Rough country lift

[Jason S]

Installed 4” rough country spring lift on 87 short bed stepside 4x4. And it’s way too stiff for me. I love the look but it rides like a shopping cart and my neighborhood is loaded with speed bumps. I should’ve read the reviews more carefully. My question is will a change to higher quality shock and adjusting tire pressure make enough difference or do I bite the bullet and purchase a better quality lift kit? If anyone has had success with different shocks please let me know what you used and if it really made a big enough difference. Any suggestions on a different brand lift kit would be appreciated as well. Thanks.

 

[bucket]

Unfortunately, no. There's no shock technology out there that can lessen the spring rate.

 

[bucket]

I believe the softest, off the shelf springs are still the Tuff County brand springs.

 

[cadillac_al]

Tuff Country, Rough Country. I always get them mixed up. I did buy Tuff Country EZ ride springs and they are plenty stiff for me. I wouldn't want to try anything stiffer.

 

[Grit dog]

This seems to be a topic frequently here recently.
Shocks can’t make springs softer.
Tire pressure affects ride of course. If you got more air in the tires than you need it ain’t helping.

 

[Edelbrock]

One thing you can do to help is to add more weight to the vehicle. I had a similar issue and I added a Hue Jass cattle guard to the front of my rig and it helped a fair amount. Considering adding weight to the rear end.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Shocks don't change the ride at all, they control the motion. The only way to get a better ride is to pony up for softer springs

 

[Beast496]

How much pressure are you running in your tires? What size tires? I'm running the same lift as you (although a longbed 1 ton) and lowering the PSI in my 35 inch tires from 45 to around 30 was the best thing I did for unloaded ride characteristics. I could probably even go a bit lower if I wanted to.

 

[Grit dog]

How much pressure are you running in your tires? What size tires? I'm running the same lift as you (although a longbed 1 ton) and lowering the PSI in my 35 inch tires from 45 to around 30 was the best thing I did for unloaded ride characteristics. I could probably even go a bit lower if I wanted to.

Yup. Same. These trucks are fairly lightweight compared to big new trucks and tires are made with hella load capacity when you get into the bigger sizes. The 35s on the K20 are 25-30psi front and 20-25psi rear. Bout as low as I like for highway driving. And still handle great.

 

[Edelbrock]

Yup. Same. These trucks are fairly lightweight compared to big new trucks and tires are made with hella load capacity when you get into the bigger sizes. The 35s on the K20 are 25-30psi front and 20-25psi rear. Bout as low as I like for highway driving. And still handle great.

Ya, I think I'm around 20 - 25 if memory serves. Lower pressure does help. I wonder how much handling control Im losing with that low of pressure. Any insight?

 

[Grit dog]

^Mine are 20s and very heavy sidewall so they are still pretty stiff. Not squishy in the corners at all.
Crew cab diesel I run about 40f/30r.

 

[Ricko1966]

Ya, I think I'm around 20 - 25 if memory serves. Lower pressure does help. I wonder how much handling control Im losing with that low of pressure. Any insight?

How much control are you losing with no rear brakes? Priority's

 

[Broken85]

The short bed K10 suspensions are unforgiving. The trucks are light, and have a short wheel base. They get the same spring treatment as the long-beds. Mine is a stock suspension with the industrial front end and it rides like tractor with a better radio. This is the main reason I don't want to lift it. You cant go light enough on the springs for a short bed.

 

[bucket]

^Mine are 20s and very heavy sidewall so they are still pretty stiff. Not squishy in the corners at all.
Crew cab diesel I run about 40f/30r.

Holy crap. Anything I tow or haul with, I run max pressure in the rear and substantially less in the front. Normally 50F and 80R. The big exception would be my old crew cab dually has bias plies with a max psi of 50, so I run 50 all around.

Ain't no way I'd ever be comfortable with only 30 in the rear, especially if it's SRW.

 

[legopnuematic]

industrial front end

? Could you elaborate on what you mean by this? Just curious.


My buddy’s 75 K5 has stock springs with ORD shackle flip in the rear and their extended shackles up front with tough country springs. Fox shocks all around. On 33x12.5x15s and rides pretty darn good.

A blazer is a shorter wheelbase and a good bit lighter (being a full top with no top) than a short bed pickup.

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