CK5
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Re-do! Need help figuring out my front end setup.
- Thread starter metalneverdies
- Start date
I have front 5” lift, 52” long ORD’s and no swaybar.
Crossover steering with a big block on top of it all and she definitely ‘aint no sportscar. Lol
She can be a handful on the street sometimes but I built it for the trail. I would never let anyone else drive it on the street. But then again I don’t let anyone drive my stuff anyway.
Crossover steering with a big block on top of it all and she definitely ‘aint no sportscar. Lol
She can be a handful on the street sometimes but I built it for the trail. I would never let anyone else drive it on the street. But then again I don’t let anyone drive my stuff anyway.
Every one that I have, or have driven has ORD shackles. I did the shackle upgrade before getting rid of the Tuff Country springs on my '70.
While I see the logic in thinking that a leaf spring shouldn't deflect sideways, the reality is that they do. The more flexible for ride, the worse it can be. The designated movement doesn't eliminate other movement 100%.
Try pulling a truck out of a ditch when a little angle is required. You can see the spring deflection in slow motion. Don't try to tell me that there aren't similar forces happening instantaneously while driving down the road. Two or more tons of truck bounding over bumps and into corners can do surprising things. Simple straight sections of roads , with just the crown leaning one way will show that to you. The springs won't be the only factor, true, but will be one factor.
I still hope that the OP finds something to improve his satisfaction with his truck. However , leaf springs aren't perfect for every driving situation. And if they were orderd to give a nice ride as the primary concern, some compromise elsewhere is mandatory.
@metalneverdies who got you the measurement for a stock height truck? Did they have a known, factory perfect truck, with no miles on it, to measure?
I am just saying that their measurements can be off, and ORD may be off less than you think. Just a thought.
What if you buy a different set of springs and get similar height, but get a stiff ride?
I am just saying that their measurements can be off, and ORD may be off less than you think. Just a thought.
What if you buy a different set of springs and get similar height, but get a stiff ride?
Take the sway bar out of the equation and the K5 is an entirely different animal.
To quote Kate Bush;
What made is special, made it dangerous.
She was talking about a glow in the dark yo yo.
But Chevy K5's already have a flexy suspension stock.
Just unbolt the swaybar and make sure to put some longer brakelines up front.
I wheeled an 84 K5 at stock height for years in Hollister hills until that damn Oak tree murdered it.
I think what the OP is experiencing is normal.
I drove home a few times without bothering to reconnect the 1 1/8" bolts and even at stock height.. it was sketchy.
Add a lift and soft spring rate..
But the Tuff Countries I have are just an inch lower than the OP.
Look at the pictures.
But with my sway bar connected it rides even better than the sacked out stock springs i replaced.
Some of that is new bushings.
Some new shocks, rear shackle flip too.
I think the sway bar or rather; articulation limiting bar, is the biggest factor at work here.
He wants the offroad prowess AND a satisfactory road experience.
In this case, to me, reading his posts I think he'd be happier with stiffer springs like I have, or remove the cross over steering that is preventing him from running the stock swaybar/correction disconnect.
I dig having it both ways.
Sometimes I have to move trailers for the lodge.
Having that swaybar rocks.
Pull two pins and I am back in party mode.
No, I am not going to the RTI ramp championships.
But I have a compromise geared right between that suits my needs.
What baffles me about the first post in this entire thread is the surprise that it would not fit into the garage.
Who puts an articulation lift on a K5 and worries about garaging it?
No hate here.
Just found that to be an odd disparity.
To quote Kate Bush;
What made is special, made it dangerous.
She was talking about a glow in the dark yo yo.
But Chevy K5's already have a flexy suspension stock.
Just unbolt the swaybar and make sure to put some longer brakelines up front.
I wheeled an 84 K5 at stock height for years in Hollister hills until that damn Oak tree murdered it.
I think what the OP is experiencing is normal.
I drove home a few times without bothering to reconnect the 1 1/8" bolts and even at stock height.. it was sketchy.
Add a lift and soft spring rate..
But the Tuff Countries I have are just an inch lower than the OP.
