shock questions

[355shortbed]

i have a 84 c-10 stepside which i have recently dumped to much money into to for my daily transportation. im about to order new shocks for it and wanted to ask some questions before i buy anything. my issue is i  put a 2 inch drop coil in the front and flit kit in the rear. the truck handles totaly opposite as it should the front is to springy which i know is probly the shocks are shot plus are oem length and not a 2inch drop shock, but the rear is really stiff to the point of bouncing when hitting a bump and while under acceleration. the truck has 22inch wheels with 40 series tires. ino that the smaller tire size makes for a stiffer ride quality but how can i make the rear softer? has 6spring leaf pack. i dont really want to take springs out as the truck sits level

[Captkaos]

Only way to make the rear softer is remove springs are get a new set with a rate that isn't setup to haul a load.

[bigtime]

I had the same problem in the rear. Your problem is your rear shocks are bottomed out. Remove the rear shocks and it will ride smooth as silk, BUT you will be super bouncy. I am fixing to purchase some lowered shocks for the rear and it will fix the bouncy problem.

 

[Captkaos]

I would get shock extenders and use factory shocks.

[355shortbed]

the flip kit came with shock extenders. its just way to bouncy i ordered a set of qa1 adjustable shocks for the front and i am contemplating on converting the rear to a coil over set up. would ride so much better. qa1 has a coil over conversion kit for around 480 ,then comp engineering ladder bars for 200 and a pan hard bar about 100. so figuring around 800 beans for that and i have a rear disc brake set up from classic perfomance parts to put on while i have the drums off the rear end for the ladder bar mounts. i think i may go that route. anyone ever done a coil over swap from leaves?

[HAULIN IT]

For the most part I think I would agree with bigtime...However a 6 leaf pack in a short bed & short, stiff sidewalls may really be just too much spring rate. I'd do as he suggested, take out the shocks & carefully drive it on some local roads at relatively slow speeds to see the effects. If it is soft & bouncy...then it can be controlled with shocks. If it's still stiff, but bounces a couple times after a bump, your springs are too stiff.
 If it's soft, I would get a pair of Rancho RS9000 shocks (Chris is a vendor for them  ) they have an adjustable knob to set compression.
 If it's stiff, I would remove one or two of the leaves until it is soft. You don't need 6 leaves unless your doing some 1/2 a ton + hauling often/far.
 As to the "sitting level now"...If you take out a leaf or Two & it's lower in the back, it just means, you didn't lower the front enough!
 You can easily end up with the same problem going to coil overs, however the height for a given spring rate is usually adjustable.
Good Luck, Lorne
 

[355shortbed]

ill try taking shocks out maybe this weekend if my back feels better, pinched nerve or something. i built/building this truck for school i leave in 1st week of october so im getting final things done to it. i have been goin with pro touring/ trans am theme, not to race but to be a good street truck. i probly never will haul anything heavy in it. so taking a leaf out is feasable but i am happy with the stance as off now. the middle of the tires sit even with the fender lips front and back. i know its a truck and has limits. but i know it can handle better than average with proper set up. the qa1 set up is adjustable in ride height (on body of shock), compression and rebound strokes. on the plus side it would be taking care of axle wrap from the stroker.

[1980c10]

I have a 2" shorter set of springs in the front of my truck and run 4 leaves in the back with lowering shackles. it rides great and sits level. I started out with 7 leafs in the back and removed them one at a time until it felt right. The middle of the tires sit even with the fender lips front and back just like you described. I have owned several trucks older and newer. this is easily the best riding, driving and handling truck I have owned. btw I have hauled about 500lbs in the bed without a problem.