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Ride quality

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fried_guy

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Mar 7, 2007
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Location
Fallbrook, CA
Now that the truck runs well I want to improve the ride quality since it's driven on the highways often. It has 4" leafs up front and back. All else is stock suspension... looks like the bushings were changed out at one point and time... may need replacing again.

What can I do to improve ride quality without sacrificing off-road performance? And something that won't break the bank...

Straight springs with 4" shackle flip?
New bushing?
Sway bar?

I want to focus on suspension for now... steering later.

----------------------
77 Blazer
SBC400, TH350, NP203
Work in Progress...
 
I have Tuff Country EZ Rides up front and they ride good. Replacing all the bushings will make a big difference.

I mentioned this before around here and some guys thought it was a dumb idea, but I used the stock rear springs and a 4" shackle flip with 6" shackles (1.5" longer than stock) and that made a huge improvement over the old ride quality. I don't know if the new bushings that came in the shackles made a difference or if they just allow a better shackle swing, but I like them. I much prefer this inverted setup to the stock setup.

Also don't forget about shocks and their mounting locations. Some guys swear by Bilstien shocks. Some people also use taller F-250 shock towers up front and a central shock mounting location above the axle for the rear. I think DIY4X has a kit to relocate your shock mounting locations above the rear axle. Both these tricks allow for a longer travel shock, which could improve the ride, if you have decent springs.
 
I don' think longer shocks will improve ride quality unless you are bottoming out the ones you have now.

1. Good shocks..Probably the single best thing you can do with your set up now.
2. Depending on the age of the lift springs the bushings should be ok if they aren't too old.
3. Removing the sway bar really made mine ride nicer, but it does have a bit more body roll without it..its a trade off.

Thats about it without getting in to shackle angle changes and more in depth stuff. I wouldn't bother with changing shock mount locations without super flexy suspension, and thats another trade off with body roll.

My Blazer rode great (for a leaf sprung truck) with 4" springs all around and a good shock IMO.
 
I agree. I ditched the swaybar and went with Trailmaster SSV shocks, which are the best twin tubes out there to me. Shocks do make the most difference as long as your springs are up to snuff.
 
Thanks! So here's what I gather from your guys' input...

I'm going to change my shocks first... bil steins?... double chamber?

Then change out my bushings... greasable?

And possible remove or get the disconnect kit for my sway bar.

If I still feel the ride needs improvement then I'll...

Change out my fronts to 52" springs

And change out my rears to 56" springs

I figure that if I'm going to be changing springs, I may as well get some longer ones and shackle flip them... I don't think I'll be changing the shock mounting location unless absolutely necessary.
 
Yeah thats a good list.

If you do the 52/56 swap up front it will ride softer for sure, but it will sway a lot! If you do a lot of highway driving you should look into a custom aftermarket sway bar for the front. I drive mine back and forth to work, but I wouldn't want to do any evasive manuvers at speed with it thats for sure :eek1: It's usually not looked at as a "daily driver" friendly mod, but thats up to you. Remember the 52/56 front mods also require crossover, long shocks, long brake lines, and a long slip front shaft to be used to their potential.
 
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