Planning ahead for 3/4T 4WD Suburban suspension

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Those 2" front lift springs, ORD or Tough Country will give amazing droop travel if you run a ford shock mount and longer shocks, and remove or quick disconnect sway bar. However without cross over steering if you droop the drivers wheel you can't really turn left. The less arch a spring has the better it works, and flexes.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
I've heard the difference between the Tuff Country EZ ride springs and the HD springs is they put an extra leaf on the bottom of the HD pack. If it rides too stiff you can remove that bottom leaf. I don't know what the difference in cost between the springs is.

I was running 285/75R16s with what was actually a 3" lift.

full


Here is some of the articulation with the longer front shocks on the HD springs:
full

You're absolutely correct, yes you can ditch the bottom spring and end up with a standard Tuff **** spring.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,075
Reaction score
3,044
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
I think most will agree... I've always deleted them. I find they get rusted and don't work, yet the brakes still stop the truck so off with it.
Does your rig have a tach?
4.10s with stock 31" tires would be so revy on the highway. I don't think Eric is correct about 4.10s being standard on 3/4 tons. I have an 85 K20 Camper Special with 3.73s. I've had a few and they all had 3.73... even the Camper Specials. Now moving up to one ton camper special or CAC dually and they all came with 4.10.
But... as we see over and over, it seems any and every option may end up where we're not expecting it.
I don't know how accurate this is- but I've went by this chart for lack of any better information.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
I don't know how accurate this is- but I've went by this chart for lack of any better information.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach


It's hard for me to see it clearly, but pre '81 K20s with 4.10s makes sense in my memory hole. Thanks
 

Hunter79764

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2021
Posts
222
Reaction score
292
Location
Grand Prairie, TX
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Suburban V20
Engine Size
350
Well guys, I stand corrected. Checked the code, GT4 just like I remembered, which means 4.10, right? Wrong. 3.73's it is.

I had it in ming that GT3 was 3.73 and GT4 was 4.10, but GT4 is 3.73 and GT5 is 4.10. Guess that's what I get for thinking instead of looking...
 

Attachments

  • 20220714_220409.jpg
    20220714_220409.jpg
    139.9 KB · Views: 45

Hunter79764

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2021
Posts
222
Reaction score
292
Location
Grand Prairie, TX
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Suburban V20
Engine Size
350
Side note, if anyone is wondering if their truck is still under warranty, I've got that manual in the glove box.
 

Attachments

  • 20220714_220521.jpg
    20220714_220521.jpg
    153.8 KB · Views: 45

Fat 454

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Posts
47
Reaction score
64
Location
Australia
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C20 Suburban
Engine Size
454
Wow ! this thread really got "back on track" - great to see all the enthusiasm and technical know how out there. Need more pics tho' I think. I'll try and post a couple of my "sub junkers" over the weekend....
 

Forum statistics

Threads
41,848
Posts
903,420
Members
33,362
Latest member
Dhatch84
Top