H2 Wheels and Tires w/ SkyJacker 4" lift report. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Brewski* · 03-12-2004, 09:35 AM

Put a Skyjacker 4" lift on my truck with H2 Wheels and tires. The wheels and tires are way cool they look fantastic, and I get compliments on them everywhere. BUT.... I hate the lift. The truck rides like crap>>>> bounces all over the place and does not steer correctly thanks to Skyjackers steering arm that is NOT the right size for our trucks. They say to adjust the drag link but that only candy coats the problem and actually makes the truck understeer. I really have to turn the wheel way farther than necessary to get it to turn. I have adjusted the air pressure and found 40 to be the best handeling and riding. I am changing out the shocks back to the Edelbrock to see if that helps also. They are large enough to work in the back. The stance of the truck looks nice but the front and back are the same height now. I think the front can drop about an inch or 2 and it would look better and still clear the tires. The front Edelbrock shocks are slightly smaller than the Skyjacker ones so I may try them to see if they bring it down and inch or 2.

71swb4x4 · 03-12-2004, 10:24 AM

Don't tell us how cool it looks without posting pictures

griesel72 · 03-12-2004, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Don't tell us how cool it looks without posting pictures

Ditto

**MJN** · 03-12-2004, 11:16 AM

I've never had a problem with my Skyjacker kit. The one on my Blazer rides great and drives like a champ. All I've got on there is a 4 inch, with a raised steering arm and a steering stabilizer. I would get an alignment and a steering stabilizer on yours and then see how it does. They will bounce more with a lift too, different suspension means different handling characteristics. Sorry to hear about the troubles you're having.

**JIMs70GMC** · 03-12-2004, 11:51 AM

Did you get soft-ride springs? I have tuff countrys 2" heavy duty springs on my 70 and it rides like you describe. I only used a drop pitman arm for the steering. I'm going to install a 4" rough country lift on my 71 in the next couple weeks w/ an raised steering arm, I'll let you know how it does.

How much lift did you get w/ the 4" lift over all. Did you tigten the spring bolts before or after putting weight on the springs. Sounds like the bushings are pre-loaded. Tighten the spring bolts after the full vehicle weight is on the springs.

Grim Reaper · 03-12-2004, 11:58 AM

You still have the sway on? Sway was causign a lot of bump steer in my 75 after the lift. It's running at the wrong angle and binding the suspension. All solves with the www.offroaddesign.com sway disconnects/ correction. I also had issue with the shims to correct pinion angle. They screwed up the caster angle enough to cause issue. My truck was full time so had to run them. When I went part time with it I took them out and much improvement. \

Steering brace also helped my 75 but I don't know if they are available for the first gens.

Talk to Stephen at ORD. He's the K5 guy.

**Yukon Jack** · 03-12-2004, 01:21 PM

Sorry to hear you are having problems. I do have a question, you state

Quote:

Originally posted by Brewski*
The front Edelbrock shocks are slightly smaller than the Skyjacker ones so I may try them to see if they bring it down and inch or 2.

The shocks won't have any effect on the height of the lift. I hope you aren't saying they are too short and you are trying to use them anyway. That would definitely give you a terrible ride and kill the shocks. Make sure the shocks can collapse and lengthen 3" or 4". If you are bottoming out or extending the shocks to max, that will kill your ride quality.

Mudder · 03-12-2004, 01:35 PM

What Yukon jack says..... The shocks won't alter the ride height. I have 4 RS 9000's here you can try out on your truck if you'd like. The adjustment knobs are hard to turn so dont know if that will matter. The front ones are set to be pretty stiff. Also sounds like you need a 4 inch raised steering arm. (Not sure if they work on the older trucks). You are welcome to try these shocks if you'd like.

Brewski* · 03-12-2004, 03:58 PM

Put Edelbrock shocks on back it rode great. Put front ones on they bottomed out. I am putting the skyjackers back on front and leaving it.

Dean · 03-12-2004, 04:08 PM

Which Skyjacker shocks did you buy? nitro or hydro? I used the nitros on one (blue K20) and it rides very rough. I've used the hyrdos on the others and much better. I think the nitros would only be for serious offroading or something.

Brewski* · 03-12-2004, 04:12 PM

I have hydro shocks~!

J.Lance · 03-12-2004, 04:23 PM

I loved the ride with my 4" Skyjacker softride on my '72 Blazer. The stance did actually sit slightly taller in the rear also. I encountered some bump steer but that I never quite got a handle on before I sold it. I was about to swap in a post '74 front D44 with 8 degrees of caster. I think that would have help a bunch as stock '72 D44 only has 4 degrees. was running a raised steering arm by the way. All in all it had a better ride than the stock springs.

