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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Trucks / August 2006Leaf springs
My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But it is also sagging a bit in the rear. How can this be? If the springs are sagging, that means they are worn out, so shouldn't it ride smooth? I don't want it to ride like a cadillac, but I'd like to be able to go over a bump without my head banging against the roof. inflate the tires to the correct pressure . ( too much air ) Change the SHOCK absorbers > My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But it is > also sagging a bit in the rear. How can this be? If the springs are > sagging, that means they are worn out, so shouldn't it ride smooth? > > I don't want it to ride like a cadillac, but I'd like to be able to go over > a bump without my head banging against the roof.  SignatureIt Doesnot Take Brains To Get A High Paying Job! All You Need Is A College Degree > inflate the tires to the correct pressure . ( too much air ) > > Change the SHOCK absorbers The shocks on the truck are definitely shot. But don't shocks just control up and down bounce? In other words, do shocks firm up when they are worn out? It seems to me they would become softer and softer until they aren't doing anything. >> My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But >> it is also sagging a bit in the rear. How can this be? If the springs [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> I don't want it to ride like a cadillac, but I'd like to be able to >> go over a bump without my head banging against the roof. >The shocks on the truck are definitely shot. But don't shocks just >control up and down bounce? In other words, do shocks firm up when they >are worn out? It seems to me they would become softer and softer until >they aren't doing anything. Sometimes spring loose arch a bit with age but note there actual deflection rate which means they can sit lower and still be stiff. Yours is being aggravatted by the fact that you are likley resting on or near booster leaf since it has sagged a bit and the booster is really stiff and when you hit a bump it can really cause rear end to jolt some unloaded and bounce a lot more than it should. . ----------------- TheSnoMan.com >>The shocks on the truck are definitely shot. But don't shocks just >>control up and down bounce? In other words, do shocks firm up when they [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > really stiff and when you hit a bump it can really cause rear end to > jolt some unloaded and bounce a lot more than it should. . Ok, that makes sense. What's the cure? New springs? If yes, can you recommend a brand or a place (perhaps online) to buy them? >>>The shocks on the truck are definitely shot. But don't shocks just >>>control up and down bounce? In other words, do shocks firm up when they [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >What's the cure? New springs? If yes, can you recommend a brand or a >place (perhaps online) to buy them? A simple and cheaper fix would be to remove bottom leaf or 2 (not booster) and add a new leaf(2) in its place that is arched a lot higher as it will raise the unloaded height of vehicle a good bit and off of booster. If you never carry a lot of weight (like 3000 lbs or more) you could just remove booster completely and insert about a 1 1/2 or 2 inch spacer block in its place and be done with it. On a old truck, sping eye bolts at end can sometimes be fused in from rust and a pill to remove while when changing leaves you can easily saw off spring stack center bolt and replace it for a few buck. One importtant tip though if you go the leaf replacement route, get a large c clamp to compres springs when removing bolt and installing a new center bolt. It will make life a LOT easier. WIth some good air tools you can get the job done in abut a few hours at most. (I have done it many times and can do it in under a hour most of the time now. ) ----------------- TheSnoMan.com Could be worn bushings. There are 3 per spring - one at each end of the spring and the third at the shackle to frame mount point. > My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But it > is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > over > a bump without my head banging against the roof. After years and loads, the spring steel seems to turn into just steel. I've had the same problem and no tire pressure change or shock swap will make any real difference. Get a new set of springs, front and rear. > My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But it > is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > over > a bump without my head banging against the roof. Any recommendations as to brand etc. for a stock 89 K5 ? I find rear springs, but front are different mfg. Any other applicable year ? Rears prices run $250 - $390. Thankx all. BD > After years and loads, the spring steel seems to turn into just steel. > I've had the same problem and no tire pressure change or shock swap will [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> over >> a bump without my head banging against the roof. JCWhitney has a good selection of front and rear leaf packs. You can ask around your area for a place that actually makes leaf packs to your specs. 1973-1987 K10/20 and 1973-1991 K5 and Suburban. > Any recommendations as to brand etc. for a stock 89 K5 ? I find rear > springs, but front are different mfg. Any other applicable year ? Rears [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >>> over >>> a bump without my head banging against the roof. Look around your area..you might have a local spring shop like we do here in Western pa. He works on triaxles and semis bought also has smaller spring stock..He did my old chevy truck, that had a bunch of broken leafs and made brand new springs right there! Just like a blacksmith shop. Sheared the spring stock to length, curled the ends, put them together, dropped the old ones, and I was outa there in 2 hours! Look around! > My 80s chevy 3/4 ton truck rear suspension rides extremely rough. But it > is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > over > a bump without my head banging against the roof. |
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