Improving the ride...

[ENafziger]

Hey guys!

Well, in light of my wife being pregnant and my interest in suspension stuff, I've been contemplating what to do with the suspension on my truck. The current setup is 6" Superlift springs in front, stock springs in rear with a 2" and 4" block stacked, running Superlift shocks and no steering stabilizer... all this equates to a ride like an empty cement truck!

Has anybody done any modifcations to seriously address the ride on these trucks? I'm convinced that with a little work/ingenuity, that these trucks can be made to ride well and haul a load.

I installed a set of Centramatic balancers on the fronts this weekend, and it made a huge difference in a front-end vibration I was getting. I plan to add the balancers to the rear, and add Balancemaster's driveshaft balancers as well. I've ordered Fat Mat Rattlemat that I plan to install on the cab floor and back wall and doors to cut down on road noise/vibration/rattles/etc.

For the rear suspension, my thoughts are on using a longer spring such as the CR33S Skyjacker spring which is 66" long. From searching, it seems that the 3. 5" lift springs in conjuction with 8" shackles will give 6" of all-spring rear lift with ~20" of flex.

For the front, I'm not sure what to do. I'm going to make longer "swingers" for the rear mount of the front leaf springs initially. However, later on maybe a longer spring would be in order, such as the 52" chevy rear springs (since they are symmetrical).

Has anyone done these type of mods on a 1st gen Cummins?

Has anyone trussed a Dana 60 front on one of these trucks? Pics?

Recommendations on shocks? The Superlift shocks I'm running now are pitiful. I have some Rancho RS9000 6" lift shocks that I may throw on temporarily, but they are not a great shock either. Has anyone put some Bilstein 7100s or 9100s on? Or Kings or Sway-a-ways?

Any help will help...

Thanks guys!

--Eric

 

[Overdrive]

I'm interested in this as well. I'm currently considering ordering some Alcan springs for mine, but keeping the stock hangers and such. I'm only looking for about 4" lift. I'm interested in what info you find out regarding longer leaves and shocks. None of the high-end suspension places seem to have much in the way of "kits" for these older trucks.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Ohhhh, wow!! There is so much possible out there. I've done two trucks with 4 links and tracking bars, using some custom coil springs and dual shock hangers, or hydraulic shocks. Another option, if you already have the 6" lift springs, is to look at removing a leaf or cutting it shorter. It will cause them to settle some, though. A lot of your problems are probably from the rear springs. Stacking the rear blocks like that will give your axle a lot of leverage over your springs. Using some longer leaves, similar to the front, will help quite a bit. I believe it was BSchwarzli who converted his to air ride... . you'll have to look, maybe PM him on it. It was a beautiful 4 link setup, and could easily be used with some taller air bags. I've also used some strut and coil over shock setups, similar to what some Baja trucks run, on some Jeeps and Crawlers, Ori Struts, McPherson Customs, ProComp, Carrera. Several places offer custom coil springs, such as SuperSprings. Try looking at some 4x4 and offroad magazines. There are a LOT of manufacturers out there, and there is no way to list them here.

 

[DVolk]

lower your air pressure in your tires a few pounds , change style of shocks , they also have " soft ride " lift springs axel truss one of the 4x4 magazines , in the deisel ones to be exact has a trussed dana 60

 

[ENafziger]

I'm currently considering ordering some Alcan springs for mine, but keeping the stock hangers and such. I'm only looking for about 4" lift. I'm interested in what info you find out regarding longer leaves and shocks. None of the high-end suspension places seem to have much in the way of "kits" for these older trucks. <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message -->

That's true, none of the Carli, Dialed Motorsports, Thuren, Kore, Lorenz, etc crowd seem to have anything for the first gens... understandable though, as the demand just isn't there.

Do you have experience with Alcan? I have been leaning toward having some springs made by Deaver, etc. It seems that long springs, as well as more leaves/thinner leaves gives a MUCH better ride, more travel, and modest weight carrying capabilities as well.

lower your air pressure in your tires a few pounds , change style of shocks , they also have " soft ride " lift springs axel truss one of the 4x4 magazines , in the deisel ones to be exact has a trussed dana 60<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Tire pressure is at 35 psi right now, and I hate to go much lower on the road. I agree, the shocks I have are pitiful. However, I think the shock is only a small percentage of the equation if they aren't coupled with the right leaf springs.

The softride springs may be an option, but I'd be interested in some feedback. I'd be more inclined to run a little longer spring, with more and thinner leaves I think? I have an extra stick of heavy wall DOM to truss the front with, leftover from when I trussed the AAM on my '06. I do need to get some ideas on design for the 60s though...

Ohhhh, wow!! There is so much possible out there. I've done two trucks with 4 links and tracking bars, using some custom coil springs and dual shock hangers, or hydraulic shocks. Another option, if you already have the 6" lift springs, is to look at removing a leaf or cutting it shorter.

I like your enthusiasm! Ya, there are a lot of possibilites. I think for now I'm going to see what I can do with modified leaf spring design rather than 4-linking. I may pull a leaf out in the front and see what happens. I also have some other spare leaves laying around I may swap and see the results.

Thanks for the help guys... keep it coming!!!

--Eric

 

[ENafziger]

Has anyone had experience with this company? I like what I see from the website, and the prices are reasonable too.

Custom Suspension

They say they can do custom stuff, so I may do some measuring on my truck tonight and give them a call...

