71 C20 saggy suspension

[elJefe]

I have a 71 C20 burb and it seems to have the original springs which are sagged out and bouncy like crazy. I also have 20" wheels with too much offset that were installed by the previous owner. The wheels offset causes the tire to impact the fender on bumps or when more than 2 people are in the car. I think that I should revamp the suspension first with new coil springs and address the wheels after. What do you guys think? I would like to return the truck to stock height and was wondering who to buy the springs from and what shocks to purchase for the 3/4 ton chassis. I bought some rear shocks from cpp but i think those have blown cause of the saggy springs.

[elJefe]

Some pics

[LockDoc]

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Bouncy is caused by bad shocks, not bad springs.

If the picture is where your truck sits with 20 inchers I don't think your problem is springs. I would get some good, stock type, name brand, heavy duty shocks from NAPA and see what that does. If your rear springs look collapsed in the middle they may be variable rate springs and that is the way they are made. I'm not saying your springs can't be bad and they may have been heated or changed out to lower the truck at some time, but GOOD heavy duty shocks would be my first fix.

Just my 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

[rod1701]

Somewhat new to the board and just finished my suspension mods. I went lower so not the same issues as you. I would lean toward LockDoc's advice also. When I pulled the shocks off my Suburban, I could easily operate them by hand, no hydraulic pressure left at all. Like your 3/4 ton Burb, my 1/2 ton's stock rear springs were very close together in the middle. So there is probably some sag with age but not sure that they are shot.

I put CPP lowered shocks back on my truck and it rides pretty stiff. It doesn't hit the bump stops (cut the front ones off). Good shocks should come in well under $200 and only take a few hours to change out. If you are chomping at the bit to get started this may be a good place to start.

I think the thing I would personally recommend would be to decide where you want the suspension to end up. It sounds like you want very close to stock ride height and wheel package. Wheels and tires are expensive and big commitment to final look and overall appearance of your truck BUT without the right set-up it sounds like those 20's are causing more problems than they are worth. If you are going to go with wheels this size, then bag it, dropped spindles and springs, or otherwise make the necessary mods to make them fit. With the more or less stock set up and wrong off-set and it bumps or rubs even when it isn't loaded, it may be worth getting rid of the 20s earlier than planned and going with a more correct 15" or a little more modern 16" wheel and then see if it still sags, bumps, bottoms out, or is bouncy before doing investing major time and money in a suspension rebuild.

If you are going back to pretty much stock, whichever order you decide to do in, you will have to have a good set set of shocks, so may be worth trying them first.