35 inch tires on 1979 K10

[gmcsierraclassic]

A question that is not new, but to which I cannot get a clear answer...Maybe you can help...

I have a 1979 K10 1/2 ton shortbed that I only use on the street, no off road at all, with 35 x12.5 x15 tires and a 4 inch lift suspension.

THe truck rides like a tank, to the point that it is not fun to drive, it is way too harsh, so I'm considering lowering the suspension a bit to give it a more pleasant ride comfort... It is fun for a few minutes, but after a while you get tired of being shaken around....

So I thought of maybe a 2.5 or 3 inch suspension lift to regain a bit of comfort. SInce it is only driven on street, anyone knows if it will clear the fendres when turning and so on? I will never fully compress the suspension on this truck, it is a show truck, so do you think I can get away with 2 or 2.5 inch of lift whitout trimming the fenders??

Any advice?

[78 Chevyrado]

If you're not going to load it down, would you be able to remove some of the leafs from your springs? that would smooth it out a good bit, but it will lower it a bit too. maybe not evenly front to back.

[gmcsierraclassic]

I could do that, but I'd rather install a new lift kit 2 to 2.5 inches instead. Front leaf springs and reat blocks. Or maybe it is an old lift kit...The springs were much stiffer 25-30 years ago...Maybe if I bought new front leaf springs 4 inches, maybe I would get a better ride...I really don"t know what to do....

[79Silv4x4]

Assuming the 35 inch tires on 10 inch wide rims you won't clear when turning on anything less than 4 inch lift and I think those still sometimes need minor trimming on the lower front fenders. My '79 has 35 inch pro-comps on 15x10 rims and it clears fine but the PO had already done minor trimming so I can't say if they would clear without trimming.

[thegame55974]

I'd recommend looking at BDS lift kits. I have used them in a few trucks and its the closest thing to a stock ride that I have found. Nothing is perfect but I wouldn't use anything else on a truck I was going to keep for a long time. I have run both 4 and 6 inch kits.

[MTCK]

I don't think you will make it with 2.5" on 35's without some trimming. Look at www.offroaddesign.com and check out their lifts. They use the lowest rate springs they can find for the front and a shackle flip and stock springs for the rear. Also the greasable bushings can't hurt and sway bar drop will help too. I would keep a 4" lift if you want to keep the 35's. Or go to 2.5" and 33's if you want it to ride better. More arch in a leaf spring never helps the ride...

[gmcsierraclassic]

That was my second option if I installed a 2.5 lift...Go with 33 inch tires instead. Not as cool as 35, but at least it would be a bit more comfortable....Unless I convince myself to trim the front fenders a bit....Which is something I'm really reluctant to do.

I could have a 4 inch lift kit from Rough Country with rear blocks brand new at a very good price from Rough Country directly. Anybody has comments about their 4 inch leaf springs handling? It they were softer than mine it would be something to consider... Mine have 4 leaves. I would like to have a set of front springs with a good load capacity, and yet be flexible, not as stiff as my current set... They hardly flex, the tires and frame do the job....

[dman1982]

i just put a 4 inch lift kit on my 84 k10 with 35's, i got the new rear springs, they are a stiff ride too...but im also comparing this to the stock suspension that was wore out badly....my truck is still stiff...but rides ten times better than it did with the stock suspension...im pretty sure no matter which route you go its going to be stiff....in my line of work we would just get told to suck it up lol...these trucks are pretty stiff. not really sure which route would be best for you tho

[gmcsierraclassic]

If I knew for sure that a 2.5 inch lift would clear the front fenders..... It would be a bit more easy on my back, because right now the word terrible is not exagerated....And I don't mean that the springd hit the bump stops....That never happens. My problem is that it handles like a Sherman tank!!!I don't have stomach problems, but after half an hour of street cruising I start to feel sick...Really not pleasant to drive...To show off it is great, but it stops there...Not to mention the loose steering....

[dman1982]

i think a two inch lift would be cutting it real close....i would try the stock springs with blocks...that might help...do you have steering stablizers? that helps alot too...my steering is really loose...and if you only have one stablizer try going with the dual setup...im going to be doing that to my truck here real soon...and how is the bushings on the sway bar? those will affect it too

[blakeduren]

Tuff Country Springs are much softer than Rough Country springs. Get rid of those.
Use 4" tuff in the front, get sway bar relocation brackets, a SINGLE good shock on each corner and use stock rear springs with some type of shackle flip in back. DIY4x4 or ORD or whatever.

[gmcsierraclassic]

My fear with Tuff Country is having the contrary problem... Too soft in the way that the front springs will flatten over time due to less load capacity, not to mention that I have a heavy winch mount in the front. I wouldn't want either to have a truck with little spring capacity....Unless the Tuff country springs are smooth, but can hold a load...Any advice???

[scottsdaleowner75]

Rough country is a stiff ride, tuff country iss much softer. i just installed a procomp 4 inch lift with ORD heavy duty front shackels, gearbox reinforcement and sway bar disconnect. i really like the ride quality of the procomp kit. WAY better then the stock ride. four inch is the minimum for 35's.
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[BigBlocksRule]

So, why do you think it will lessen the harshness of the ride just by lowering it a bit? You'll still have the same springs and shocks, you'll just be a bit closer to the ground. The springs are the culprit, not the lift blocks.