Street friendly(ish) 52"s-What have you done?

[lochenjons]

Limiting straps, bump stops, etc. Show me what you;ve done to limit travel and generaly make your 52"s in the front streetable. And also something you can remove (like limiting straps) for the trail to get all the articulation you can.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I don't think limiting straps or bump stops will solve anyything. The bottom line is that these springs are softer than the ones initially used in the front.

MRK5 seems to have had good luck on the street with his 52's and blingin' shocks

 

[mrk5]

I think it handles curvey roads better now than it did with the 2.5" lift springs and no sway bar. We just made a trip to a trail run and my wife gets carsick easily. The road we were on usually makes her sick, and it didn't this trip. She used to hate riding in the blazer on that road.

Like 383 said, I think it's the blinging shocks that make the difference, especially on the street. Here's the article I wrote that's posted in the Product Review section: http://www.coloradok5.com/custom-doetsch-tech-shock-install.shtml

I don't have any trouble with the front diving under hard braking, either.

I did keep the 52" spring pack completely stock, same number of leaves, overload, etc. Suspension droop is great, but it can go too far. I'm very happy with how they work. I've seen too much droop and axle wrap create problems on other 52 setups. I still think mine flexes just fine.

I have the bumpstops setup to contact just at the point the springs start to reverse arch. Before they would go quite far in the reverse direction. I RTI tested before and after the bumpstop install and the stops didn't hurt suspension travel.

I was also careful to make sure my caster angle stayed within a reasonable value. I had a hard time finding the correct number, but I think I ended up with 8° IIRC. I made the front crossmember to drop the hanger 1.5" and ended up with 6.25" shackles in the rear which are just long enough to keep the spring eye from hitting the frame on compression.

Hope that helps.

 

[B_to_C]

Wow mrk5, you sure gained a lot of weight between that first and second pic!

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Wow mrk5, you sure gained a lot of weight between that first and second pic!

Nice

 

[thedrip]

I just puttered my mostly assembled truck around the yard, 56's front and rear.... it's going to be REAL interesting on the highway. I also tried jacking the front up by the frame, I lifted 12", and the tires were still very firmly planted on the ground. I think I'm going to need longer shocks. MUCH longer shocks.

Watching the thread to see decent street manner improving mods for 52/56 spring swaps

 

[clstolten]

I am just getting my 74 on the road with my stock rear 52's up front. My springs are pretty much flat. I set my bumpstops less than an inch from contacting the axle. They are the type that have some give to them, and will compress alot. I have driven it up to about 45 mph and it is very stable going through a corner. After I get my alignment right, I will let you know how it does at highway speeds, but I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[mrk5]

Wow mrk5, you sure gained a lot of weight between that first and second pic!

Yeah, in the second picture I actually have some biceps!

 

[lochenjons]

I don't think limiting straps or bump stops will solve anyything. The bottom line is that these springs are softer than the ones initially used in the front.

MRK5 seems to have had good luck on the street with his 52's and blingin' shocks

Well I assume the limiting straps will limit some of the body roll to some extent. And the bumpstops will help too. One of those makes little difference but better than nothing things I guess.

Anyways, I'm interested in seeing some pics of some limiting straps, like how they are mounted etc. I'm unsure how beefy the mounts have to be and I haven't been able to find a whole lot.

And if anyone else has done something that helps I really want to see that too!
thanks