Fixing the ride of my 1st gen (or at least making it better)
#13
it seems that these trucks have a problem with the springs hitting the bump stops, so my fix was to make longer shackels, and move the front of the leaf pack down one inch with a spacer, worked great. total lift was about three inches. but if i had the money i would go with the air ride. put it simply you can't get a better ride then air!!!
#14
just as rswords said air bags or towing bags can ruin your springs. if you want a very soft ride, the best route IMO is air ride 9not air bags theyre totally different)
#16
So air bags are the way to go$$$$
I really don't think the rear springs are that bad. It's the front that beats the truck to death on the bumps, but I would rather upgrade them both. I checked out that kelderman web site,and it doesn't looks like they have a "kit" for the first gens. Have you guys that have bought these systems called them up and kinda pieced a kit together or what? I'm a little concerned about the reliability, and durability of these air bags. I don't want a set up i have to worry about bleading down, or malfunctioning; which leads me back to the springs. Are air ride systems rock solid, or are they something you have to mess with everytime you stop for fuel??? Ya'll let me know what you think, and let me know what air bags you guys have on your truck, and where you got them.
Last edited by puddlepirate; 12-30-2009 at 03:22 PM.
#17
like i said before, there is a reason why they run them in big rigs and cadillacs and lincolns for the older folks. the nicer kits have controls inside the cab that you can control everything with and i believe they even use an on board air compressor. you shouldnt ever really have to mess with it unless you want to change it from driving setup to a hauling setup or something liek that
#18
They will have an onboard compressor Justin. Once you get them set up to the ride height you want, you dont have to mess with them. If they have an automatic setup like on the big trucks, they will self adjust as you loan and unload the trucks and the big trucks ride like cadillacs with them. Ive never ridden in a pickup with them but its got to be about the same.
#19
I really don't think the rear springs are that bad. It's the front that beats the truck to death on the bumps, but I would rather upgrade them both. I checked out that kelderman web site,and it doesn't looks like they have a "kit" for the first gens. Have you guys that have bought these systems called them up and kinda pieced a kit together or what? I'm a little concerned about the reliability, and durability of these air bags. I don't want a set up i have to worry about bleading down, or malfunctioning; which leads me back to the springs. Are air ride systems rock solid, or are they something you have to mess with everytime you stop for fuel??? Ya'll let me know what you think, and let me know what air bags you guys have on your truck, and where you got them.
Mike does not run a compressor on his, he filled them up once to where he wants it and they stayed fine. The only real spots for leaks would be ther airlines... They are only as leak proof as you make them.