Improving handling, steering, ride. 72 K5 CST (Pics)

[Dclassen]

Basically I just replaced the Engine,exhaust system, radiator, ac compressor, rebuilt transmission and transfer case on my truck. I'm still not really happy with the way it drives and handles basically. It's terrible offroad(has 3" body lift). What can I do to improve the ride and steering? Oh and on this desert trip it bounced around so much the engine went out down a hill along with my brakes, almost had a heart attack. I just want this thing to drive nice-ish Pics ofc.

Edit: Just added link to image album the pics were huge.

http://imgur.com/a/3E4fT#sATQdta

[DeadheadNM]

Some thoughts: new body mounts (rubber), new springs and/or spring bushings, close ratio steering box, front sway bar addition. No doubt though, my 72 4wd's have all ridden rough compared to, say, my Toyotas or Grand Cherokee but I expect that to be the case.

[TonyJohnson]

Anyone would need a lot more detail on your truck to really answer that. You don't tell us why it's terrible off road. Too stiff? Too loose? Bouncy? How do you want it to ride?

[Dclassen]

Originally Posted by TonyJohnson

Anyone would need a lot more detail on your truck to really answer that. You don't tell us why it's terrible off road. Too stiff? Too loose? Bouncy? How do you want it to ride?

Yeah basically is just bounces around way too much even on just rough roads. I wasn't really "offroading" just drove out on some rough dirt roads in the desert to go shooting. I Just want the steering to be tighter, and for it to ride better(less bouncy), as well as staying straight on the road. I'm no car expert but im thinking the lift that's on it is making the overall ride a lot worse. I had already planned on a improved gear steering, im more concerned with it bouncing around so much.

[TonyJohnson]

These are heavy trucks for offroad and need good shocks with a lot of travel. They're expensive, but Bilstein makes some 5160 remote reservoir shocks that are supposedly the cat's meow. Probably overkill for your application, but I think shocks are your problem if it's too bouncy...

[mtully79]

I put a set of bilstein SZ series gas shocks on my 6" lifted blazer and it smoothed out the ride considerably. Don't get me wrong, with 6" of lift it will throw the passengers around a bit, but these trucks are squally...short wheel base and high center of gravity. I still have the leaf springs as well so the truck will only absorb so much of the road and the rest will hit you square in the ass!

[Dclassen]

Originally Posted by mtully79

I put a set of bilstein SZ series gas shocks on my 6" lifted blazer and it smoothed out the ride considerably. Don't get me wrong, with 6" of lift it will throw the passengers around a bit, but these trucks are squally...short wheel base and high center of gravity. I still have the leaf springs as well so the truck will only absorb so much of the road and the rest will hit you square in the ass!

Well, I just want it toned down a bit. As I said yesterday I was rolling down a rocky dirt road driving down into sycamore creek and the engine went it got knocked so hard. Once I realized the engine was out, then I realized the brakes were too. Nearly **** myself with my brother in the passenger seat, luckily we didn't get thrown into a creek bed or crash into a dirt biker and the road evened out.

[66crewcab]

Get u a sway bar from a 73-76 blazer or k10 pickup /suburban...BIG DIFFERENCE

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Dclassen

Well, I just want it toned down a bit. As I said yesterday I was rolling down a rocky dirt road driving down into sycamore creek and the engine went it got knocked so hard. Once I realized the engine was out, then I realized the brakes were too. Nearly **** myself with my brother in the passenger seat, luckily we didn't get thrown into a creek bed or crash into a dirt biker and the road evened out.

What carb. do you have on it, fuel regulator set about 4psi may help if stalls out

[TonyJohnson]

Another factor is your tire profile. High profile tires will help dampen and you can play with your tire pressure to soften the ride off road. I can't imagine what some of the Blazers with 22s and low profile tires feel like...

[Dclassen]

Originally Posted by TonyJohnson

Another factor is your tire profile. High profile tires will help dampen and you can play with your tire pressure to soften the ride off road. I can't imagine what some of the Blazers with 22s and low profile tires feel like...

