Velvet Ride shackles

[bmoeller]

http://www.4wheelparts.com/product2.asp?imseqn=200&occlass=BFGA&cat=SUS



Just curious, has anybody used these? I you have, how do you like them? Does it have any negative on payload or ride height? How do they hold up over time?

 

[GAmes]

Velvet ride

Put them on about 4 months after I bought it. They really help with a 2WD, can't comment on 4X4.

 

[simonk]

If you are wanting velvet ride shackles I have a pair of Velvet-ride shackles for sale. Please see the classifieds. Search for "Velvet-ride"

 

[Hemiless]

I ran the velvet ride shackles on my 94 1 ton for the past 5 years with no problems. The made the ride a whole lot better when running empty and didn't decrease the carrying capacity. The only draw back that I saw was when you did put any load on the truck it would squat in the rear a lot faster then it would without due to their design. But they worked great and would definitely recommend them.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by simonk

If you are wanting velvet ride shackles I have a pair of Velvet-ride shackles for sale. Please see the classifieds. Search for "Velvet-ride"

What is the reason that you took them off?

 

[simonk]

I had them on for a few months and the difference in the ride was not enough for me so I thought I would try the Roadmaster setup. In my opinion Roadmaster does not really help the ride but I like how the truck drives with them. Some guys love the Velvet-rides. To each his own.

 

[Cooker]

I have heard a few guys say they settle over time and yoiu lose some ride height in the rear.

 

[redram]

And I heard that if you only run your truck on even number days, the fuel mileage increases 20%..... wish rumors wouldn't be propagated without facts.



I've run the Velver rides on my one ton dually with excellent ride and NO negatives. Do they equal the performance of an air ride? No. Are they worth the less than $200 - yes.

 

[Cooker]

The following quote is from TDR member '956Wheel. He posted the info on 07/19/2002:



"I just put a set on my '95 a couple months ago. Easy to do, a good floor jack does the trick... be careful, you can get bit if you are not careful.



As for the ride, those little jarring bumps are softer now, the rear suspension is "progressive" with the velvet rides. They lowered the truck approx. 1". I towed with them and the ride is smoother. Bottom line IMO they are worth it.



BE CERTAIN THEY ARE THE RIGHT ONES... . the first set was packaged in the wrong box, too narrow and the holes were 9/16" rather than the needed 5/8" and doing any job twice SUX... IMO



Mike"



Here is the link so you can check it out yourself, https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51703



This was posted by TDR member Posm on 06/19/2002:

"I have the velvet ride shackles and they have their limitaions. First, they help a lot unladen on rough roads. I live at the end of a one mile private gravel road that has a lot of washboard. they help with wheel hop/axle wrap in this situation. When they are loaded they collapse and have no effect on the ride and may actually raise the ride hieght an inch or more. They do lower the unladen ride hieght about 1/2 to 1 inch. I wanted to lower the height on my 4 X 4 to give extra clearence for my gooseneck. I did not accomplish enough of a height change to help. "



Here is the link: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49629



Posted by TGreco on 04/06/2002:

"I installed a pair on a co-workers 2002 GMC Dually with the Duramax Diesel. He claims the ride is alot softer and rear end (his) friendly. They lowered the rear of the truck about two inches. The lowering of the truck I did not like but it did not ride too harsh when unloaded. He is happy with them and that is whats important. Hope this helps"



Here is the link: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38596



Given the three instances above, I think my comment is substantiated by facts and qualifies to be more than just a rumor. Granted not everyone reported this problem. Perhaps they did not pay attention? perhaps all velvet ride shackles do not perform the same? I do know that by the TDR members comments that some have experienced a decrease in rear ride height.



As the one thread suggest, perhaps they are adjustable? I cannot comment on that since I have never seen them in person. I think if they are adjustable, it would stiffen up the shackle negating some positive reasons why they were installed in the first place. As I said this is just my opinion, and perhaps they are not even adjustable.

 

[bmoeller]

Thanks for all the replies and info. I'm still on the fence about the VR. I'd really prefer to go the Kelderman route on both the front and rear. Planning on doing the front first that way, but gonna wait till the truck is all MINE, almost there. Oo.

 

[redram]

Originally posted by Cooker

I have heard a few guys say they settle over time and yoiu lose some ride height in the rear.

Cooker,



Your second post was informative - the first one, well I'll admit that I misread it. I thought you stated that they lost load carrying capacity- I'm getting old, or must have been having a bad day.

Please accept my apology.



By design, the Velvet Ride will probably sit slightly lower due to putting a rubber torsion block connecting the rear of the leaf spring to the body / frame rather than a ridgid mount. This is not a bad thing for a 2 wd dually as the rear sits too high unloaded anyways. This type of mounting is quite common on trailer axles (Torsion Ride) and are actually preferred by most when compared to just a leaf spring set-up. Obvisouly, if money is no object, then an air ride system is probably the preferred system in most cases.



I have found the Velvet Ride an in expensive option to improve my unsprung dually's ride without any decrease in the towing capability of the truck and without having to spend thousand's of dollars.

 

[Cooker]

redram,

No worries. I just wanted to prove I wasn't blowing smoke (I guess my truck is though )



I agree a little lower in the rear on some truck may actually help some guys out a little and even look better for some.



Take care,

Ryan

 

[Cliffman]

Had these on my 01 1 ton Dually and they worked great. Looking to put them on my 2018 dually. Not sure where to find.