Need help selecting new suspension....

[CWALK]

I am new to the site and will thank everyone in advance for any advice you can give me!

I just purchased an 82' K20 Silverado 4x4, 4 speed with a carburated 350 Chevy.  I wanted to get a 4x4 because I go on a lot of ski trips out west and when the snow gets deep, my car just doesn't cut it.

Because I will be doing a lot of highway driving, I would like to get the smoothest, most comfortable ride possible.  I have no plans of driving off road with this truck whatsoever.

The way the truck sits, it rides like a cattle car.  Not too bad on smooth roads, but any bumps or rough roads will rattle your teeth. 

I realize that with leaf springs front and back, and two solid axles, I will have to live with a certain amount of that truck feel.  That's fine, I just want to smooth out the ride as much as possible.

Any suggestions on shocks/springs or anything else is grately appreciated!

[zieg85]

First off welcome to the site.  I am not a 4x4 guy but I can tell you from the limited experience I have with on 3/4 ton 4x4 I had, tires made all the difference for me.  Of course I went from  6 ply 750x16 tube type split rim bias ply snow tires to 33x11.50x16 tubeless.  I just had stock shocks back then, really before gas charged where popular and it made a world of difference.  This was on a 72 Chevy K20 but basically the same type of suspension.  If you don't need the Load Range E tire rating you could go with a lesser rating slightly larger tire that would help cushion the ride.  Nice looking truck BTW

[CWALK]

Thanks for the compliment on the truck.  The paint is awful and it looks like it was a farm truck with the dings it has, but it's solid and straight and there is minimal rust.  Nothing I can't fix and I'm going to repaint it.  Plus $2,500 was the right price!

The tires on it are Firestone Destination A/T and measure 31 x 10.5 R15LT 109R M+S Tubeless Radial.  Is this essentially an all season tire?

[zieg85]

Thanks for the compliment on the truck.  The paint is awful and it looks like it was a farm truck with the dings it has, but it's solid and straight and there is minimal rust.  Nothing I can't fix and I'm going to repaint it.  Plus $2,500 was the right price!

The tires on it are Firestone Destination A/T and measure 31 x 10.5 R15LT 109R M+S Tubeless Radial.  Is this essentially an all season tire?

If you have 15's on it, it is probably 6 lug?..Hence a 1/2 ton which should ride decent.  Those tires sound like Load range C so I would check to see what shocks you have on it.  A stock set of gas charged shocks may be all you need.  Keep in mind it is a 4x4 truck, it may be the best you could expect with what you have.  My C30 will rattle loose fillings if you have them.

[CWALK]

Yep, 6 lug rims.  I probably should decode the vin, and then see what actually matches up!  He said it was originally an automatic.  He then said it has a Vette motor (hopefully 4 bolt) and the high compression heads (2.02 maybe?)The guy I bought it from said the previous owner put a heavy duty drive train in it for towing.  Maybe the springs and shocks are on the stiff side too.  But as you said, it's a truck and it's going to ride rough even with stock parts.

[zieg85]

Heavy duty springs makes sense.  You probably need to decode it to see what it said it is/was originally.  Pictures of your leaf springs would be helpful to determine what was done.  A lot of changes were probably made in the almost 30 years since it was new.  That is the beauty of these trucks, they are so interchangeable.  You may luck out and your glove box will have the original sticker of the options your truck originally came with.

[big bear]

welcome from northeast ohio  and  sweet truck man

[CWALK]

OK, just did a VIN check and here is what I have:

US, Chevy, 6001-7000 Hydraulic, 4WD, 1/2 ton, 2 door cab, 305, 1982 and it was made in Janesville, WI!  Very cool!

I will take pics of the suspenion in the morning for you guys to check out.  There is a sticker in the glove box but it's from a different vehicle.  I will also confirm that it has a 350 like the guy said, but at first glance it looks like one.  (Don't tell anyone, but I am a HUGE Ford fan, but you can't beat the looks of the Chevy trucks from this era, so cool!)

[Da67goatman]

Running lower tire pressure makes a world of difference in ride quality.  I know many people inflate them to whatever the sidewall says MAX is, but really they only need like 30-35psi depending on load range and weight of the vehicle.  I am running 28psi in my Burban and it rides really nice especially for being all beefed up one ton suspension. You would be safe running between 25-32psi and still get a nice ride, just be aware that lower pressure means less responsive steering, but it's not a race car, so it shouldn't be a problem.

[CWALK]

That's something I overlooked goatman, great tip.  Your right, my handling will be reduced but I should hook up better in the straight line  I sure loved my Mustangs but what a rat race that was trying to make them faster and better.  I will enjoy getting this truck running and looking good and leave it at that!

[CWALK]

Here are pics of my front and rear suspension.  Any way to tell what I have exactly?  Is there something I could measure?

[Da67goatman]

That's stock half ton springs, only stock front springs have negative arch, all others are flat or positive arched.  I would also suggest when it comes time for new shocks, a set of Bilestein gas charged, they are the best riding shock on the market, but they are a little pricey, but if they last you 100k miles, they have a long time to make up the price difference.

[CWALK]

Thanks goatman, I will do shocks for sure.  As for the springs, how do you know when to replace them?

So just to get it straight, I have a 1982 Chevy Silverado K20 1/2 ton 4x4?  Thanks 

[Da67goatman]

There are several reasons to replace spring, if they break, if they get bent or if they are fatigued.  Most springs need replaced by 100k miles because they have been used and are losing their "spring" causing sagging suspension and altered ride height.  Finding new stock height springs is somewhat tricky, I have been trying to source a pair for the rear of my Burban with very little luck, and the only spring shop close by says $600+ for the pair and they would have to custom make them, so I wish you happy hunting.  A half ton 4x4 is a K10, and anything bigger has 8 lugs(3/4 and 1 ton)  I might have missed it, but where did you get K20 from?

[CWALK]

I got K20 stuck in my head someplace.  I thought K20 meant 4WD and K10 was 2WD.  So I guess I got a K10!  That's fine.

I usually shop at a place called rockauto for my car parts.  Every listing for suspension parts, even in the K10 category list 3/4 ton.  Hopefully I will be able to find what I am looking for when it comes to springs.  I am going to replace them not knowing their age, along with the shocks and front end parts.  It's always an addiction when it comes to vehicles, there is always something new you want to get!!