Suspension Upgrades - No lift wanted

Well remember here that I [and I think the OP too] am just trying to make this suspension work period. Bilstein 5125s will have to be an improvement over the stock shocks though I suspect the factory leaf springs cause most of the rear end squirreliness.

As I've said before, when you hit washboards, hit a bump or pothole on a curve or around a corner, or have to dodge debris at highway speed the stock suspension is [at best] severely lacking to [at worst] just plain dangerous.

It's funny now but right after I got this off the truck from Tennessee I went out for my first drive and there are some washboards just before the stop sign down at the highway and I was sideways and damn near didn't get stopped. Damn near piled it up in the first 1/2 mile and I wasn't even going that fast.

 

For all those [I'm sure] waiting with baited breath, I hurt my back shoveling freakin' snow so I guess I WON'T be installing these toys this weekend after all . . .

Don't know about you but I'm beyond ready for spring already . . .

 

no beuno man! get better soon

 

OK, so I got the Boss COs on at least.

On Jack Stand with the Floor Jack as a back up.



Rear wheel blocked.



The stock shocks came out with just a mild wiggle of the lower control arm. The Boss COs are a good inch longer though and require quite a tug on the upper control arm to lower the lower control arm enough to get them to slide in. I found a 6' T-post worked perfectly.



Not a great picture [sorry] but, back on the ground and adjusted all the way down I still have 1" of lift [so far]. After I get the Deavers, Shocks, and Air Bags on the rear, I'll let it settle a couple of weeks and re-measure all 4 corners.



Unfortunately, though my back is better, my Lupus has been so bad of late that I didn't even drive it when I got done to see how much if any ride improvement the COs provide? I do suspect that MOST of my ride improvement is going to come from the changes out back though anyway.

Those changes coming next . . . stay tuned.

 

Forgot the Taco Lean Adjustment pic to the driver's side. Passenger side is still all the way down.

 

After the COs settled, set to minimal lift, I am down to 1/2" lift over stock and had to actually take about 1/2 of the Taco-lean adjustment out of the driver's side as it ended up a 1/2" higher than the passenger side after the COs settled.

Despite Toytec's assurance otherwise, I am sure that 2WD TRDs will want to stick with the 550 lb. springs on these unless you intend to add front end weight. Unfortunately, though I ordered 550s and actually talked to their order fulfillment guy about 550s "before" they shipped, I got sent and invoiced for 600s and they would NOT pay for the return shipping to correct the error so I elected to keep the 600s. Though I really need the rear end changes to improve handling, I think handling will probably be a tad better with the 600s but the suspension is now more sensitive to road seams, ba-bonk, ba-bonk, ba-bonk, than it was before.

Didn't have time to get to the back end changes this weekend, hopefully next [??].

Does anyone even care about this? I'm not going to continue posting if not.

 

I have been keeping tabs on this.

That's weird they wouldn't take the 600s back. Did they give you a reason for why they wouldn't?

 

did they send you an invoice before you paid showing the 550s?



and subbed since my suspension is in need

 

Nope, got an invoice same time I was charged but it didn't "explicitly" say 600s on it. I assumed it was right. They claim that I had to order the 600s since that is what I got and got invoiced for. Never mind, I actually talked to order fulfillment "before" they shipped and we were talking about 550s, not 600s.

They also forgot to send "both" spanner wrenches and demanded I pay for any shipping on the 2nd wrench if I wanted it faster than snail mail. So, had a friend that's only in town every 4-6 weeks wanting to help me that 1st weekend and wrong coils and no spanner wrench.

Toytec already got a piece of my mind over this and I doubt I'm very high on their favorite customer list. But, I got all the rest of my suspension from Wheelers and no problems, no complaints!

I'm at a loss . . .

 

Sounds like an experience I had with URD. needless to say I always recommend against them and will never get my business as a consumer again,

 

TTT

I am taking around an inch off my current lift setup this weekend.

Removing a leaf from my deaver 8 pack and lowering the pre load on my front coils

Will post an after report with pics.

Im currently 2.5" front 1.5"-2" rear over stock.

