Author Topic: Chevy spring question (Read 5372 times)

87toyotaman · « **on:** Feb 28, 2011, 05:22:36 PM »

Iv got a set of 1/2 ton chevys with bilstein 5125's running in the stock location. On the freeway it seems really bouncy...This is a stupid question but is their a soft side to the springs? Im thinking I may have them in backwards. All my friends running them have no problems. Most of the time it does it when im on the brakes, or going up hill....and this happends only at freeway speeds....any help would be appreciated. THanks

2manytoys · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 28, 2011, 05:36:31 PM »

Axle wrap? Do you have the overloads in the pack? Are the shocks in good condition? I didn't think they had a front/back but I'm not positive.

I just stuck mine on and I don't have the overloads and no problems. Cheapie Rancho shocks too. Do your Bilstein's have to be mounted body up or does it matter?

Let us know what you find.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 28, 2011, 06:16:55 PM »

I was thinking it could be axle wrap.....Bilsteins are brand new mounted with the body up and the overloads are in.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 01, 2011, 12:18:35 PM »

Any more ideas?

superyota · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 01, 2011, 12:48:12 PM »

what does your shackle angle look like?

superyota · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 08:27:33 AM »

did you do a dual shackle set up to make up for the length of the 63's or did you move your mounts?

87toyotaman · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 12:29:04 PM »

shackle mounts were moved back

superyota · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 12:40:59 PM »

don't know what to say. i'm running 1/2 ton 63's on my 85 with 37's, bilsteins, and dual shackles. never had any problems with axle wrap or them not riding good. they are a lot softer than the stock length 48in rear were.

superyota · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 12:41:59 PM »

post up some pics of your setup. it might help a bit more.

2manytoys · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 10:02:06 PM »

Are you using lift blocks?

Maybe try a different set of shocks if you have some? I drove mine around the neighborhood a few miles with no shocks and it bounced like you're describing. The cheapie Rancho's I'm running dampened it right up.

clifford91 · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 09:42:46 AM »

There is a soft and stiff side on the chevy's. Engine cranks clockwise on chevy's so the stiff side is passenger which I believe is pink. So green(soft) should be on driver's side and pink(stiff) should be on passanger side. I believe this is how it is. And I can't remember if it's inside/outside the bushings that's got the coloring or if it's a strip painted on the springs somewhere. Just look at them real close.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:25:40 AM »

Side Shot

superyota · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:27:28 AM »

looks good. shackle angle seems a bit steep, but that would make it more stiff. how much travel do you have in the shocks? are they close to topping or bottoming out?

87toyotaman · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:28:20 AM »

Red circles indicate blue paint on these ends

87toyotaman · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:29:34 AM »

87toyotaman · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:30:30 AM »

Side Shot

87toyotaman · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:33:26 AM »

Does anyone have experience knowing whether or not it has anything to do with the blue paint? I cant see the pink or green stripes. Im thinking either those or the paint has something to do with it......

superyota · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:39:30 AM »

i wouldn't worry about the paint or what's on what side. if the truck sits level, your good. your shocks look like they might bottom out if you hit a bump. i can't see them flexing much before they bottom out. on the street though, with as far out and vertical you have the shocks mounted, i would guess that would be the reason for a bumpy ride.

superyota · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:41:05 AM »

i just noticed your driveline. looks like it might be compressed too far. make sure your not bottoming your driveline out. could be an expensive fix if it ends up blowing out or cracking a tcase or something. have someone stand on the back bumper and bounce it while you check it all out. check your shocks and driveline and make sure it all clears ok.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:46:54 AM »

Awhile back i tried mounting my rancho 5000's / \ hearing that it would ride nicer and it didn't. Then I switched back and it still rides like crap. Its nice around the neighborhood just bouncy when I get on the freeway. The bilsteins helped but didn't take the bounce away like i was hoping.

superyota · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:51:16 AM »

try throwing a spare tire or something heavy in the bed. see if that helps. are those three leaf packs with a helper?

87toyotaman · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:52:55 AM »

Quote

i just noticed your driveline. looks like it might be compressed too far.

Driveline measured 1.5" before bottoming out on flat ground. It might have been less since I was on the driveway.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:54:51 AM »

Ill try throwing my tire in the back again but i didn't see a big difference. The chevys are standard 3 leafs with the overload off another chevy pack. My original pack didnt come with one.

superyota · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:56:50 AM »

i would have to say with everything i see, it's a combination between the shackle angle being too steep, and not enough weight in the bed. if you move the shackle hanger forward to give it more angle, the shackle will swing easier, and make for a smoother ride. i would go the easy route first and try it with some weight in the bed and see what happens.

superyota · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:00:26 AM »

just wondering, wanted to make sure they weren't a 4 leaf pack. i'm not running an overload on mine with a 3 leaf pack. try it with weight and post back up. not sure what size tire your running, looks like a 33 or 35, but try putting more weight than just a tire. throw some tools back there too. i'm just curious if it's just riding stiff because of weight. my truck rode a bit stiff at first when i did 63's, but after flexing it out dozen or so times, they really softened up.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:02:16 AM »

Thanks alot man. Ill let you know if it helps. If I went back to a 2 inch block and a smaller shackle with 5/8" ubolts, would it lessen the shackle angle?

87toyotaman · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:11:07 AM »

Yea Im running 35's. Iv been running those springs for about a year with many snow wheeling trips on them. With a tire,jack and highlift=185lbs.

superyota · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:11:42 AM »

yup, it would lessen the shackle angle with a shorter block and shorter shackle. i'm running the stock chevy shacle mounted to my lift toy shackle that is up against the frame(dual shackles), along with a 3 inch block. been like that for the past 5 years or so. works great. some guys don't like blocks, but they work great for me. i didn't want to have to get lift springs, or super long shackles that hang up. everyone has their own opinion though.

87toyotaman · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:20:19 PM »

The extra weight did help out alot. Iv never had that comfortable of a ride out of that thing in months. Other than being slow as all hell on the hills it wasn't hardly bouncy at all. So should I go back to the 2" lift block and a shorter shackle?

superyota · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:46:24 PM »

thats what I would do. or just mount your spare and hi lift in the bed to where you don't have to worry about it.

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