My truck rides like a ride-on lawnmower

bigredgmc

bigredgmc

New Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Location
Newport
I have a 1983 GMC Sierra 3500 4x4, and when I get moving down a rough road it acts like the motor is spinning inside the engine bay. The other day I tightend everything up that I could see might be wrong with it, and I am at my wits end. I don't know if I need to replace the springs or replace the shocks. Everyone tells me replace the shocks but the springs are bending backwards, there past flat. I can see where the bump stops are hitting the leaf springs and I don't know what to do? So, I am asking for help. :confused:
 
Not sure about your cheby, but lot's of front leafs came with "negative arch"... Blazers, & leaf sprung Fords alike. My F250 has the same on the "flat leafs" and I've been told the same thing. I do know that unless leaking like a sieve, most folks NEVER change the shocks. FWIW, I've been told by the IDI faithful on both TDS & Oilburners that changing the shocks will make a huge difference, so that's what I'm planning...
eventually...
cause we all tend to forget that older trucks tend to ride just like you'd think...
every bump in the road causes a sledgehammer reaction straight thru your spine...
eventually, because I like feeling like I'm piloting 3tons of raw steel that could pull 3 times it's weight and not the smooth, quiet sedan I drive to work daily...

:beer:
 
Check the balljoints and sway bar ends. If they are worn out it can handle funny, but then again its an 80's 1 ton its gonna ride like crap unloaded. We have an F700 and when the beds empty it seems like you bounce all over the road, with about 4 tons in bed it rides as good as my blazer. Try weighing it down with stuff in the bed it should get be better.
 
Zach,

Shes a beast.. Shes not a catty, do what i told you to!!!
 
I agree with Jones4WD, most 1 tons ride like crap unloaded. Our 2500 Suburban rides a lot rougher than the same year 1/2 ton . Shocks didn't help much either.
 
Turn off the cutting blades and remove the John Dere stickers....LOL

Seriously though you should get some new shocks and springs.

:beer:
 
I JUST DONT THINK THAT SHOCKS WILL DO THE TRICK BUBBA. IT'S ANCHOR FOR A LAND YACHT :gitrdun:

NCJeepin said:
Zach,
Shes a beast.. Shes not a catty, do what i told you to!!!
Click to expand...
 
Since you say its a 1 ton I'd change the kingpin springs and bushings, they're pretty cheap. Also the springs shouldn't be hitting the bumpstops during normal, unloaded street driving. If they are then you need to stop it from happening, ie. get new springs.
 
Finally, somebody agree's with me. I told NCJEEPIN the same thing, but nobody listens to the new guy. He said to change the shocks, but I just didn't see how the would make the ride any better.
 
Yea, you're pretty much stuck with the way it rides. Welcome to the club. My yota rides worse than a tank i think. If I want a good ride I drive my grand marquis. Rides like a cloud.
 
bigredgmc said:
I JUST DONT THINK THAT SHOCKS WILL DO THE TRICK BUBBA. IT'S ANCHOR FOR A LAND YACHT :gitrdun:
Click to expand...

First off my name is not bubba. :flipoff2:

And why did you ask "I don't know if I need to replace the springs or replace the shocks" if you "don't think shocks will do the trick".

Go buy a doughnut for you ass and quit complaining.....:flipoff2:
 
hey man, hes like a brother to me, for the past ten years I have been Bubba to him, so the post was directed to me... sorry for the confusion
 
bigredgmc said:
Finally, somebody agree's with me. I told NCJEEPIN the same thing, but nobody listens to the new guy. He said to change the shocks, but I just didn't see how the would make the ride any better.
Click to expand...


BTW tinkerbell i never told you to change the shocks, i told you to remove the shocks, drive it and see if its any better... that would tell you what kind of ride your shocks are giving you.... Don't make me come over there......
 
I'll tell you straight up to change the springs to at least a set of 2.5" lift springs. You will NEVER get a decent ride quality out of a factory negative-arched spring.

Here's why: In order for a typical positively arched leaf spring to compress, it must get longer, and the shackle will swing away to account for the elongating motion. The negatively arched springs we were given on every 69-91 "K" series truck is the exact opposite. In order for these springs to flex, they must get shorter, which in turn draws the shackle inwards. When all is said in done, the springs and shackles are effectively working against themselves, creating a stiff ride. This characteristic is enhanced when the springs sag.

Don't go rebuilding kingpins yet because ALL of the crappy ride quality is in the springs, and a little bit in the shocks. Call up Tuff Country. They make about the best riding "off the shelf" spring you will find.
 
NCJeepin said:
BTW tinkerbell i never told you to change the shocks, i told you to remove the shocks, drive it and see if its any better... that would tell you what kind of ride your shocks are giving you.... Don't make me come over there.....

WTF are u gonna do assmaster of the universe? I would hate to hang my foot up ur ass sideways!!!! All I am gonna tell u 2 do is, bring it on. Remember, you'll walk over, and crawl back!
lol
Click to expand...
 
Finally, somebody agree's with me. I told NCJEEPIN the same thing, but nobody listens to the new guy. He said to change the shocks, but I just didn't see how the would make the ride any better.
__________________
Click to expand...

Springs take the load of the vehicle, and when you hit a bump in the road they will compress towards the bump stop, and since its a spring it will uncompress after the bump is absorbed. Shocks keep your springs from forever compressing/decompressing. If the shocks are gone, the decompress/compress to quickly allowing the spring to bottom out before the "shock" of the bump is absorbed. That heavy of a vehicle has stiff springs..... If its bottoming out unloaded.... SPRINGS. The should be stiff enough by themselves not to bottom out unloaded. If the shocks are worn, it might not hurt to change them either. Worn shocks will allow the springs to flex more than necessary, decreasing the life of the springs.
 
Back
Top