Thanks for the thoughts everyone.
Just an opinion here. First off I think you are on a good track. I do agree with buying the best shocks you can. Bilsteins are hard to go wrong with.
I think I am one of the few that really like RS 9000s with an in cab control. When I had em in my zuk I adjusted them all the time.
Now one suggestion I might make. The stock front shackle still has kind of a crappy angle if I remember. While its a fairly labor intensive deal you may want to move your front upper shackle hanger forward just a bit. I would not shoot for more than about 15 degrees between 10 and 15 would probably work best.
Stock springs. May go with a replacement shackle though...that help any? I noticed Kert has some nice looking replacements.
Anyone remember the velvet ride shackles for the rear? I had a buddy with them in a one ton truck and it improved the ride a ton. Still rode crappy just less crappy then before. Just checked and they don't make em anymore sulastic now makes them but they don't list them for squares.
I have actually thought about those. Didn't they only make them for 3/4 and up trucks? Wonder if I can find a set online somewhere...
Actually, Sulastic does list one for our trucks:
https://www.sulastic.com/Default.aspx
Any point in changing the rear shackle for an ORD or DIY4x unit?
My main goal to improve ride would be to increase the free movement in the springs. Teflon inserts in the springs opened up spring clamps (preferably the kind with bolts in the top) Anything to reduce friction when the spring moves. Maybe even replace the sleeves in the bushings with some sort of graphite impregnated steel.
Next would be to control the movement of the springs.
I wouldn't worry about bumpstops too much.
I would worry about shock mounting though. In the front stock shocks seemed to run out of travel before the bumpstops touched, that is hard on shocks and the ride of the truck.
Treat it exactly like you were doing a lift and trying to get max travel out of it with suspension control in mind and you should have the best riding stock truck out there
What's your opinion on those poly bump/load helpers that Zim is using? I know you have some experience with them and I believe mentioned putting them on a stock truck once.
Be sure to post up all the stuff you end up doing/buying as far as the suspension goes, I will most likely be doing the same thing at some point and I would like to know how it turns out for you and what kind of $$$ you spend on it. Ive got the same plans as you except I may throw an ez inch all the way around just because when the engine was out it sat exactly an inch higher in the front and you really could notice the difference and it looked nice.
It'll all be in my "K5 ownership/build thread" thingy.
I MAY go with an EZ inch or Zero rate all around if the springs don't push me up too much higher. I HAVE to keep it able to fit in a standard garage. Only have a few inches of clearance now with the saggy springs.
I'm not so sure about that, based on my recent experience with 5125s.
The 4600s back then worked wonders on my stock suspension.
Bump stops/shock mounts: extended bumpstops might be the ticket to limit uptravel and hurt the shocks. Bolting the shocks in the aux position on a truck originally equipped with a front quad shock setup will give a little more space to work with.
I may consider some longer aftermarket poly bump stops. Just the ol' pyramidal type.
I am already running the front shocks in the auxiliary shock position with nothing in the standard shock position. Only problem is that makes the Bilsteins a chunk more expensive than the standard position.
