Dropped my truck and getting a crap ride

[watindes]

It may be a completely obvous answer to my question but here is my issue, I have drop springs on the front and that is where my big issue is, every time I hit a semi big bump there is a bottoming out bang. I have removed the bump stops so there is some travel. It needs shocks, my question is with stock shocks on it is it bottoming out the shock or the suspension? I would LOVE to have a source for a complete set of 3/5 drop shocks!

Thanks for the answers!

Jesse

[lolife99]

Do you have any pics of your front suspension?
A 3" front spring drop will require a shorter front shock,... but the bang you describe sounds like something else.

What year truck are you working on?

[hotrodhomi]

do you also have drop spindles? or just 3" springs

[watindes]

Sorry 1986 Chevy c10, only running springs.

[hotrodhomi]

The best fix for a 3" static drop on a reasonable budget would be upgrade to drop spindles and get stock or slightly smaller springs. You can achieve the same amount of drop but keep the longer/ better shocks. This will ride better than the shorter springs.

If you want to keep the drop springs and stock spindles KYB or Belltech makes a drop shock that will work. You can order it from LMC or I'm sure a board vendor could hook you up with a set.

I would double check your front suspension for bad parts. banging is not normal, I would check to see how far your suspension can compress before your current shock bottom out. Its easy to check.
Also the most common part to scrap the road first is the lower A arm near the frame, check there for scrapage.

[DKN]

The CPP tubular arm will help. You need a variable rate bump stop. Even with the bump stop out you do not have any more travel, you just reach the end of your travel with more speed. The CPP tubular arms have a relocated bump stop that is a progressive rate. It slows the suspension more smoothly than the sudden impact you are currently feeling. You will still bottom the suspension over big bumps but it will feel way better when it does.

Danny Nix
CPP

[raycow]

Originally Posted by watindes

my question is with stock shocks on it is it bottoming out the shock or the suspension?

Try to find out where the problem actually is before you start throwing money at it. Put a floor jack under your LCA and run a chain under the jack and over the crossmember. Start compressing the spring slowly until you feel the jack "stop" (don't force it). Is the LCA all the way up now or does it still have clearance? If it does, then you know you need a shorter shock.

Ray

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by raycow

Try to find out where the problem actually is before you start throwing money at it. Put a floor jack under your LCA and run a chain under the jack and over the crossmember. Start compressing the spring slowly until you feel the jack "stop" (don't force it). Is the LCA all the way up now or does it still have clearance? If it does, then you know you need a shorter shock.

Ray

Good suggestion.....

But, w/3" drop springs on a 73-87, the bump-stop is bottoming out on the c.member. As stated, removing the bump-stop might help w/the immediate impact, but it will highlight other short-comings (very limited shock travel, tires hitting the top of the inner fenderwells, etc...).