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What rear suspension???

Which rear suspension???

  • Total voters
    23
odin

odin

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I linked the front of my 79 shortbed about 6 months ago using 05 F350 front coil springs.

Im very happy with the results.
On and offroad it rides and handles 100 percent better than the 4 in Skyjacker suspension I had on it before.

I want to link the rear also. I want better ride and flex out of the rear suspension. But cost is an object.

I use my rig as a trail beater, driver, tow rig (for my race car), and hauling heavy loads on occasion.

Would linking the front and rear by wise?

What rear suspension would you recommend?
 
I can't speak from experience of swapping 63's into my OLD Chevy. But I remember how nice my '98 rode on the street and how well the rear springs flexed on the trails. The only negative thing I can say about them was that they sagged BIG TIME with a moderate load in the bed (my 600 pound ATV. But that's the compromise you make with soft, flexy springs. :wink1:

I plan to swap in 63's on mine someday.
 
ive got 63's in the back of my blazer and it flexes very well (flexed on the roof of a car) and rides decently on the street w/o shocks (i havent had a chance to fab up new shock mounts). if you want it done cheap, do the 63's and do 4link later down the road.

i did also 4link the rear of my k30, and that rode well on the street but never really got a chance to flex it out.
 
If cost is an issue go 63's. I went 63's myself.
 
odin said:
Im leaning towards the 4 link.....
Click to expand...


You said you still tow your race car with this truck? I read somewhere that a rear link set-up isn't safe for towing. I'm trying to find that article, can't remember if it was from PBB or elsewhere.

Not bashing you at all and 4-links are cool but please do the research, for the safety of others around you. Just be careful.
 
BadAss90K5 said:
You said you still tow your race car with this truck? I read somewhere that a rear link set-up isn't safe for towing. I'm trying to find that article, can't remember if it was from PBB or elsewhere.

Not bashing you at all and 4-links are cool but please do the research, for the safety of others around you. Just be careful.
Click to expand...


I am doing my research....thats why I posted this poll.:D
 
BadAss90K5 said:
You said you still tow your race car with this truck? I read somewhere that a rear link set-up isn't safe for towing. I'm trying to find that article, can't remember if it was from PBB or elsewhere.

Not bashing you at all and 4-links are cool but please do the research, for the safety of others around you. Just be careful.
Click to expand...

There is absolutely nothing inherent about a 4 link that makes it unsafe for towing.

The reason that you hear people say "stick with leaves if you're going to tow" is because people often use coil springs with a link suspension.

Leaf springs are *generally* better for a vehicle that sees a mix between no loads and lots of load (pickups, tow rigs, that kinda stuff). This is because leaf springs don't have a linear spring rate; the amount of force to compress the leaf 1" might be 300 lbs., the amount to compress it 2" might be 800 lbs. Basically the more you compress a leaf, the more it resists.

Coils have a linear spring rate, if 1" of compression takes 300 lbs, 2" takes 600 lbs. When towing a vehicle, coils would generally lead to a saggier and bouncier rear end. Hence, trucks meant for towing still generally use leaves.

But there are dual and triple rate coils out there that have progressive rates like leaves. And then there are air bags and things like that too.


So no, link suspensions aren't the debil when it comes to towing but using a single rate coil probably won't work all that well.
 
38377k5 said:
There is absolutely nothing inherent about a 4 link that makes it unsafe for towing.


But there are dual and triple rate coils out there that have progressive rates like leaves. And then there are air bags and things like that too.


So no, link suspensions aren't the debil when it comes to towing but using a single rate coil probably won't work all that well.
Click to expand...


I agree.
As we all know 60-72 2wd pickups had 2 link coil spring rear suspensions. I have owned 2 and used them for hauling and towing heavy loads.

They had the dual rate coil springs that you recommended from the factory.
I have a set that Im considering for the rear of my rig. They may not flex so well though. They are wide and not very tall.


Any recommendations for a tall dual rate spring?
 
im in the process of a 4 link with quarter elpitical...if you go 63s id definitley get a good wrap bar especailly if your towing
 
Chris said it best. If set up correctly there is nothing wrong with towing with a 4 link. That is what I picked...you should 4 link it to compliment the front. I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to think about installing a sway bar on the front for on road stability. Something like anti-rock bar.
 
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