How can I get my 1971 Chevy 4x4 to ride smoother??

[crazzy88]

How can I get it to ride smoother? It's lifted 4inches

[84chevy4x4]

drive faster not many straight axle units ride smooth haha

[Chevy1TonFun]

You build a 4 link suspension with airbags or coil-overs and your truck will ride like a caddy. The only thing I can truly tell you is get procomp springs, they make the softest springs I know. Also try adjustable shocks. They have a lot to do with the stiffness of the ride.

[lukefalls]

When I lifted mine in about 2003, Skyjacker had the softest. That was a while ago and I trust Chevy1TonFun. That being said, I'm linking mine.

If its only lifted 4", I suggest:

Move the rear springs to the font using DIY4X brackets. Buy or make you own longer shackles.

Find a set of junk yard 56" rear GM springs. Install them on the rear using Off Road Designs shackle flip. With 56" springs, put the left bracket on the right and the right bracket on the left. That'll make for a perfect shackle angle. Find a good set of shocks.

All that should cost you about what a set of springs will run you from Skyjacker or ProComp (or close to it).

If you really wheel it, you'll want cross over steering. That setup will give you a ton wheel travel; more than stock steering can handle in some cases.

[Chevy1TonFun]

Lukefalls: I total forgot about longer springs, I must have been out of it last night. Thanks for the kudos as well.

Crazy88: As luke said call Kurt at DIY4X and order his 67-72 B52 kit and his rear shackle flip kit. Then get your self some 52" long eye to eye 4" lift springs for the front an find a stock set of 63" long for the rear and don't forget about the shocks. The shackle flip will give you 4" of lift in the rear. Accomplishing this will give you the softest ride achievable on a lifted 4x4 without 4 linking it.

[faithblinded]

I came to the thread planning to give the same answer you've already been given.

DIY4X B52 Kit and Rear Shackle Flip with some Pull a Part leafs: 52" for the front, 64" for the back
I would also add greasable bolts front and rear(6 total), and all new poly bushings. Maybe overkill for your rig, but the heavy duty rear shackles they make are pretty sexy too.

This is exactly what I'm planning for my Suburban, when I can afford all the parts. I already bought a set of leaf spring plates and u-bolts for my rear from DIY4X, and man are they beef! You really can't go wrong with their gear.

Once you've upgraded your springs, you are left with shock absorber choices. Some of the adjustable units might be what you want, so you can dial in the level of softness you want. I dont have any experience with any high end shocks like that though, so cant make any specific recommendations. I am running Rancho rs5000's on my Suburban, and I ran Bilstien HD's on my last 4x4 rig(a trailblazer). I prefered the feel of the bilsteins, and I wish I had got them for my Burb. Next time...

Let us know what you decide to do to your truck.

Peace
Ken in Cleveland

[crazzy88]

You guys rock thanks!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by crazzy88

How can I get it to ride smoother? It's lifted 4inches

I'd have to know just what you have to answer best. But yeah,longer springs and sliders is the best way for staying with leaf springs.

[edhtrd71]

I probably shouldnt be wasting your time because it looks like there is plenty of knowledge giving good advise, but you might also look into Deaver leaf springs they can make you custom springs for what you want. In desert racing if you cant afford to link your truck you run deavers.

[aboveall]

Best smothers ride system is to 4linck it and put in some KN nitro shocks you can hit a speed bump doing 60 and not feel a thing just could be really costly or try sky maker springs or call nationally springs and they can make a soft ride spring
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[rjsdad]

Deaver Springs and Bilstiens.
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[69CST4x4SWB]

How about new rubber cab mounts... not urethane since it is harder!?!?

[splehigh]

Thicker foam in your seat. LOL

[70custom20]

Originally Posted by 72_GMC_Sierra_Grande

How about new rubber cab mounts... not urethane since it is harder!?!?

I went from rubber cab mounts to urethane mounts, and it made no difference whatsoever. The only thing it did was stop the cab and bed from hitting each other.
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[OregonFXSTC]

http://www.tuffcountry.com/chevy-gmc...lift-kits.html for the front.

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by OregonFXSTC

http://www.tuffcountry.com/chevy-gmc...lift-kits.html for the front.

I've ran TC EZ rides in all of my solid axle Chevy's and find them as good as it gets for over the counter systems. Their ride quality on an empty truck is much softer than Rancho, Superlift and Rough County but of course their light spring packs lack the hauling capacity of other brands with heavier spring packs. There's always a trade off.

Regardless, even with EZ rides my truck rides much better with an extra 1000 lbs in it. Empty it's 6,000 lbs.

-steve

[RastaRobb]

I just did new u-joints all around, and wheel bearings and the difference was incredible. I didn't realize how bad it was until it was better. Not much money either.

[72longbed]

The only way to get a 71/72 Chevy 4x4 to ride smoother is to lift the gas cap and pull a cadillac under it and re-install the cap.

It's a truck .... they ride rough until 600 lbs. or more is dropped into the bed.

Tough Country EZ- Ride springs are the softest ride by far for our trucks. Tried them all. Much better ride than stock springs too.

72

[69CST4x4SWB]

Originally Posted by 70custom20

I went from rubber cab mounts to urethane mounts, and it made no difference whatsoever. The only thing it did was stop the cab and bed from hitting each other.
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Sorry 70custom20... You got what I was saying backwards! The urethane mounts are harder than rubber which would make it ride stiff. With you replacing worn rubber (stiff = no cushion) with "stiff urethane" is why you saw no difference!

[70custom20]

Originally Posted by 72_GMC_Sierra_Grande

Sorry 70custom20... You got what I was saying backwards! The urethane mounts are harder than rubber which would make it ride stiff. With you replacing worn rubber (stiff = no cushion) with "stiff urethane" is why you saw no difference!

No, I read what you posted, and in my experience replacing rubber with uerethane made no difference. When I restored my 70 3/4 ton, I put brand new rubber cab mounts in, about 3-4 years later I put the urethane mounts under the cab, and the truck rode exactly the same. Now the back of the cab doesn't get dented anymore from the bed hitting it. Suspension mods could/would make the truck ride smoother, but cab mounts won't. I'm planning on doing longer springs under my truck to try get a better ride.

[Vintage Windmills]

This may not be helpful since you already have a truck but Lwb's ride better than Swb's, less pitch as you go over bumps.

[sethv]

Originally Posted by splehigh

Thicker foam in your seat. LOL

I lol'd. This is the poor man's way (not a bad thing, either!!)

[Mr. 250r]

How about this idea... http://coloradok5.com/ranchoreview.shtml combined with b-52s from diy4x I think that's the smoothest ride your going to get in a straight axle I've just learned to accept it and maybe some late model bucket seats as my bench seat throws me around
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[dbash]

I am new to this forum, I have owned a K-10 for 5 years and I am just starting a frame off resto mod and a smoother ride is one of my top goals. Thanks for this thread, as a result of reading it I was introduced to and ordered a full set of Deaver Leaf Springs 4" lift yesterday. I am seriously considering Bilstine's as well.

I will post a thread for my build as soon as the site gives me permission to do so. I cant right now for some reason.

I have two and a half 67-72 trucks that I will post to be parted out as well. Again I am restricted from doing so for some reason right now. I have contacted the admin, waiting....

You guys are awesome there is so much info here I really wish I had found this forum sooner.
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[rocket20]

how much lift dose the stock springs give you ? if i were to do this to clear 38s on a 15x12 wheel what would i need?