whats the trick for better ride?

[spenser21]

so I have a 74 k10. i bought it with the current lift on now, pretty sure its a 4in lift with 33s. the shocks were gone, so i replaced them with some nice BDS shocks, but what now. is there anything i can do to make this ride better? i just use it to drive to and from work for now but that's partially because itll bounce you out the window if i go any further lol

 

[Honky Kong jr]

so I have a 74 k10. i bought it with the current lift on now, pretty sure its a 4in lift with 33s. the shocks were gone, so i replaced them with some nice BDS shocks, but what now. is there anything i can do to make this ride better? i just use it to drive to and from work for now but that's partially because itll bounce you out the window if i go any further lol

Pretty much nature of the beast. There are company's that make "soft ride" lift springs can't think of which one at the moment.

 

[spenser21]

that's what I was kinda afraid of lol... but definitely going to look into the springs

 

[kenny78]

Tuff country springs ez rides for premade.
Deaver or others for custom$$$

I don't have personal experience with either. I plan to replace the (likely) rough country 4" springs with tuff's as the current ones ride like an empty medium duty trick without an air seat.

 

[CSFJ]

so I have a 74 k10. i bought it with the current lift on now, pretty sure its a 4in lift with 33s. the shocks were gone, so i replaced them with some nice BDS shocks, but what now. is there anything i can do to make this ride better? i just use it to drive to and from work for now but that's partially because itll bounce you out the window if i go any further lol

Pretty much nature of the beast. There are company's that make "soft ride" lift springs can't think of which one at the moment.

Yeah, a 44 year old 4x4 truck isn't really the best idea if you're concerned about ride quality at all. Like what's mentioned in the other posts, there are a few options to mitigate the harshness, but at the end of the day, you're still driving a solid axle truck with leaf springs.

 

[UH60Pilot]

I bought my 78 K10 with 4" BDS springs already installed and it rode very rough. my head would hit the ceiling on some bumps. I switched to 6"lift Tuff Country EZ rides, and it is alot smoother. Still bouncy, but I still have the ****** old shocks. Plan to put Bilsteins on soon. I did a 4" shackle flip in the rear and a 2 inch lift spring. Less spring arch for smoother ride. I also removed the front sway bar to smooth things out.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Throw three hundred pounds worth of sandbags in the bed up close to the cab. It'll ride like a Cadillac. The longer 56" 3/4 ton rear springs help them ride a little better out back too. If it has a rear block you could do a shackle flip and 56" springs and help the back. The front is tough, gotta have quality lift springs. Things like tough country dont ride well. You could spend a lot on it though and only gain a little comfort. Or haul a few hundred pounds in the bed with you all the time.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Throw three hundred pounds worth of sandbags in the bed up close to the cab. It'll ride like a Cadillac. The longer 56" 3/4 ton rear springs help them ride a little better out back too. If it has a rear block you could do a shackle flip and 56" springs and help the back. The front is tough, gotta have quality lift springs. Things like tough country dont ride well. You could spend a lot on it though and only gain a little comfort. Or haul a few hundred pounds in the bed with you all the time.

Rough country's 6" fronts with a big block actually have some give to them unlike with a small block and no swaybar keeps the right and left from fighting like little children.

 

[theblindchicken]

For my truck, I went with a 4" EZ Ride springs in the front, 4" shackle flip in the rear. Rancho RS9000XL shocks for the adjustability.

Opted for the greasable bolts and that made a huge difference.

The truck rode like a brick without any suspension before, now she's actually pretty comfy to drive around. With a load in the bed makes her smoother than a cadillac!

 

[spenser21]

WOW! definitely a lot of ideas here... sounds like if im going to do it, this would be the time to go a little higher with her. I know, I know, itll ride worse but im thinking around 8in lift. how high of a lift can you go before you have to start changing brake lines and drive shafts ect....

 

[75Monza]

Based on the ride of my 8" lift on my 86 K20 and my 4" on my 82 K20, really hate the 8" lift. 4 or 6 inch tuff country EZ-ride are the smoothest ride I've got yet out of a square. Have to load a good 500lbs near the cab to even think of not breaking the springs in my seat when hitting a bump in my 86.

 

[spenser21]

that's good to know... Im back and forth anyway because as of right now I have an inch before it wont fit into the garage... and its nice getting into a garaged truck in the winter time

 

[theblindchicken]

WOW! definitely a lot of ideas here... sounds like if im going to do it, this would be the time to go a little higher with her. I know, I know, itll ride worse but im thinking around 8in lift. how high of a lift can you go before you have to start changing brake lines and drive shafts ect....

4in is pretty much the max before you really have to start changing a lot of things.

At 6in, you're looking at driveshafts, steering components, and brake lines.

 

[spenser21]

perfect, that answers that haha... now were back to nice springs lol

 

[Jrgunn5150]

A set of 52' rear springs up front, will give you roughly 4" of lift, and combined with longer shocks, a very plush ride