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89' Harsh rear ride off road

scoots90245

scoots90245

1/16 ton status
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89' jimmy rear set up 3" TC EZ-ride springs Bilstein 5125 33-104652 255/70 valving
front is 2" skyjacker with ORD zero rate leaf Bilstein 5125 33-230320 360/80 valving in the aux position
K5 handles great street driving/freeway. When off road the rear pops up and slams down onto the bumpstops. my crates with jacks tools etc get airborn.
My option is to tie down with straps where the rear seat was. I would still like to know how to reduce the out of controll rear (up down slam)
The only Bilstein 360/80 shock that fits is the 33-230344 but the full ext is 26" the ones in place are 28" and full drop is 27+ so I would rather not put limiting straps on the rear and have less travel. I am looking for a bolt on option if there is one rather than a change in springs etc.
 
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scoots90245 said:
89' jimmy rear set up 3" TC Softride springs Bilstein 5125 33-104652 255/70 valving
front is 2" skyjacker with ORD zero rate leaf Bilstein 5125 33-230320 360/80 valving in the aux position
K5 handles great street driving/freeway. When off road the rear pops up and slams down onto the bumpstops. my crates with jacks tools etc get airborn.
My option is to tie down with straps where the rear seat was. I would still like to know how to reduce the out of controll rear (up down slam)
The only Bilstein 360/80 shock that fits is the 33-230344 but the full ext is 26" the ones in place are 28" and full drop is 27+ so I would rather not put limiting straps on the rear and have less travel. I am looking for a bolt on option if there is one rather than a change in springs etc.
Click to expand...
No need to change springs. It’s in your dampening. Maybe run duals or try flipping your current shock over? See what happens. Maybe upgrade to a shock that’s revalveable?
 
Same deal on big semi trucks. When they ride like shit, slamming stuff around with no load. It's because the shocks are trash. New shocks almost always solves this.
 
Sorry but Tuff Country EZ Ride springs are trash. I did 4" TC springs EZ ride (Softest) and was REALLY disappointed with ride. ORD or Deaver custom springs is the only way to go but they do cost more.
 
When I go over a bump in a parking lot the front will rise and fall once. The rear will rise and fall twice, they dont keep bouncing like there blown they just seem to soft.
I had kinda the same experience with the front and changed the shocks to a 360/80 valving.
It is possible that I’ve blown the shocks already, I have less than 10,000 miles on the bilstein 5125s that I bought from ORD.
In your guys experience, is it worth spending the money to go to FOX 2.0 and have someone valve them for me
 
I have the ORD greasable Bolts and thier bushings. When i jack the K5 up they seem super smooth np binding.
I'm guessing I cant compare the fronts to rear but I bought the Skyjackers for the front to replace my bent TC's
Front is 2 1/2" Softride Skyjacker with ORD zero rate Bilstein 5125 shocks with 360/80 valving in the aux position
Rear is 3" TC EZ-ride springs Bilstein 5125 shocks 255/70 valving
 
83ChevyK5Blazer said:
Its probably the spring rate in the rear springs. Are the bushings to tight and binding?
Click to expand...
Bushings in great shape and greased, no binding seem really smooth when I jacked to check travel today.
Spring rate too soft if bouncing or too stiff?
I would assume I would need the shocks and springs to work together?
Soft springs firm shocks
Stiff springs softer shocks?
 
Shawn said:
Sorry but Tuff Country EZ Ride springs are trash. I did 4" TC springs EZ ride (Softest) and was REALLY disappointed with ride. ORD or Deaver custom springs is the only way to go but they do cost more.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I'm not in a position to purchase the custom springs yet, I went with ORD suggestion when i purchased as a set TC/Bilstein 5125.
I bent the fronts and replaced with Skyjackers. The front feels great but I do have different valved 5125s
 
I would assume the front and rear shocks are close enough to the same length to swap and see if things change. I would start there cause it’s easy and free.

My front HDs were ok with the same shocks you have in the rear, I would assume the EZs would ride smoother. I have never had anything in the rear other than various 56” stock springs. Very smooth ride but not much help here.
 
scoots90245 said:
Unfortunately I'm not in a position to purchase the custom springs yet, I went with ORD suggestion when i purchased as a set TC/Bilstein 5125.
I bent the fronts and replaced with Skyjackers. The front feels great but I do have different valved 5125s
Click to expand...
Interesting. Did ORD replace the bent springs or were they out of warranty?
 
K85 Octane said:
I would assume the front and rear shocks are close enough to the same length to swap and see if things change. I would start there cause it’s easy and free.

My front HDs were ok with the same shocks you have in the rear, I would assume the EZs would ride smoother. I have never had anything in the rear other than various 56” stock springs. Very smooth ride but not much help here.
Click to expand...
Smart Easy Free
i'll do the parking lot bump test reversing the shocks.
Just gotta be careful i dont bottom out the longer rears or snap the shorter fronts when reversed
Thank You
 
scoots90245 said:
they dont carry TC any more
Click to expand...
I thought you bent a set of their custom springs. These are not TC and use 9 to 10 leaves per pack which give them the smoothness and flex. Their custom springs ride like a Cadillac. I understand that that they are not budget friendly though. I thought TC warranties their springs
 
Shawn said:
I thought you bent a set of their custom springs. These are not TC and use 9 to 10 leaves per pack which give them the smoothness and flex. Their custom springs ride like a Cadillac. I understand that that they are not budget friendly though. I thought TC warranties their springs
Click to expand...
Sorry, The springs I bent were tough country ez ride front. I like the idea of custom 10 leaf pack and eventually i may go that route. right now i'm gonna try to make this thing ride as good as it can with the springs i have. i'm gonna take K85 Octane advice and swap out the shocks easy and free. It worked for the front, I switched out the stock mount 255/70 valved Bilsteins for Aux mount 360/80 valved Bilsteins and the boatey loose feeling was gone. I'm hopeful the valving will take care of the ride since there is no aux mount option for rear.
 
the shocks job is to control unsprung weight(axle, brakes, tire , wheel) the springs are to control the body and frame ride, if you are hitting the snubers it going to be a spring issue. either the truck is to heavy or the springs are to soft or damaged.

The double bump maybe the snubers acting as suspension.
 
Wes Harden said:
the shocks job is to control unsprung weight(axle, brakes, tire , wheel) the springs are to control the body and frame ride, if you are hitting the snubers it going to be a spring issue. either the truck is to heavy or the springs are to soft or damaged.

The double bump maybe the snubers acting as suspension.
Click to expand...
Double bump as in lifts up down up down then settles it does not hit bump stops in parking lot bumps only large whooos or holes off road
Snubers? Bump stop? Sorry
Gonna head over to garage in a bit and snap some photos
Thanks for your help
 
Wes have you been to this side of the river?
These roads with whoopdodoos this is where my crates and gear goes flying around the back of Jimmy front does OK
even when the shocks were new it seemed like they weren’t able to control the rear that well. D24FDB8D-D521-43C7-BF23-1B77DABD5C8C.jpeg
 
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