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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: 86BigblockGMC on February 15, 2016, 07:36:03 pm

Title: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 15, 2016, 07:36:03 pm
I have an 86 Silverado SWB. Has 3' DJM drop spindles and 2' drop coils with Belltech Nitro Drop 2s in front. the rear, has a flip kit about a 6" drop with Belltech Nirto Drop 2s as well. All new i might add. my ride quality is horrible. rides like a wagon. What did i do wrong? Has new ball joints in front also. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: LTZ C20 on February 17, 2016, 12:03:06 am
It's the lowering kit. You have removed and modified everything that was designed to make the truck ride decent.
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 17, 2016, 09:32:42 pm
I understand that. But this isn't my first build. Last truck didn't ride this way in the front.. Rides like it has 2" of suspension travel and that's it. Going to check it out tomorrow and find out. It should ride some what nice.


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: Rattler12 on February 18, 2016, 06:09:03 pm
If the drop coils are designed with a small block in mind your big block could be the problem
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: LTZ C20 on February 18, 2016, 06:40:52 pm
If the drop coils are designed with a small block in mind your big block could be the problem
This could be it also, to much weight. Did you heat up any of the front or rear springs?
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 19, 2016, 10:57:13 pm
I have a small block.  My old truck had the big block and it road smoother.Negative on the heating up of any springs. All new stuff.


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: LTZ C20 on February 20, 2016, 02:44:27 am
Ok so no big block,  no springs heated up, not the first time you've done this. Did you notch the frame at all and what do you have for tires and wheels?
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 20, 2016, 11:53:02 am
I didn't notch it. The rear is about 2" from the bum stops. I'm about to remove them. Front I think maybe is hitting the bump stops. But like I said before its all new and I have no clue as to why it rides like a wagon. New coils. New spindles. Ball joints. Shocks. I know when you lower a truck it changes things. But dang this rides like a slammed Nissan lmao


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 20, 2016, 11:54:37 am
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160220/e61d8685f2c81b70e62e8ad834f5fef7.jpg)


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 20, 2016, 11:55:12 am
All new tires. 15x10 rallies in the rear. 15x8 in the front.


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 20, 2016, 11:57:15 am
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160220/05ed05285221020e5cf02be9ffc21c81.jpg)


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: VileZambonie on February 20, 2016, 01:59:58 pm
put a dab of grease on the bump stops and drive it. Bet they are hitting and will show the contact points where the grease is
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: LTZ C20 on February 20, 2016, 02:17:22 pm
put a dab of grease on the bump stops and drive it. Bet they are hitting and will show the contact points where the grease is
Yea I was just about too say this. A bump stop does exactly what it's called. It stops the suspension from over flexing and smashing into itself and provides an impact space for the suspension to push against and then bounce back without damage. If your riding on bump stops that are touching. You have no spring support, the suspension has compressed the bump stop is your only support. It's not designed to support the weight of the the front half of the truck.

Could be why it feels like a skateboard.
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: HAULIN IT on February 20, 2016, 06:19:19 pm
Looks like you better get to an alignment shop...that's a whole bunch of negative camber right there.
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: LTZ C20 on February 20, 2016, 06:31:49 pm
I didn't notice that at first, Haulin is right, those new tires won't be new for long, the inside half will be a street slick.
Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 23, 2016, 08:49:41 pm
Finishing up the motor before I take it and get the alignment. I don't drive it. Sits in my garage. Just gathering parts to finish the interior etc.


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: roundhouse on February 24, 2016, 05:53:57 am
Try driving it without the shocks



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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 26, 2016, 11:06:25 pm

Try driving it without the shocks



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Yeah I will pass on that. Looking for solution to this problem.


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 on February 27, 2016, 06:48:39 am


Try driving it without the shocks



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Yeah I will pass on that. Looking for solution to this problem.


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I think he was trying to eliminate the shocks(although new) as bad or limiting travel


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: roundhouse on February 27, 2016, 10:45:08 am



Try driving it without the shocks



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Yeah I will pass on that. Looking for solution to this problem.


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I think he was trying to eliminate the shocks(although new) as bad or limiting travel


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well yeah

How else are you going to know if the stiff ride is caused by the shocks or by the springs ?
You have to unhook the shock mount on one end and zip tie it safely out of the way
And then take it for a drive around the neighborhood

If it rides a lot better then the shocks are too stiff and are your problem

If it still rides stiff. Then your problem is the springs


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Title: Re: Poor Ride Quality
Post by: 86BigblockGMC on February 28, 2016, 09:10:53 am




Try driving it without the shocks



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Yeah I will pass on that. Looking for solution to this problem.


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I think he was trying to eliminate the shocks(although new) as bad or limiting travel


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well yeah

How else are you going to know if the stiff ride is caused by the shocks or by the springs ?
You have to unhook the shock mount on one end and zip tie it safely out of the way
And then take it for a drive around the neighborhood

If it rides a lot better then the shocks are too stiff and are your problem

If it still rides stiff. Then your problem is the springs


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It might be the shocks. But they are Billstein Nitro Drop 2s... Should work fine with this setup. Had the same setup on my 82 with a Big Block and had more travel than I do now. I'm working on it in a few and will let you know what I found. Then again the more I think about it I think it might be the 2" drop springs I put on it. Last truck I did I just cut a full coil out of the original springs. But today will be the first time I've touched it in wks due to working so much.

Thanks again and I will keep you all posted.


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