--Eric

 

[BDaugherty]

Your rear springs are probably sagged and sitting on the overload springs all the time which will make them ride really rough. Adding a long add-a-leaf will help soften the ride by allowing the springs to move again. Stay away from Rancho and ProComp shocks. Bilsteins are good and, believe it or not, the gabriels from Autozone are very good for the money.



Also, jack the whole thing up and clean/grease between the leaves. Look at your spring and shackle bushings and make sure that they move freely. These 2 simple tricks will make a big difference for very small coil.

 

[Paychk]

Another source for springs.

Eaton Detroit Spring Home

 

[DVolk]

My stock 92s springs are junk doing a up side down U now , you might have it spung too heavy , you could try adding a few hundred pound sand bags over the rear axel , how does it ride when loaded ?

 

[AClayton]

I would like to suggest Kelderman Air ride. They have a kit called the 'two-bag' kit made just for the 1st gens. The kit actually keeps your original leaf springs for load capacity but replaces rear shackles with a modified framework. The top half of this framework bolts where your receiver hitch is mounted... ..... the pivot point is located just aft of the hitch and the bottom framework. The bags are located between the upper and lower framework which also bolts to the bottom bolt of your shackle... ... . the factory shackle mount is removed from the frame and replaced with this framework jig.



I have this setup on my truck and is not to be confused with their more expensive 4-link setup they sell. This kit has all the benefits of retaining your load capacity and lift but unloaded, you get the benefit of air ride comfort. I tow a 40' Toyhauler with close to 4k pin weight with no problems. Google... ... . Kelderman Air ride!!



Alan

 

[RSchwarzli]

I heard my name?

This is a good subject. I will see what info I can add to the thread.

I have done both of my trucks suspensions now, both very different directions. The 1990 I did a 1" lift front and back using Alcan springs. I spent a few weeks speaking with spring shops around the country. The best I found was Alcan. They know our old trucks well, and they know their springs. I am a perfectionist. If I was not going to be happy with them, I would not have gone through the hassle of ordering spring from CO when I am in Ont Canada if they did not make a good product. I am very happy with the springs, my only issue I had was incorrect bushings size. Do measure yours before ordering if you can. There seems to be a difference between 250 and 350 as well as 89/90 and 91/93.

Also at time of installing spring I did the shocks as the 1" lift would not work with the Napa HD shocks that were in the truck at the time. I now run Bilstien 5100 f and r.

As for ride quality, I went with 350 springs and there are 10 leafs per rear. I like the bumpy ride and I wanted no sag while towing. Alcan can make you a smooth riding set if you so choose.

The other truck as mentioned was fully converted to air ride. It is basically a Kelderman kit that was custom made for this application. All rear leafs are gone, replaced by bags and trailing arms to the factory hangers and two more mounted under the cab. Look in my readers rigs in the media section. You will find pics of this.

This setup is the best of the best. Ride is smooth. Yet you can pump up the bag pressure when the trailer is attached.

Front retains three leafs for axle alignment, but it is supported by airbags as well. Again, adjustable from the drivers seat.

With leafs, it will run you a bill. 4 link airride rear and modified front will be just over 3k by the time you get what you need.

Hope that helps.

Robert

 

[HHhuntitall]

I've seen the pics BSchwarzli has posted a few times, and I even asked him for the link, once. Even if you don't do it that way, the pics are something to look at. Great job at engineering. Given time, I'm likely to do one like this... . some day... . maybe..... 4 link is pretty labor intensive, just so you know, but well worth it in control and durability.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Did I ever give you the link you requested? If I didn't, whack me with a frying pan and ask again. It's a problem when you get to my age. Memory starts to go!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Did I ever give you the link you requested? If I didn't, whack me with a frying pan and ask again. It's a problem when you get to my age. Memory starts to go!

You bet. And I'm not going to hit anyone unless I have to. I have a similar problem with memory. My problem is more IQ related, I fear!

 

[KOG]

There is nothing else which can match the combination of ride quality and load capacity you can get from full air ride. If you're after the best possible ride and you're going to keep the truck long enough to justify the cost, don't bother with any half measure. Do what BSchwarzli did.

I've got auxiliary air springs on the rear of the 91. 5 and cut the lower leaf from the springs. Makes the ride quite a bit better on a truck I don't use that much and didn't want to spend big bucks on.

 

[RSchwarzli]

As I gather you are not wanting to spend big bucks, I would talk to kelderman. Thier regular first gen style should do what you want to do.

Also watch skyjacker. I have found them to be saggy and not up to towing.

 

[AClayton]

As I gather you are not wanting to spend big bucks, I would talk to kelderman. Thier regular first gen style should do what you want to do.



Also watch skyjacker. I have found them to be saggy and not up to towing.

I second that: Call Kelderman Air Suspension!!



Alan

 

[AEdelheit]

Eric, just out of curiosity have you tried to call Don about your truck? If not id try giving him a ring and see if he has any suggestions. Also im not real familiar with 1st gens but can you do a shackle flip like the 2nd gens? I know that makes a surprisingly big difference.

 

[Subliminal]

I have a full Kelderman setup the PO of my truck installed in... oh... 92? He said he didn't even last a year with the stock setup before driving to Iowa and having them install the setup.

Works great... . good ride quality.

My only complaint is I have to air up the fronts every few weeks... but I think I just need to go over all the connections and find out where it's leaking.

 

[AClayton]

Airbagit.com sells a kit for our trucks also