Jason

03-12-2004, 09:35 AM	#1
Brewski* Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rocky Mount, MO Posts: 1,293	H2 Wheels and Tires w/ SkyJacker 4" lift report. Put a Skyjacker 4" lift on my truck with H2 Wheels and tires. The wheels and tires are way cool they look fantastic, and I get compliments on them everywhere. BUT.... I hate the lift. The truck rides like crap>>>> bounces all over the place and does not steer correctly thanks to Skyjackers steering arm that is NOT the right size for our trucks. They say to adjust the drag link but that only candy coats the problem and actually makes the truck understeer. I really have to turn the wheel way farther than necessary to get it to turn. I have adjusted the air pressure and found 40 to be the best handeling and riding. I am changing out the shocks back to the Edelbrock to see if that helps also. They are large enough to work in the back. The stance of the truck looks nice but the front and back are the same height now. I think the front can drop about an inch or 2 and it would look better and still clear the tires. The front Edelbrock shocks are slightly smaller than the Skyjacker ones so I may try them to see if they bring it down and inch or 2.

03-12-2004, 10:24 AM	#2
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Don't tell us how cool it looks without posting pictures __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

03-12-2004, 11:16 AM	#4
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 2,999	I've never had a problem with my Skyjacker kit. The one on my Blazer rides great and drives like a champ. All I've got on there is a 4 inch, with a raised steering arm and a steering stabilizer. I would get an alignment and a steering stabilizer on yours and then see how it does. They will bounce more with a lift too, different suspension means different handling characteristics. Sorry to hear about the troubles you're having. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

03-12-2004, 11:51 AM	#5
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Did you get soft-ride springs? I have tuff countrys 2" heavy duty springs on my 70 and it rides like you describe. I only used a drop pitman arm for the steering. I'm going to install a 4" rough country lift on my 71 in the next couple weeks w/ an raised steering arm, I'll let you know how it does. How much lift did you get w/ the 4" lift over all. Did you tigten the spring bolts before or after putting weight on the springs. Sounds like the bushings are pre-loaded. Tighten the spring bolts after the full vehicle weight is on the springs. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

03-12-2004, 11:58 AM	#6
Grim Reaper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,704	You still have the sway on? Sway was causign a lot of bump steer in my 75 after the lift. It's running at the wrong angle and binding the suspension. All solves with the www.offroaddesign.com sway disconnects/ correction. I also had issue with the shims to correct pinion angle. They screwed up the caster angle enough to cause issue. My truck was full time so had to run them. When I went part time with it I took them out and much improvement. \ Steering brace also helped my 75 but I don't know if they are available for the first gens. Talk to Stephen at ORD. He's the K5 guy. __________________ Grim-Reaper 70 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible, worlds longest resto in progress Looking for 71-72 2wd Blazer or Jimmy Project

03-12-2004, 01:35 PM	#8
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	What Yukon jack says..... The shocks won't alter the ride height. I have 4 RS 9000's here you can try out on your truck if you'd like. The adjustment knobs are hard to turn so dont know if that will matter. The front ones are set to be pretty stiff. Also sounds like you need a 4 inch raised steering arm. (Not sure if they work on the older trucks). You are welcome to try these shocks if you'd like.

03-12-2004, 03:58 PM	#9
Brewski* Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rocky Mount, MO Posts: 1,293	Put Edelbrock shocks on back it rode great. Put front ones on they bottomed out. I am putting the skyjackers back on front and leaving it.

03-12-2004, 04:08 PM	#10
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	Which Skyjacker shocks did you buy? nitro or hydro? I used the nitros on one (blue K20) and it rides very rough. I've used the hyrdos on the others and much better. I think the nitros would only be for serious offroading or something.

03-12-2004, 04:12 PM	#11
Brewski* Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rocky Mount, MO Posts: 1,293	I have hydro shocks~!

03-12-2004, 04:23 PM	#12
J.Lance Too many is never enough! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 455	Skyjacker I loved the ride with my 4" Skyjacker softride on my '72 Blazer. The stance did actually sit slightly taller in the rear also. I encountered some bump steer but that I never quite got a handle on before I sold it. I was about to swap in a post '74 front D44 with 8 degrees of caster. I think that would have help a bunch as stock '72 D44 only has 4 degrees. was running a raised steering arm by the way. All in all it had a better ride than the stock springs. Jason __________________ Jason 1968 K10 SWB Fleetside 1971 K2500 GMC LWB 1968 K20 (later frame, donor body) 1972 C20 LWB parts truck 1993 K2500 Suburban, tow rig, 454, 4L80E NEW!! 18' Siem's car hauler 2004 Honda Odyssey (family man!)



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