 

Well, I finally got around to doing the rear and, figures, the [new] Bilsteins I got have an 1/8" too small bushing to go on my mount shafts. No amount of grease is going to make these go on. They are 5125s per Wheeler recommendation. Anyone know what is right?

Now have to see if Wheeler's will still take them back??

Boss CO update:

I was a little surprised I needed to do the Taco Lean adjustment since the Boss COs have a DS/PS designation out of the box. Per above pics, I initially had to adjust the DS a little over 1/2" up to make the truck level. But, as the truck continues to settle, I am continuing to screw the DS down . . . currently just a 1/4" higher than the PS. Also, I would "prefer" a set screw to keep them in place over the "double ring" design. Though it does have a "double nut" type locking effect, you can turn both rings by turning the big one so I suspect periodic minor adjustments will be required on these.

On the ride so far . . . Handling is slightly better. And I will no doubt see the MOST handling improvement from the rear end changes so I am anxious to get that done. The ride with the front end taking potholes is better. The ride when hitting bumps is a tad worse I think. Seem to really notice highway seams when they are raised . . . ba-bonk ba-bonk ba-bonk. Probably the 600 lb. coils. However, when the road seams are divots, the truck seems to take them better.

 

I just found the 19mm bushings for the 5125s. Not sure how to swap them though?? The 16mm ones that are in the shocks seem like they are glued in. They won't budge.

 

OK, so naturally step one was to swap out the bushings in the Bilsteins.

Fortunately, I have a small/medium pulley puller already from two previous car builds. I "thought" that the reason I was buying these parts from specific dealers was to get the parts "ready to install". I guess just throwing the right bushings in the box is close enough? Too bad for those that don't have the tools to press the wrong ones out and right ones back in. I used a 11/16" socket on my pulley puller to push the 16mm bushings out and pressing the 19mm bushings in just requires a vice [a C-Clamp might work in a pinch??].





Then set the parking brake and block the front wheels.



Get the spare down out of your way and jack it up. I've got jack stands up just ahead of where the frame straightens out in front of the rear fender wells. There is a small divot in the frame there and also is where my nerf bars bolt up so it makes a nice "slip free" location for the jack stand to sit. Should have taken a pic of that location but never thought about it. I guess if someone doesn't know how to safely raise a vehicle, they have no business doing this.



And the new Bilsteins are on. Sorry the pic is a bit OOF. Getting these shocks compressed enough to go on the mount studs was a PITA. I had to compress them with the floor jack using a 1" socket to cup the bottom of the shock [sorry didn't take a pic of that]. Took about a half dozen tries to get things lined up properly.

I "think" there is enough room to not have to but, knowing my luck, I'll have to take the new shocks back off to do the leaf springs, cradles, and bags??

But, I wanted to do this in stages so I could see just what each component does to the problem. I'll go drive it tomorrow . . . lord willin'

 

Great thread. Looking for a somewhat similar setup -- about an inch lift, but with a comfortable, controlled ride. Not sure why some folks want a harsh, bumpy ride. I don't use my truck to autocross; I use it to transport toys. Anyway - good luck with your upgrades. Appreciate the feedback.

 

Looking good canon

 

Yeah, had the wrong pic on the last one. So, I just fixed that even though the right pic was mildly OOF. I literally just took the camera and stuck it under there and snapped the photo and it shows. But, you can tell they are on, at least.

Driving today: Every little bit helps. Rides a little more confidently and there is a little less dive and roll in sudden H/W maneuvering but I still think it is going to take the leaf springs to fix the rear end problems. It still wants to walk out from under you when you hit washboards.

What surprises me is the rear shocks actually raised the rear end a 1/2". I knew they were stiff given how hard it was to compress them to just get them on but actually raise the truck a 1/2"?

 

My guess would be that they're new and haven't been broken in yet
Ride around with some weight in the bed and see if that'll "settle" them. I'm no expert though.

 

BTW, I think my next project is going to be a new exhaust . . .

 

Have you found anything good like throaty for exhaust I know we have V6s and a V6 will always be a V6 but I want something not ricey sounding
I love the way Sean's (Defconbrix) exhaust sounds I just can't see myself paying $650 for an exhaust