Lifted 85 K10 - Need Help Softening the Ride

[xdbltrblx]

Good evening everyone.  Just got my K10 and I took it offroad for the first time and wow...this thing has no suspension flex with this 6" lift.  I like the look and want to stay with the height I have but the springs are really stiff.  Wanna keep my 6" lift but need to soften it up.  Anyone have any ideas?  Anyone have any suggestions on a good flexy leaf springs?

Jeremy

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[Irish_Alley]

if you want to keep 6" lift, do you want to spend some money? we have a post about shackle flips
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,25876.msg216111.html#msg216111

[xdbltrblx]

I plan on doing the shackle flip. Its the front that needs to soften up. Just wondering what are the best ones for a smooth ride.

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[bake74]

     Skyjacker is a soft ride spring.  Also, do you have your eye bolts ( holds springs on ) too tight ?  This will keep your springs from flexing laterally and stiffen up the over all flex of the springs.

[454Man]

Do you have the front sway bar in? :-)?

[xdbltrblx]

Do you have the front sway bar in? :-)?

Yes I do but regardless of the angle I hit a bump...its pretty stiff. No idea what was put on here by the PO.

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[xdbltrblx]

Maybe the better question is do most people take their sway bar off?

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[Engineer]

If you need flex I'd suggest taking the sway bar loose just to see if it reacts in a way that suits your needs.

[bake74]

 

Anyone have any siggestions on a good flexy leaf springs?
Jeremy
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

     Skyjacker is a soft ride spring.  Also, do you have your eye bolts ( holds springs on ) too tight ?  This will keep your springs from flexing laterally and stiffen up the over all flex of the springs.

     I thought this is what you were asking ?

     Maybe we are going at this the wrong way.  Instead of all of us just throwing wild ideas out there, it would help us to know what or if there is anything you have tried already to correct the problem ?
     If you haven't done anything yet and are just looking for ideas, that is all you are going to get.
     It just seems that this thread got off course from the original post.

[xdbltrblx]

I'm was only asking for recommendations on leave springs to help with the ride. The eye bolts torgue is correct amd the sway being disconnected will not correct the stiffness on objects hit squarely (at least not significantly)  so the answer is one manufacturer makes softer leaf springs? These have no markings so its difficult to say what they are. It has nw fox shocks but what I'm looking for is a softer ride on road amd the ability to flex offroad for rock crawling. I apologize I didn't state what I have looked at already and my jeep experience doesn't necessarily translate to this truck completely so I wanted to see what others are using and their ride quality with an equal, or close, lift. Hope that clears the air.

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[xdbltrblx]

Anyone have any siggestions on a good flexy leaf springs?
Jeremy
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

     Skyjacker is a soft ride spring.  Also, do you have your eye bolts ( holds springs on ) too tight ?  This will keep your springs from flexing laterally and stiffen up the over all flex of the springs.

     I thought this is what you were asking ?

     Maybe we are going at this the wrong way.  Instead of all of us just throwing wild ideas out there, it would help us to know what or if there is anything you have tried already to correct the problem ?
     If you haven't done anything yet and are just looking for ideas, that is all you are going to get.
     It just seems that this thread got off course from the original post.

I could correct it by ditching the leaf spring and go coilovers but I'm not doing that a measly 10 bolt. So for now I'm looking at cheaper alternatives like members preferrence on softer springs based on experience.

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

[ehjorten]

A thinner spring pack will see more deflection, but will increase the maximum stress in the springs.  Longer springs will increase the deflection but that also increases the maximum stress in the spring.  It is a balancing game.

If you want load carrying capacity in a leaf sprung truck you are going to need some stiff springs.  However, if you don't plan on hauling up to capacity of your rig, then you can put in a softer spring.  You can gain back some load carrying capacity by fitting helper springs and or air bags.

Deaver or Alcan can make a really nice set of springs for you that will be better than what you can buy off-the-shelf, but they aren't inexpensive.  The Skyjacker Soft Rides are pretty good.  Also...if you have lift springs that are highly curved, this will not make anything better.  As previous posters have said...Flip-Kit.  Be aware that it will move your rear axle forward around 1 to 1-1/2".

[bake74]

Anyone have any siggestions on a good flexy leaf springs?
Jeremy
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

     Skyjacker is a soft ride spring.  Also, do you have your eye bolts ( holds springs on ) too tight ?  This will keep your springs from flexing laterally and stiffen up the over all flex of the springs.

     I thought this is what you were asking ?

     Maybe we are going at this the wrong way.  Instead of all of us just throwing wild ideas out there, it would help us to know what or if there is anything you have tried already to correct the problem ?
     If you haven't done anything yet and are just looking for ideas, that is all you are going to get.
     It just seems that this thread got off course from the original post.

I could correct it by ditching the leaf spring and go coilovers but I'm not doing that a measly 10 bolt. So for now I'm looking at cheaper alternatives like members preferrence on softer springs based on experience.

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

     That is all I was doing, was giving you a option based on my experience.