I'm having some probs with my rear suspension and I need some input from others. I have a 2/3 drop with spindles in the front and blocks in the back. I bought the truck this way. I know the spindles are Beltech and since I replaced the front shocks to KYBs the ride up front is pretty good. Problem is the back is all messed up now. When I got the truck the back suspension was fine. Running blocks, mono leaf and air shocks. I could put a moderate amount of weight in the back without any trouble. Now all of a sudden it seems to be bottoming out and slamming the frame on the diff. I don't know if I blew a shock or not. With this being my DD I need it to be able to handle some weight. I want to be able to tow my pop up camper with it but as it sits right now there's no way. If I can't get some practicality out of it i may have to sell it which I don't want to do. My question is what are guys in this similar situation running in the back? I don't know if the guy before me just took a couple leafs out or if he actually bought Beltech springs. If I bought some would those make the difference? Do I need to buy some shocks for the rear that will give the truck the stiffness without pushing the ass in the air? Please offer any info you can as I need to sort this out. I just can't afford to have a DD that doesn't also have some practicality.
sounds like you blew a shock........ take em out and try compressing them and see if there is any "air " in the shock. by that i mean deflate the air in the bag portion of the shock and then compress it. if there is air in the oil side of the shock, you will feel it and possibly hear it as well when it rebounds..... as for the weight capacity. get yourself some helper bags...... relying on your shocks alone wont be too safe especially being monoleafed. get the small helper bags and install them. they just need to be aired up whenever you carry weight is all and they wont lift your truck at all while deflated. best way to go about this. keeps you low and will keep you leveled out when you carry weight.
get some drop leafs like said before. nevery have been a fan on blocks and a monoleaf. if you want stability go with the drop springs. i have them on my yota and love them. just hauled a big oak roll top desk and had no problems.
Thx for the replys. If I go with drop leafs do I still need the blocks? Are Beltech drop leafs good? I hauled a couch and loveseat in the back before and it didn't bottom too bad but I must have a blown shock like SD says. I can't put anywhere near that weight in it right now. Hey SD where would I get those helper bags if I decided to go that route?
helper bags is just a term for normal bags that arent the only spring in the system. more of an adjustable, on demand, overload spring. they sell them in kits. and for a little truck it wouldnt take a very big bag. check out some places like stylintrucks.com they have kits. or just get a couple small bags and make some mounts. little research of how the kits are made and you can probably handle it. good luck.
if you get 3" drop leafs than you wouldn't need any blocks. i've heard nothing but good things about belltech products. when i say there not safe, it's just because the mono's have been known to snap eventually, and thats on a bagged truck that usually don't haul anything. i would hate to hear that you were hurt because one snapped while towing you camper. i believe aim industries sells some also, but i'm not positive. just don't sell the truck man!
aim sells alot of things, but ive heard more bad things about them than from blocks and monos. but i agree, a mono can fail eventually. if the overload is there, and its basically a very small pack thats alot better. but i would call the techs a summit racing, belltech themselves or stylin trucks if you are wondering anything about specifics on the belltech leafs. if they work out for you, maybe ill give them a try with some blocks...my truck is at a 6" drop at still not low enough. lol. but, just keep reading up. there seems to be some people with good info on here.
Another alternative could be de-arching your stock springs. Im sure a spring shop would be able to do it for you. Find another set for cheap and dearch them, same thing as drop springs
Well I do have the overload spring along with the mono leaf so I guess it's a bit safer. I just need this thing to be more user friendly. It's already only a summer driver and the wife doesn't mind that part but if I can't put anything in the box then she wonders why I have it. The money could be spent elsewhere. That's why I want to be able to tow my camper. The tongue weight wouldn't be more than 4-500lbs and then maybe some bikes in the box. I'm definately thinking of the drop springs. ohau grown: That is another option I never thought of. Anyone ever do this?
I know people in hawaii do it cause its cheaper to find a shop down here then to ship the springs down. Try go to a shop and ask. As far as i think its simple to do. Could probably do it as a side job. One shop down here was closing down(closed now) but he was charging $100 a set to de-arch as many inches as you want. Good luck to you though. Im thinking of de-arching too if i can find a spare set.
adding to the dearching, might as well find a...nevermind, you have the v6 xcab springs. i was gonna say a stiffer pack. maybe they can add to the pack while its there.
Would it be better to just get this along this? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.a...ing&canned_results_trigger=&partfamilyid=2167 Would I still need the blocks if I ran that? Or should I just buy this? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.a...ing&canned_results_trigger=&partfamilyid=2167 I don't need to handle big weight, maybe 700lbs at most. Which way would be the better route cost wise vs performance?
well, its a toss up. the new springs may or may not ride stiff enough for you, and youd only be able to carry so much. the bags can be filled more to carry more weight. and if you went with that, you can always keep a tiny bit of air in them so it adds a little rear stiffness.
