prematurely sagging

[ARhine]

My new skyjakers springs that is



All was well a month ago when I put them on, but now the drivers side is about an inch lower than the passengers and not really any higher than it was with the stock leafs in.



Anybody had this happen? I am thinking of calling summit or skyjacker to see if they have anything to say. Maybe it did not get made quite right.

 

[Greenleaf]

There is more weight on that side of the truck...



You



Battery



Fuel tank



GL

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Typical of skyjacker springs that I have put in. Few trucks I have put them on remained at the height they were when first installed. They will call it "settling" when you call them, I'd call it lack of tensile in the springs and recommend your money back.

A good spring shop in your area can build you a better set for slightly more than you will get from the aftermarket suspension companies, Skyjacker, superlift, trailer master, they all are about the same low quality. I would put their products on a light duty toy like a Ranger or maybe a old K-5 blazer, but not a heavy diesel truck.

In the future, if you didn't before, record the height of both sides of the truck prior to spring replacement. (I usually put a mark on the fender trim to reference back to with a sharpy marker). After you get the new springs installed, record the new height side to side. Make sure the truck is sitting on flat level ground with the wheels pointing straight ahead. This will shut up the tech's when you call and complain that their springs are crap. An inch of droop after a month is usual, more than that is questionable.

If they give you grief about sending back your springs to them first before shipping another set, offer to send them the whole truck as you don't have the original springs to put back in. I have only dealt with the manufacturers directly as I used to work for a few off road shops before I opened my own business. I haven't dealt with Summit before, so I can't tell you what their policies are.

If you get sick of the lifted springs jarring your teeth loose on bumps, look into an air ride shackle kit. It was the best improvement I did to my '93 besides the NV-4500 conversion. Selling it to buy my '96 was a good one too, I haven't found a softer riding truck than my '96 yet.

 

[bgilbert]

Did you buy the diesel lift or gasser lift? How much lift? Yes absolutely call the vendor and get something made right. GL is correct about that is normal for the driver side front slightly lower than the rest of the truck, that DSF tire carries more weight than all the other tires. I would say its ok for one side to be 'slightly' lower than the others, BUT, I would not be happy if only after a short time they began to sag and have as much arch as the stock leaves. You bought it for a lift right, not a duplicate set of leaves I imagine...

 

[ARhine]

D100C springs. 1" lift for cummins equiped trucks to SJs specs.



I will do some more definate measuring if I get the chance here later, didn't measure before I put them in. Was going to, but then got busy and alread had the old ones out when I remembered.



They do ride much nicer than the stock ones did. How many leafs do you guys with the D100C springs have? These were thinner packs than the stock ones. Maybe they were mislabeled gasser springs?

 

[TKingsbury]

I just put my 6" rears in today. It rides alot better. The rear is a little low though, might have to put about an inch under the spring to put it where it was. I have fronts to put in as well(D200CS), I hope they don't drop the front. I liked my truck where it was. The thing that sucks is it was lifted already with unknown front springs and was double blocked in the rear and it rode like crap. Hopefully I can get it to ride good and sit the way it was when all is said and done.

Travis. .

 

[ARhine]

never mind... . major brain fart/paranoia. Got to measuring tires and one rear tire was smaller, even though marked the same size (different brand w/ similar tread). I switched them around a couple of weeks ago not really thinking about it. Just didn't notice the lean until the last couple of days I guess.



New tires going on. PO did not know how to rotate tires.



Now I feel dumb.....



BTW, I was noticing in my looking around, that my dads 90 has much longer front shackles. My spring eyes are very close to the frame at the rear of the front springs, my dads are at least an inch away. Year change thing?

 

[caleb c.]

I took mine to a local spring shop and for $200 they re-arched them and added what he called a 'super leaf'. It is about the thickness of 2 stock leaves. Re-arching by itself will not last long. It raised my truck about 3in. The front is a tad higher than the rear,I am going to get the rear ones done soon. I would recomend this method to anyone if you have a reputable spring shop close by.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

never mind... . major brain fart/paranoia. Got to measuring tires and one rear tire was smaller, even though marked the same size (different brand w/ similar tread). I switched them around a couple of weeks ago not really thinking about it. Just didn't notice the lean until the last couple of days I guess.

QUOTE]





DOOHHH!!! BART!!!!

I hate it when that happens, I overlooked the tire size difference on customers cars a few times when I first started working as an alignment tech. It has since become the first thing I check when the vehicle comes in the door followed by air pressure check of all tires. Then I worry about spring sag, frame damage, etc.

At least you noticed the tires before you tore the springs out again and asked for new ones from Summit/skyjerker.

 

[ARhine]

This summer I am planning on building new front spring perches I think.



After not getting quite as much lift as I wanted with the D100C springs. Gonna make 1" lift into the new perches and shackles. Also wanna make the perches alittle beafier and tie them together accross the front. the stock ones have the rivets comming loose I noticed while replacing the springs.



Will get some practice while installing a D60 front and GM corp 14b under my 85 yota.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

This summer I am planning on building new front spring perches I think.



After not getting quite as much lift as I wanted with the D100C springs. Gonna make 1" lift into the new perches and shackles. Also wanna make the perches alittle beafier and tie them together accross the front. the stock ones have the rivets comming loose I noticed while replacing the springs.



.

What ever you do, make sure you take multiple measurements of the mounting brackets prior to replacing them. The front hangers are what effects your trucks track down the road. I would just drill the rivets out and replace them with Grade 8 bolts, I've done it many times to fix the loose rivets on both Dodge and older straight axle GM trucks. Works fine with no concern to the alignment issue. If you really want higher than the springs you have, then call Summit and tell them you did not gain the advertised height with them. Make them replace them with the next higher arch spring available. Or step up and put an airbag shackle kit on the front, this will give you some additional height as well, not to mention take alot of the jarring out of the truck and soften the frame rivets abuse from bumpy roads.

 

[KSommer]

where do i get these air ride shacles? i've never heard of such a beast. my friend's '93 would benifit greatly from this. especialy with the snowplow on.

kent

 

[DKarvwnaris]

where do i get these air ride shacles? i've never heard of such a beast. my friend's '93 would benifit greatly from this. especialy with the snowplow on.

kent

Kelderman makes kits for the older dodges. I have a front air shackle kit for a '92 truck that was hit by a train. It was about the only part besides the 5. 9 that survived. I will try to get some pics of it posted this week, snow just hit today, so it might be a few days until I can get to it.

 

[moolie]

when i read this post i wasn't sure if we were still talking about trucks if you know what i mean

 

[DKarvwnaris]

when i read this post i wasn't sure if we were still talking about trucks if you know what i mean

Huh? Do you mean shackles? sick little Sadist!!! :-laf

 

[drives mopars]

ill may want the air bags

email me i am interested in the front air bags too

bill b

-- email address removed --

 

[Lock93]

I installed shaggy's front shackles. Much thicker and a bit longer to move the rear spring eye away from the frame a bit more. $60 I think, and they came with all the bushings.