Alcan comes to mind but there are others.
Honestly I am not that impressed with the ride quality of my EZ-Rides in my square body. They do flex better than the pro-comps I had before but around town ride a little softer but not much. Also the procomps held loads better when carrying stuff to the dump or a load of gravel. Something to consider.

I think anything would be softer than pro comp springs. I had front and rears on my 85, and that thing rode like a brick. It was a good thing that truck had a headliner, because my head hit the roof quite often. That being said, I didn't lift it to go off road, I lifted it mainly for looks. And those pro comp springs served their purpose.

[BigRed76]

So just an update, I decided to hold off on lifting the truck for now. Instead I bought bilstein shocks and new stock springs for the front. The truck does ride much much better, but it'll still let you know you're in a solid axle truck.

On a side note, a few weeks ago I drove a 68 F250 that had 52" springs up front and that thing rode like a dream. No sway bar, no trac bar, just the springs and some good shocks. I will definitely be doing the 52" springs in the future.

[snj8198]

Thanks for the update Zach

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

a few weeks ago I drove a 68 F250 that had 52" springs up front and that thing rode like a dream. No sway bar, no trac bar, just the springs and some good shocks.

Hope you remembered which shocks they were.... they will make a big difference in ride quality & control.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Hope you remembered which shocks they were.... they will make a big difference in ride quality & control.

I believe they were Monroe shocks, completely yellow but had no stickers on them.

[rocket20]

What if someone was trying to accomplish a 6" lift with 52s up front a 2" lift spring I think would accomplish this required amount of lift , and a lift spring (in theory ) would be stiffer than stock 52 and couldn't said spring have a better road manner? And still accomplish a softer ride?
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['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

So just an update, I decided to hold off on lifting the truck for now. Instead I bought bilstein shocks and new stock springs for the front. The truck does ride much much better, but it'll still let you know you're in a solid axle truck.

On a side note, a few weeks ago I drove a 68 F250 that had 52" springs up front and that thing rode like a dream. No sway bar, no trac bar, just the springs and some good shocks. I will definitely be doing the 52" springs in the future.

I just finished my 63" / 52" swap and am still giddy about the way it rides. The front is fairly straightforward. The rear took a little figuring. It was worth it to me.

[rocket20]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

I just finished my 63" / 52" swap and am still giddy about the way it rides. The front is fairly straightforward. The rear took a little figuring. It was worth it to me.

What bilsteins were they running ?
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['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by rocket20

What bilsteins were they running ?
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I think BR76 is running the Bilstiens. Ive got RS9000s.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by rocket20

What bilsteins were they running ?
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I'm using bilsteins for a stock height 73-87, since the only bilsteins I found for a 67-72 were for lifted trucks. The front shocks are a direct fit, and the rear shocks I just had to remove the studs that come preinstalled in the upper bushings.