BDS or TC front springs?

[jeff in co]

I've got a 4" Pro-Comp (I think) lift on the 89' but I get a lot of popping and clicking sounds up front everytime I turn the wheel. After some investigation, it appears that it's coming from the spring pack. Additionally, the front end seems to be springy when I hit bumps.

I am considering just swapping out the old front springs for some BDS Softride springs but don't know if there will be any vast improvement or not. I've also heard about Tuff Country Softride springs being good as well.

I've considered going down to a 2.5" lift eventually so my thought is get a 2.5" front springs and then add a 1" zero rate to get an overall lift of 3.5". The front may sit a little lower than the back but if needed, I could play around with a smaller block to get it level.

The BDS's have plastic end protectors on each leaf so I'm thinking they are going to be much quieter than the existing ones.

I don't know the age of the Pro-Comps either so it would be nice to get a fresh set in there.

Front Springs would be $284......

Does this sound like a solid idea or just waisting money??

 

[K85 Octane]

if you are going down to ONLY a 3.5" lift, the current length shocks should work for both 4" and 3.5". So...my advice is to get some better shocks or at least check the current ones before you do any spring changing. It may just be the shocks.

No mater what you do, you may want to change the shocks anyway. I'd start there, if you end up happy, no need to change the springs.

 

[jeff in co]

if you are going down to ONLY a 3.5" lift, the current length shocks should work for both 4" and 3.5". So...my advice is to get some better shocks or at least check the current ones before you do any spring changing. It may just be the shocks.

No mater what you do, you may want to change the shocks anyway. I'd start there, if you end up happy, no need to change the springs.

I just put on some Bilstein 5100's and that really helped. Just don't like the constant popping sound up front every time I turn.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The Pro Comps don't have pads between the springs?

I ran BDS 4" fronts for many years and really liked them, they do have the pads and after a few years mine squeaked just like you describe. Probably due to Moab dust getting in them, I think I sprayed silicone spray on them and that quieted them down.

 

[jeff in co]

The Pro Comps don't have pads between the springs?

I ran BDS 4" fronts for many years and really liked them, they do have the pads and after a few years mine squeaked just like you describe. Probably due to Moab dust getting in them, I think I sprayed silicone spray on them and that quieted them down.

I'm not 100% sure they are ProComps but from the "hard to read" numbers, I come up with a ProComp part number.

The springs are basically metal to metal and when I turn the steering from left to right, I get a few pops. I experimented by placing a washer between two leafs and that pop went away. Basically, the leaf fanned out about 1/8" when turning. Enough to make a popping sound.

I get a lot of popping sounds though as I cycle the steering from stop to stop. So my conclusion was the leafs are moving around ever so slightly.

I did get some new u-bolts up front and have torqued them twice already....but the sounds are still there.

Chris, do you think the pads will eventually wear away anyways? I thought about the TC springs but they only indicate 2" instead of 2.5".....that's why I say BDS.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Tuff Country has 2" and 3" springs, but as you said no 2.5" springs

The pads will basically last forever