2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission rough ride improvement

[rtwingson]

Do you have the chrome steel wheels? My steel wheels were junk, bent and out of round. I would get a bad hop after hitting bumps or potholes at speeds between 30 & 40 mph. This went away after I installed a set of aftermarket alloy wheels. I don't know if this will help you but good luck.

 

[Dane]

Is the spring rate really that low on the Skyjacker rear leafs?

It's not that it's low, it's linear. The stock rear springs are anything but linear as we all know :{



A good example is exiting a driveway and having one rear wheel go off the curb. The stock springs (and shocks) cause a jolt to be transmitted up through the drivetrain to your hiney and lower back. With the Skyjacker rear leafs and Bilstine 5100s you barely feel the curb.



With the Skyjacker rear leafs, the rear end sags directly proportional to how much weight is in the rear of the truck. With the stock leafs, you get about an inch of sag and then the spring rate goes way up.



The good news is air bags provide a very linear spring rate, so they work very well in conjunction with linear rate rear leaf springs.



Since the Skyjacker leafs loose the lift block (thank God!) The air bags are now hanging above the leafs with a gap equal to the thickness of the factory lift block.



There are two way to fix the gap. One solution is to make an extension plate that moves the upper air bag frame mounting point down the same amount as the gap. The other is to make a spacer between the lower air bag mount on the leaf spring/axle and bottom of the air bag.



Now that I have a new mig welder for Christmas Oo. I'll be making the spacers and post when it's done and tested.

 

[JFitzgerald]

I think my truck rides good considering the weight it can carry/pull. I guess it's all relative and each person has different opinions on the subject. My previous trucks were all 4WD, leaf sprung solid axle trucks, 3/4 or 1 ton. So compared to those, I'm happy with the improvements in the 2nd gen suspension and I can definitely tell a difference in my back.

 

[Reddog1]

I haul a camper or pull a fifth wheel, sometimes empty. I removed the overloads, installed airbags and Ranchos. Rides great, empty or loaded. I did not theorize nor read this in a book. I am experiencing it.



I am 2WD 2500. Weight will vary from 6200 lbs to 9400 lbs. I use the airbags to level the truck, Ranchos (setting) to stop the porpoise. This is my third year, totally satisfied.



My guess is that you are right the point your overloads come into play. The only way I know to avoid that is adjustable overloads. Here come the airbags.





Wayne

 

[SnoKing]

I had air bags on my 76 Chevy 4x4 3/4. Put a load of wet dirty in it once and on the way home one of the air lines to the AirLifts blew and dropped that side. I do not think one would want to to happen with a 11 foot camper on the truck in a corner! IMHO SNOKING

 

[ctopp]

Rough Ride Continues

I installed a set of adjustable Rancho 9000's and lowered tire pressure to 40 psi. In my opinion, the Ranchos take the edge off the rough ride but I haven't noticed a big difference. At first I adjusted all 4 shocks to the softest ride (position 1) and that worked best around town. On the highway I noticed too much spring action so am experimenting with a little higher adjustment. I found the Ranchos at Sam's Offroad for $280, which was a good price.

CTopp