Springs on a K30

[86-1ton]

hey all... i'm looking into new springs for my '86 K30 crew cab...

as you can see, being 22 years old and a plow truck it's whole life, my front springs have a nice negative arch of about 2"... i like the way the back sits, and i'm replacing them anyway (both main leaves have snapped near the spring hangers), and i'm going to run 37" TSL's... i had 35's on before, and trimmed... never stuffed a tire on the trails i do...

OK, so i'm looking into these options:
- 4" half-ton lift from Rough Country from JC Whitney
+
- stock 3/4ton Sub rear leaves from JC Whitney

- 4" 3/4 ton lift with shocks from JC Whitney
+ rear leaves

- 2" 3/4 ton lift with shocks from JC Whitney
+ rear leaves

OR:
4" lift, all 4 springs and shocks with 56's so it will go right in... from NTWonline - National Tire and Wheel...


what i'm not too sure about is a 4" lift... i don't think i'll need it really, and if National Tire & Wheel had a 2" lift for 56" springs, i'd be all over it...

i've heard that stock 3/4 front springs give like a 4" lift to half tons, so if i did the half-ton lift kit, i'd be near stock height...?

what does everyone think, or should i just go back to keeping it in my head...?

 

[shaun89]

i would go with tuff country because they r soft or if ur going to plow with it and do some work with it, id go with rough country(real stiff). so id go with 4" springs from whatever company u prefer for all 4 corners. 4" isnt tall at all really if ur concerned about that. 4 springs may cost a bit more, but its a sure way to lift ur truck and nothing will fail (like cracking a block).

 

[thatK30guy]

Wow. You've been hearing too much stuff from too many peace-pipe smokers.

There is such a thing as 2" rear springs. A few lift manufacturers make them. Some may be 2", some may be 2.5".

All front lift springs will fit any K-series truck in the 73-87 trucks and up to '91 Subs and Blazers. There is no specific spring for each K-series number. A K5 uses the same springs as on a K30 if you were to order some from Skyjacker or Superlift, etc.,

I'd run 4" front and rear springs and call it done. I run these from Skyjacker along with 35" tires and its neither too short or too tall.

 

[86-1ton]

yeah, i think stiff springs and new shocks will ride better than broken springs and worn out shocks, right...?

granted, i have a brother with a Dodge 1-ton regular cab long bed that has a 2" add-a-leaf 'lift' and it rides like hell, but i don't mind it that much...

yeah, my truck will be used for plowing, and daily driving, and mud, and hills/trails, and will likely be loaded with branches and stuff...

i think i'm going to go with the National Tire & wheel system...