Look at the pictures.
But with my sway bar connected it rides even better than the sacked out stock springs i replaced.
Some of that is new bushings.
Some new shocks, rear shackle flip too.
I think the sway bar or rather; articulation limiting bar, is the biggest factor at work here.
He wants the offroad prowess AND a satisfactory road experience.
In this case, to me, reading his posts I think he'd be happier with stiffer springs like I have, or remove the cross over steering that is preventing him from running the stock swaybar/correction disconnect.
I dig having it both ways.
Sometimes I have to move trailers for the lodge.
Having that swaybar rocks.
Pull two pins and I am back in party mode.
No, I am not going to the RTI ramp championships.
But I have a compromise geared right between that suits my needs.
What baffles me about the first post in this entire thread is the surprise that it would not fit into the garage.
Who puts an articulation lift on a K5 and worries about garaging it?
No hate here.
Just found that to be an odd disparity.
CrpMag122
1/2 ton status
Are you referring to the FUSH kit? If so, yes I have that on mine. As @campfire said, removing the sway bar alone is enough to give you completely different feeling on the street. The side to side push/pull of crossover steering on top of that, plus the ORD (Alcan) springs, just magnifies that.
If the OP does not want to do the hydro assist, I would suggest going with a panhard bar setup. Ruffstuff sells a kit that will work. Thankfully I got a ridiculous amount of OT which allowed me to purchase the hydro assist, because disconnecting the panhard bar every time I hit the trail did not appeal to me.
I really don't remember who it was, but I believe it was ORD who listed the height. I looked through the old original service manuals and wasn't able to find the info. On newer trucks that is an actual spec to be measured.
It's a nice looking rust free truck. I'm the second owner and wanted to keep it nice looking. Plus if it's in the garage I don't need to worry about wrenching on it. It's also a requirement for the insurance I have on the truck.
I gave myself a couple inches of error and that turned out to not be enough.
The articulation lift was really more for ride quality and I admit I probably went a little overboard by getting the ORD Alan's, but I kinda got talked into / convinced myself I totally needed them vs the Tuff Country HD.
I guess I will finish dumping money into making my front swaybar setup and see how well it turns out and go from there.
Definitely don't want to go hydro assist. I have tried low steer with and without a dampner and high steer. Trucks steers great in any of the combos.
Right, I have heard about those "garage" insurance clauses.
The idea is alien and bizarre to me living in Wyoming.
I can't comprehend that much corporate intrusion into my personal affairs.
Sorry it's like that for you guys.
So if you leave it outside and it get wrecked by hail, they don't cover it?
I've never owned anything valuable enough to warrant anything beyond basic coverage.
What if you are in the process of parking it in the garage and the hail storm hits?
Do they cover that?
I suppose there are all kinds of grey areas.
Man, that must cost a bundle.
My m1009 costs $84.15 a year in registration.
My 76 K5 was $54.15 for registration.
My total insurance bill is just over 400 per year for both Blazers.
Wyoming is cheap to keep vehicles.
The idea is alien and bizarre to me living in Wyoming.
I can't comprehend that much corporate intrusion into my personal affairs.
Sorry it's like that for you guys.
So if you leave it outside and it get wrecked by hail, they don't cover it?
I've never owned anything valuable enough to warrant anything beyond basic coverage.
What if you are in the process of parking it in the garage and the hail storm hits?
Do they cover that?
I suppose there are all kinds of grey areas.
Man, that must cost a bundle.
My m1009 costs $84.15 a year in registration.
My 76 K5 was $54.15 for registration.
My total insurance bill is just over 400 per year for both Blazers.
Wyoming is cheap to keep vehicles.
Ok, well I had no clue, so I guess that I am not any help.
I would personally believe tempted to play with the springs and see if pulling the lower leaves would drop it enough. Of course this may shorten the life of them.
I honestly believe that you would be surprised if you tried the Tuff Country springs when compared to what you have. I won't ever pay for off the shelf springs on anything with leaf springs again.
I hope that you get this dialed in to what you like.
