55.2-59 55-59 straight axle

[rgunlock]

So is one solid front axle ride about the same as any other? For instance, would my 59 with original style front suspension ride like my 78 K15?

The way they build new roads around where I live assumes everyone has a modern IFS so they don't work too hard keeping new pavement flat.

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

So is one solid front axle ride about the same as any other? For instance, would my 59 with original style front suspension ride like my 78 K15?

The way they build new roads around where I live assumes everyone has a modern IFS so they don't work too hard keeping new pavement flat.

Solid axle ride is as different from one type of truck to another as the roads the trucks drive on. I believe my stock '57 rides better than the stock '70s K series. The reverse arch front spring makes the ride terrible imo.

One reason coil springs are gaining on leaves is because there is minimal friction in the coil spring itself. Reducing friction in leaf springs can make a big difference. HDPE sliders at the end of the leaves will do wonders. Switching to a spring pack with wider leaves, but a smaller total number of leaves will also help but it's not an easy task. If you really want to prove a point with a solid axle, switch to coils.

[57tailgater]

Springs rates, installation design, vehicle design and road conditions all contribute to how they ride and handle. One thing you will notice on newer ones is they have the fixed end on the front and the shackle to the rear. This way the force of hitting a bump is not driven directly into the rear spring hanger and transferred hard into the frame. With the shackle to the rear, the forces are relieved some as the spring compresses and the shackles swing rearward. Trouble with doing this on the front of a lot of trucks is the frame has to be designed to accommodate the shackle up front which means that end is usually much higher than the fixed end. They ride like old trucks and newer (even just by 15 years or so) suspensions have made things more comfortable. Just my $.02.