quad shocks to dual shocks more flex?

[xpndbl3]

Right now I have 6" pro comp front springs that are far too stiff IMO and will be replacing with something else come spring time. Which then caused me to ask myself if the quad shock setup on my 3/4 ton suburban is holding back my flex ability over dual shocks. Since I'll be buying new shocks all around I don't want to spend money twice. The second shocks are very short and my thinking is they are bottoming out right now and causing my issues when off road.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

If the shocks are bottoming out they are limiting flex.

Otherwise 6" Pro Comp springs are awfully stiff, that's most likely that cause of your issue.

An easy way to find out is to take off the shocks you believe are too short and see if it makes a difference.

 

[xpndbl3]

yes well that was the next logical choice was to remove the bottom ones, but since it's winter here it's just internet wheeling until spring when I'll actually want to sit outside for a long period of time. High of 11 today, low of 0...it'll be a while

The pro comps ride like a dump truck though, I do tow with my suburban and will be keeping the rear stock 7 leaf springs along with the shackle flip and understand the rear will ride stiff unloaded, but this front just hammers me. any suggestions on something a little more livable?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

We get this kind of question almost every day, from easiest/cheapest and up (which, of course, are more effective the more price goes up)

Sway bar correction/disconnects (or remove sway bar)
Greasable suspension bushings/bolts
Softer front springs, BDS or Tuff Country
Custom front springs, we have Alcan build ours
Coilovers

Start with ditching your short front shocks, that will help ride and flex. After that, replacement of your front springs will help the most.

 

[xpndbl3]

Alright I'll contact you guys in the spring for an order then. Sway bar is long gone, that improved the ride slightly and you can't notice it's gone with these things. Literally the shocks move probably 2" up and down while street driving it, hardly any travel at all. All bolts are greasable from diy4x already with poly bushings in the springs also. Guess I'll look into BDS and tuff country for spring rate numbers.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Tuff Country springs have the lowest spring rates and I've known many people who have them and love them. It's basically all we sell (we can get pretty much anything).

I personally ran BDS springs and liked them, we don't really deal with BDS right now so that's my personal opinion and not related to ORD so much. The BDS springs were the only ones I ran on my Blazer so I don't have a direct comparison between the two. As per my last post, I feel that Tuff Country and BDS make the best off the shelf leaves for our trucks from my four wheeling experience.

 

[6.2Blazer]

The dual shocks can definitely make the ride rougher, but really shouldn't hinder flex (articulation) unless they are bottoming out.

The reason they make the ride rougher is they slow down the movement of the spring when you hit a bump on the road (really quick movement), they simply don't let the springs react fast enough. On the other hand the shocks don't support any true weight so if you pull on something like an RTI ramp (really slow movement) they let the spring flex.

Granted, gas charged shocks do support some weight, but you are talking about a few pounds on a 5-6,000 lb. truck.

 

[xpndbl3]

thanks again Chris, I've spent a lot of money with your company over the years, I'll bookmark this thread and pickup some new leafs in the spring from you all.