Ride Quality: Just a Moot Point?

[92yamaha]

I have an 84 K10 that was my first car (purchased in 02). I took it out of retirement this weekend for some wheeling. For the life of me, I cannot recall it being so stiff and "bouncy" on normal streets.

First: Is it possible for leaf springs to stiffen or loose ride quality over time? Or have I just gotten older and spoiled by my 03?​

Second: are there any leaf spring lift kits, 4"-6", that offers exceptional ride quality (both on and off road)?​

Please save me from building a Grand Cherokee over my K10!

 

[sweetk30]

sag over time = yes

crappy old shocks = yes

good off the self ride lift springs in the 4-6" range = yes

tuff country ez-ride NOT rough country DUMP druck ride . . . .

lots of us here do and love tuff country springs .

I have them in my k30 plow truck . I do the 3" hd fronts for the extra weight of the plow . and even no plow on there nice .

bds is also a good riding spring and product . just got to find a dealer or order direct from there site is all.

 

[Bent77]

Just did a shackle flip and longer rear springs on my K10, significant improvement in ride quality. Yields about 4" lift

 

[ryoken]

I have an 84 K10 that was my first car (purchased in 02). I took it out of retirement this weekend for some wheeling. For the life of me, I cannot recall it being so stiff and "bouncy" on normal streets.

First: Is it possible for leaf springs to stiffen or loose ride quality over time? Or have I just gotten older and spoiled by my 03?​

Second: are there any leaf spring lift kits, 4"-6", that offers exceptional ride quality (both on and off road)?​

Please save me from building a Grand Cherokee over my K10!

even better than off the shelf tough countrys are custom packs from Alcan, spec'd for YOUR rig thru ORD... not cheap, but eleventy million times better than what you got....

matched with some nice bilsteins and good tires makes for a noice ride....

 

[Heavyd462]

Completely agree with Ryoken. Best On/Off road $$$ I've spent, I also did a shackle flip so rears are super flexible. Go custom with bilsteins and you won't regret it.

Originally Posted by Ryoken
even better than off the shelf tough countrys are custom packs from Alcan, spec'd for YOUR rig thru ORD... not cheap, but eleventy million times better than what you got....

matched with some nice bilsteins and good tires makes for a noice ride....

 

[6872xtc]

Completely agree with Ryoken. Best On/Off road $$$ I've spent, I also did a shackle flip so rears are super flexible. Go custom with bilsteins and you won't regret it.

This X2!!!! I took a torch to my Tuff Country ez-ride junk just for revenge after I upgraded!

 

[brans87]

Not all here can afford or have a budget for Alcan leaf springs so don't rule out Tuff Country! Rather go Custom Bilstein shocks like ORD sells 5125's with Tuff country then great leafs and cheap out on the rest of the parts. Do best you can with your budget is all I am trying to say.

 

[92yamaha]

So, basically, what everyone is saying, is that ORD sells only the best and won't sell "dump truck ride" components. Good thing they're the primary vendor I've been shopping.

I've looked into the custom leafs, and although the costs are about twice that of Tough Countrys, I've considered scrapping the truck project and going with an XJ Grand Cherokee or Land Cruiser simply because of the terrible ride quality (there's only so much my spine can handle before I flip a switch). So an extra $700 for custom springs is much better than $4k for a new vehicle and starting from scratch.

I appreciate the information that everyone has posted here. It's given me great hope in building this truck (and as of Friday, a K5).

 

[ktmoutfront]

Or just go big. Links, coilovers and bypasses.

 

[sweetk30]

don't let these guys fry your brain on custom stuff.

there good not bashing it . but if you want better than stock and good ride . . . . I am super happy with my tuff country like I said before .

and I run mine on a k30 1ton 4x4 plow truck with a 8ft or 9ft ( I got both ) old school fisher plow on the front . there in the 800-925lb range for the plow alone . so why I did the hd version .

 

[92yamaha]

Just to play devil's advocate here: are there any "affordable" 4-link (or triangulated 3-link) kits available? When I mean "affordable," I don't mean the ORD kit that runs $3,200. As much as I'd love that kit, it's simply not in my budget.

 

[6872xtc]

don't let these guys fry your brain on custom stuff.

there good not bashing it . but if you want better than stock and good ride . . . . I am super happy with my tuff country like I said before .

and I run mine on a k30 1ton 4x4 plow truck with a 8ft or 9ft ( I got both ) old school fisher plow on the front . there in the 800-925lb range for the plow alone . so why I did the hd version .

But he is talking K5, not a work truck. I have had stock, tuff country crap, and now ORD on a 1/2 ton. And I have told lots of people, if you have ever felt the difference, you will understand. I'm not trying to fry anyone's brain or sell just one vendor, just my experience.
And if anyone ever gets to my part of the country, stop by and I will show you the ride quality.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Just to play devil's advocate here: are there any "affordable" 4-link (or triangulated 3-link) kits available? When I mean "affordable," I don't mean the ORD kit that runs $3,200. As much as I'd love that kit, it's simply not in my budget.

Fab one your self? There is a company in Denver who makes a bolt in kit for less, but it looks a whole lot better than it works.

 

[K85 Octane]

tuff country crap

wow, harsh bro that's twice you've said that. TC rides like a caddy compared to the other "off the shelf" springs Until I finish my street truck, all those other options are gunna have to wait. But my flipped rear 56s feel soft and front TCHDs feel good. If I didn't have the bumper, jack, and winch with steel cable a set of EZ rides would be better. Good shocks are important.


If the money for all 4 custom leafs is in the budget, I recommend doing that over the flip kit out back. Depending on how you wheel it this may be the ticket.

 

[6872xtc]

I haven't tried any other off the shelf springs. But was that an intended pun? "Harsh " Lmao! But yes, the difference is that drastic! And I agree about the shocks, I had Rancho adjustable ones first and then went to Bilstien. My opinion of the springs stands.

 

[Blue85]

Choices in leaf springs has been hashed out a dozen times here in the last year or so. Search will get you all the info.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Ruff Stuff can probably take care of you with the 3/4 link kit.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/4LINK-KITS.html

I have a full set of 4 Alcan springs on my truck. 8" fronts, 4" rears, w/shackle flip. The set of 4 was just over $1100. (can't remember if that was the shipped price or not). They aren't THAT expensive.

What is the cost of 4 off the shelf springs?

 

[Burbdood 74]

I've said it time and time again, if I hadn't been so G.D. stubborn, I wouldn't have gotten the Rough Country lift for my Burb and I would've gotten a Tuff Country HD lift instead.

I'm not saying the ride is super horrible, but it's not nearly as soft as my friend's 89 Sub with a Tuff Country lift. I tell people all the time that I'm 5'10" tall.........I used to be 6'3" before the lift.

If you're going with off the shelf, do yourself a favor and get Tuff Country.

 

[ryoken]

not directed at you...

I have ZERO sympathy for guys with dump truck riding rigs when they buy Rough Country springs.. it was all about the cheapest deal they could find when they buy em, but it's the "after-price" you pay for that decision...



I've ridden in RC rigs, I ran TC EZ's, and I've ridden in Alcan's (not spec'd by ORD, which I'll guess are just a bit better)


on a scale of 1 to 10 smoothness for a leaf rig I would rate the RC's a 2, the TC's a 5 and the Alcan's a 9...

 

[riflerk20]

Just because our opinions of ride quality may differ how would you compare the TC or ORD springs to a 2000ish Silverado?