74huggerorange
Registered Member
Ok, my truck is a 74 chevy 1/2 ton that I made 4wd using everything from a 76k5 blazer. Right now the truck has a 2” bodylift with 4” rough country front springs and 6” procomp rear springs (because the rear spring hangers on 2wd’s are shorter). I am still running the shocks that came with the rough country lift when I put it on in spring 2005.
The truck has been wheeled quite a bit so the springs have had definite opportunity to “break in” and the front always flexed very well, not much rear flex. When I drive the truck down the road it feels like the front is bouncy and if I hit a big bump it really stiffens up and rebounds. However, if i drive the truck over a speed bump the front soaks it up smoothly and the rear bangs violently, I have hauled 1000lbs in the bed though and the truck rode very smooth. I am now wheeling a different vehicle and this truck has turned more into just a driver/utility type/recovery vehicle and I would like to make it ride smoother.
I have searched a lot and no-one quite has the same situation as me so I figured I would ask. My truck has a large front bumper on it with a winch in it (1 large guy can lift the front bumper, but it is much easier for 2…still pretty heavy, I never weighed it). My tires are 35” nitto terra grapplers that I run at 30psi. How do I know if I need the tuff country hd’s or the ez rides? I would use 2” lift springs if I need to replace my front springs. For the rear…I have a set of rear leafs from an 80’s 1 ton chevy military truck and everyone says that a shackle flip is the way to go. I will be adding the axles at the same time from the m-1008 and ditching my bed in favor of a utility bed which I realize is much heavier and should help to smooth out the ride. Also, if a 2” lift front spring is used is any steering correction necessary when using OEM style setup?
What are your opinions for my shock? What should I do spring wise?
In current trim with 1/2 tank of fuel, no tool box or spare and me in it the truck weighed 5000lbs (yeah i was surprised too). I'm not sure how much more a utility bed weighs than my stock lwb.
Thanks guys
The truck has been wheeled quite a bit so the springs have had definite opportunity to “break in” and the front always flexed very well, not much rear flex. When I drive the truck down the road it feels like the front is bouncy and if I hit a big bump it really stiffens up and rebounds. However, if i drive the truck over a speed bump the front soaks it up smoothly and the rear bangs violently, I have hauled 1000lbs in the bed though and the truck rode very smooth. I am now wheeling a different vehicle and this truck has turned more into just a driver/utility type/recovery vehicle and I would like to make it ride smoother.
I have searched a lot and no-one quite has the same situation as me so I figured I would ask. My truck has a large front bumper on it with a winch in it (1 large guy can lift the front bumper, but it is much easier for 2…still pretty heavy, I never weighed it). My tires are 35” nitto terra grapplers that I run at 30psi. How do I know if I need the tuff country hd’s or the ez rides? I would use 2” lift springs if I need to replace my front springs. For the rear…I have a set of rear leafs from an 80’s 1 ton chevy military truck and everyone says that a shackle flip is the way to go. I will be adding the axles at the same time from the m-1008 and ditching my bed in favor of a utility bed which I realize is much heavier and should help to smooth out the ride. Also, if a 2” lift front spring is used is any steering correction necessary when using OEM style setup?
What are your opinions for my shock? What should I do spring wise?
In current trim with 1/2 tank of fuel, no tool box or spare and me in it the truck weighed 5000lbs (yeah i was surprised too). I'm not sure how much more a utility bed weighs than my stock lwb.
Thanks guys
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