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80s 2500 suburban, how many rear leafs do you have?

xpndbl3

xpndbl3

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
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Location
orland park, IL
My 88 suburban rides like a dump truck and with my trailer behind it, I am bouncing my work equipment all around on these chicago pothole filled streets, can't stand it anymore. Was researching online and the trucks had supposedly between 5 and 9 leafs. Well mine has all 9, was thinking of dumping 2 of them to start and see where I get. I think mine is called a "camper special" which meant it had the stiffest springs GM has ever used in a 3/4 or 1 ton. I was going to do a 3/4 ton 63" spring swap but don't have the time to relocate the front spring mount with work being crazy. So, I'm asking you guys, who has a 2500 series suburban, how many leafs do you have and how does it ride?


Also running a slightly longer shackle from DIY4x, the shackle flip and a zero rate as well to net me 6" of lift to match the front.
 
I have had both the 8 and 9 leaf packs, neither was overly stiff. Actually seem a little soft for a 3/4 ton truck.
 
seriously? this thing bucks and bounces me out of the drivers seat constantly. Running brand new nitro shocks up front and the F350 shocks that I read about on here in the rear, the new shocks helped but still far too stiff for my liking. Guess it doesn't help the tongue load of the work trailer isn't even 150 pounds since it 's way under 1k total weight.
 
Its my experience that its usually the front springs that give these rigs a harsh ride. Especially front lift springs.
 
well i've been driving over curbs going into businesses and trying to figure out which axle gives it the harsh ride and it's definitely firmer in the rear than the front by a good margin
 
well i guess my options are to pop out 2 or 3 leafs in the back then order up some 4" lift springs up front from tuff country, think they're called EZ ride. Can't take this truck anymore bouncing and riding so stiff, maybe I'm getting old lol
 
Mine rides quite harsh in the front, it's very obvious by the top of the spring pack that they are bottoming out on the bumpstops. Don't seem to notice the same problem in the rear, although they are far stiffer (with add a leaf). They don't bottom out.

I'm going to install some cut off bumpstops to see what happens up front. But I do plan on putting a "stock" 5 leaf pack in the rear to see what that does to ride as well. I don't pull enough weight, and like to go fast enough on logging roads, to justify the harsh ride.
 
Take your shocks off, and see what it feels like. I always thought my springs were super stiff.....until i was investigating some shock problems, and disconnected them. The springs in the rear of my 3/4 ton really aren't that stiff.

Its a free test, worth a shot to see how it rides. If its way softer....you need softer shocks.
 
This is my rear pack in my 90 burb. Its stock and they are what i would consider soft. The front is way rougher than the rear. Speed bumps in parking lots can be taken at any speed with the rear end but the front will bounce you.

IMAG0328.jpg
 
xpndbl3 said:
well i guess my options are to pop out 2 or 3 leafs in the back then order up some 4" lift springs up front from tuff country, think they're called EZ ride. Can't take this truck anymore bouncing and riding so stiff, maybe I'm getting old lol
Click to expand...

Stock to 2" lifts seem to ride the best on these rigs. Of course i have not run the popular 52-56 fronts, or custom spring packs
 
y5mgisi said:
This is my rear pack in my 90 burb. Its stock and they are what i would consider soft. The front is way rougher than the rear. Speed bumps in parking lots can be taken at any speed with the rear end but the front will bounce you.

IMAG0328.jpg
Click to expand...

i see you have 6 leafs in the back plus overload, I have 9 leafs plus overload, so you have 3 less leafs. Definitely why mine probably feels so stiff. Bouncing my 300 pound body on the rear bumper I get 1/2" of travel
 
well dropped it to the same setup that you have and what an improvement! lol


now to just figure out some softer front springs, what's the consensus around here or should i make a new thread on that. Was thinking 4" lift springs plus a zero rate and move the axle forward an inch. I see the EZ rides are well liked, but there is also an HD version, wonder how much harsher that is. Especially since this 5.3L is 130+ pounds lighter than a stock tbi engine, but it's amazing to push down on the rear bumper and get it to move an inch or two. Can't wait to drive it, although it's low in the back now compared to before, so I'm going to drop the front lift from the 6" pro comps (stupid stiff) and switch to a 4" plus zero rate.
 
just thought i'd update this after driving the truck an hour tonight, it rides a ton better than before. Can't wait to get some responses to my front spring thread I started and I'll get those ordered up. I can bounce the truck a few inches in the rear now standing on the hitch ball, can't wait to soften the front up and I think it'll really start riding nice.
 
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