General shocking question

Subzilla

Subzilla

Test Driver
Joined
Jun 13, 2011
Location
Triad - Mt. Pleasant, Concord & Georgeville
1975 K5 used primarily for trails but I do street it to the trails. Came from PO with standard 4" lift kit (front leafs, rear blocks) and some painted who-knows-what-brand-if-any shocks. 37" military BFG Bajas. The thing rides fairly rough as expected. Would better shocks really make a difference in the ride with this old school suspension? The potholes of URE service roads and the rocky trails do wear on one's hind area after a few hours. Just trying to improve the ride if it can be done. The existing shocks do still have dampening capability and I haven't seen them leaking but they look cheap.
 
if you want to soften the ride, pull your leafs apart, place some 1/8" nylon strips in between each leaf. Thickness: 0.125

front and rear, you wont be disappointed in the least, and yea, shocks.
 
Jeff B said:
if you want to soften the ride, pull your leafs apart, place some 1/8" nylon strips in between each leaf. Thickness: 0.125

front and rear, you wont be disappointed in the least, and yea, shocks.
Click to expand...

Isn't this what you did on the Willys when you had it? Thinking about doing this in the future. I'm assuming it helps those leaves flex a heck of a lot more?
 
YJJPWrangler said:
Isn't this what you did on the Willys when you had it? Thinking about doing this in the future. I'm assuming it helps those leaves flex a heck of a lot more?
Click to expand...

Yes, works fantastic. I'll be doing this to my Xj soon too.
 
Subzilla said:
I've seen leafs with the nylon anti-friction pieces just at the end of the each leaf. Did you put the the strips the full length or just at the ends? I like this idea.....
Click to expand...

Full length will work best, you'll need some sort of leaf spring clamp to keep everything lined up.
 
Pull the front leaf packs apart and remove the third leaf. Most 'lift' kit springs are too fawking stiff.

Do the same with the rear packs, ditch the blocks, and do a shackle flip.
 
How close are the front shackles to the frame and their angle? By fixing that shackle angle it’ll help it ride better pinion angle will suffer.
 
Another comment. Don’t actually clamp the spring pack together too tight at the ends. You want something similar to what the Toyota leaf springs have. A u shaped piece of metal that keeps the pack from spreading while unloaded.

You’d probably have to make those yourself. I never did really find any to buy aftermarket.


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How's the shackle angle? A more relaxed shackle angle will reduce the spring rate.
Fixing my shackle angle was the best thing I've done to reduce the harshness of my rear springs. Slip pads and pulling a leaf will help also.
 
Im the guy that you cant tell anything to (almost as bad as Fuller?) anyway, go order up some bistein shocks and do the nylon deal and you wont believe the difference. you cant imagine what good shocks do. when I did this, I was absolutely amazed.
 
Chuckman said:
Im the guy that you cant tell anything to (almost as bad as Fuller?) anyway, go order up some bistein shocks and do the nylon deal and you wont believe the difference. you cant imagine what good shocks do. when I did this, I was absolutely amazed.
Click to expand...
Probably All true, but I'm thinking it's more the problem of 4" lift & blocks.
 
Thanks for all feedback. Front spring shackles are vertical and not close to frame. Have considered the rear shackle flip in the past. Will move it up the list along with your other suggestions. I'll work these in as time and money permits. Thanks again for the great comments and experience sharing. My fanny and my wife will thank later when the soft ride comes about.
 

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