Well I think I'm good in the tire department. I have huge bfg all terrains. I noticed I have a steering stabilizer installed. I think I will just ask the guys at my shop to go over the shocks/struts, and check out the steering stabilizer. I think it might even already have a sway bar installed. Here I am complaining. lol. I will have them check out the carb too.

[truckster]

Here's something that may help as well: Buy yourself a decent 12v tire inflator. That way you can drop your pressure down when you go off road and bump it back up when you hit the highway.

[mcmlxix]

Look into removing the 3" body lift and replace body mounts with new rubber mounts. If you need a little more clearance you can put a 1" body lift back in, but I wouldn't go more than that.

The bounce is a combination of springs and shocks. A good quality shock will help tremendously. The springs can also be upgraded. Deaver is a well respectec company that will custom make springs if needed. I believe the basic theory is this. The thinner the spring, the softer the ride. So a spring pack with with 8 thin leaves will ride smoother then a spring pack with 3 thick leaves... http://www.deaverspring.com I's sure there are other companies out there and maybe you have one local to you....

[Chulisohombre]

Your shocks are shot I'm guessing. The 3 inch body lift really makes the blazer top heavy and sway around a lot. I have poly bushings on my body mounts and it tightened things up a lot. My next shocks will be billstein 5100 shocks. They are not the bypass shocks but will feel a lot Nicer than a ranching or stock Replacement. A good set of springs will make a world of difference too. Off road design makes custom springs from Alcan made specific for you truck and suspention needs. You will need some kind of lift Spring to give you back the tire clearance you have now with the body lift if you take it out. On the steering issues the stabilizer just slows down the backlash from the bumps. Make sure Your drag link is flat with the frame of the truck. That will help with any bump steer you Have now. If its not parallel to the frame, you need either a drop pitman arm or lift steering arm to help the steering angles. Tight Tie rod ends and end links on the steering arm help too. Does it Track Strait down the road? If not the alignment is off and will throw you around on bumps too.

[Dclassen]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

Look into removing the 3" body lift and replace body mounts with new rubber mounts. If you need a little more clearance you can put a 1" body lift back in, but I wouldn't go more than that.

The bounce is a combination of springs and shocks. A good quality shock will help tremendously. The springs can also be upgraded. Deaver is a well respectec company that will custom make springs if needed. I believe the basic theory is this. The thinner the spring, the softer the ride. So a spring pack with with 8 thin leaves will ride smoother then a spring pack with 3 thick leaves... http://www.deaverspring.com I's sure there are other companies out there and maybe you have one local to you....

How much work is it to just take off that lift? Shop is getting tired of me lol, though they love my truck. I am thinking I want that off for the above reasons as well as to garage it in the future. Will I need new shocks if I remove the lift?

[austinchannell]

I feel your pain. After I purchased my Blazer and it had a 4" lift. It would beat me to death and I was questioning even owning the blazer and considered selling it. I found a parts blazer and removed the factory springs and had the bushings replaced. I also had to replace the lifted steering arm with the factory arm. I then purchased a red head steering box and replaced the ball joints. I dropped my tire size from 35" to 32" and I now enjoy riding in my Blazer. It is a straight axle f/e and will never ride like todays vehicles.

I'm not a serious off roader just use it to enjoy the outdoors. I don't try to go where no man has gone before.

[Chulisohombre]

if it bounces a lot its the shocks.if you have good shock with decent springs and all the steering components are tight it should ride decent. if you buy new decent lift springs and not rough country off the shelfers it will ride much better. the best off the shelf is tuff country ezriides from what most guys say.the more thin leaves on the spring pack usually the better it will ride.mine has 3 thick leaves and is of the heavy duty variety for the heavy front bumper I have.it still rides decent though because the spring rate is set at the right amount for the weight I have on them. the more expensive rought is to buy custom springs and your truck will ride like a Cadillac.but you will pay twice as much for them.