Improving Ride for 4 x 4 with 4" Lift

[rpatowers]

I am the owner of a 72 Chevy SB Step Side 4 x 4. About 10 years ago I installed a new suspension with four new leaf springs that gave a 4" lift. I also installed Rancho 5000 Shocks.

Improving the ride was a major consideration in selecting the suspension, as I have arthritis in my back and neck. When I ordered the suspension I told them I wanted the best ride I could get, and the gal at the orde desk said the new springs would make my truck "ride like a Cadillac."

Well, what a joke that was! My new suspension rode so rought it popped out my fillings and detached my retinas (well, almost). At the time I couldn't do much about it as the spings and installation had drained my budget.

Now 10 years have passed and I want to fix the suspension. I want it to stay a 4" lift but I want the smoothest ride I can get. What would you all suggest?

Thanks, folks!

[99-LS1-SS]

Maybe you could pull a few leaf springs out. I'm not sure if that will cause the lift to be less or not. It should make it ride better though.

[6772owner]

Removing leaves could help, especially the over load spring from the bottom of the pack, but it will lower the height by at least the thickness of the leaves, maybe more if it sags afterwards.

The best you can do with leaf spring suspension would be to get some "custom" springs from Deaver or someone that has multiple leafs that are thin and tapered. This would help out with the ride quality, you would also want to get a much better shock to help out as well. I would recommend a Bilstein shock set up, but ultimately a short wheelbase, leaf sprung, lifted truck isnt going to ride "well" period...

I owed a near stock 67' K10 Step-side with some add-a-leafs in the front, basic gas shocks and 33" mud terrains... it would beat you to death over any kind of big bumps.

My personal opinion is the only way to get "modern" ride quality would be a coil spring/coil-over or air bag suspension to replace the leaf springs or convert it to a crew cab long bed.

[andrewmp6]

What about the b52 swap in the front?

[6772owner]

I forgot about that, longer front springs would definatly help the ride quality of the truck, good idea!

[andrewmp6]

Take a look at http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=122 its a kit that lets you use the longer rear springs in the front.Its the best thing i know besides a custom 3 or 4 link with coilovers that gets pricey fast.

[rpatowers]

I've also heard something about a "shakle Flip." Do any of you know what that is?

Thanks!

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by rpatowers

I've also heard something about a "shakle Flip." Do any of you know what that is?

Thanks!

It won't work on the front...and that should be the worst part of the ride problem.
Are you sure that the harshness is from "stiff" springs? How much suspension travel do you have now?

[andrewmp6]

A shackle flip means you move the shackle from one end of the leaf spring to the other.You can do it on the rear but it will give you another 4 inches of lift in the back doing it.On other trucks they do it in the front because some from the factory had the shackle in the front of the spring which sucks off road so they do a shackle flip to make it better off road.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

A shackle flip means you move the shackle from one end of the leaf spring to the other.You can do it on the rear but it will give you another 4 inches of lift in the back doing it.On other trucks they do it in the front because some from the factory had the shackle in the front of the spring which sucks off road so they do a shackle flip to make it better off road.

You are confusing things here Andrew. The procedure that you discribed is a shackle reversal, a common thing on Jeeps. They start out with the shackles of the front springs ahead of the axle itself. This is not the case with these trucks.

A shackle "flip" actually concerns the mounting location of the frame bracket. On these trucks the bracket mounts very low and the shackle and spring are above the pivot point of the bracket. A shackle "flip" moves the bracket (or create a new one) putting the shackle and spring below the pivot point.
Check this out in comparison to your stock set-up.

[andrewmp6]

Yeah i came from the jeep world that's what they all called a shackle flip.I wonder what brand springs he has on his truck tho.Some of the cheaper brand springs do ride rougher then they should.

[duallyjams]

I removed the bottom overload spring on the front spring only ( I used the truck in street stock truck pull and needed the front to work better ) I could not believe what a difference it made in the ride quality of the truck , I also used a front shock hoop and had 2 shocks on each side of the front axle and I had my seat redone to add more support and comfort.

[LONGHAIR]

The dual shock thing is not helping either. They are making it stiffer than necessary.
Dual shocks are an off-road racing thing that was adapted to the street, mostly in mall-crawlers. When paired up they need to be far softer than the standard single shock or they just cause a harsh ride.

[thiesnutz]

the rear shackle flip is very easy to do, a couple companies make the shackles and such, its a very easy conversion. the B-52 swap is great, but the front end gets a little more sway to it. acts like a boat when you turn, real bad body role in some cases. ive done both swaps on a 91 k-5 with great success but i rarely drove on the street. One of my buddies did the rear shackle flip on his 71 blazer and loves it. has had no issues so far, installed it almost 2 years ago.