Leafs or shocks?

So now that I finally have my front end riding good my rear really stands out. Feels like a horse drawn wagon. I have stock leafs, 1.5 blocks and some generic procomp shocks. Would some new shocks help at all or do I need new leafs?
A lot of times when I go through a steep dip the rear end feels like it bottoms out and pops back up. Which leads me to believe they're shot. Thoughts?

 

Mileage on them? and do you put a lot of weight in the bed? I would personally go for a new leaf pack.

 

I don't know if they've ever been replaced. But probably 170,000 miles. As far as hauling weight, very rarely and I've never towed anything. But I'm not sure what the previous owner has done with it.

 

Are your leaves at negative arch? My first thought is it's your leaves rebounding from arching negative over that 1.5" block. Perhaps, wrong length rear shocks? Your user profile says you have Toytec boss coilovers? Seems odd someone would drop the coin for good coilovers, and then use a block in the rear. I say ditch the block asap, and at least use an add a leaf.

 

The socks are extended pro comps from when I got the 881 top plates and aal. I still have the 2 inch AAL but I got the 1.5 to get the truck where I wanted it to sit. I looked for a 1.5 AAL but couldn't find one....might just deal with it until I can afford 1.5 leafs.

 

My thoughts are that the shocks are bottoming out or topping out by this description. If they were shot it'd be bouncing all the time.

 

I think all you need is overload spring assisted shocks or put some air bags on it for that little extra support, if the leafs aren't flat and you add beefy leafs to it all you will do is make it feel solid as a rock and feel every bump in the road

 

AAL pretty much always makes the ride worse.

 

He doesn't need additional overload springs or airbags if he doesn't haul anything. Removing the AAL and adding a 1.5-2" shackle would be the easiest and cheapest solution.

 

he said he stiffened the front with new struts and now says the rear is drooping too much so the rear suspension is too soft compared to the front and bottoming out on him so yes he needs more rear support and air bags or spring assisted shocks will stop the rear from drooping on him

removing rear suspension support will make the bed bottom out even more

 

Really!?!! Struts are a shock absorber, not a stiffener. They can make it ride rougher due to more dampening ability. Top plate spacers will make it slightly stiffer, but the rear AAL is the kicker. It has stiffened the rear leading to the shocks topping out. If the AAL isn't installed and you have just a 1.5" block then there's another issue there. I'd suggest you get a set of cheap parts house Monroe shocks for about $15/each and put them on then go from there.

Looked at your build thread and that thing is tall. You clearing them 33/1120 metric equivalent tires without rubbing? After seeing how tall it is I'll wager my first thoughts are correct and new, longer, rear shocks are all you'll need.

 

Just to clarify some things. I recently got toytec BOSS Coilovers(Set at 2.5). They definitely ride better than 881sand top plates. They're softer in most cases depending on speed. I wouldn't say the rear rides too soft at all. It's worse than the front. Honestly I probably need new leafs and shocks. The shocks don't dampen well and the stock leafs are probably shot. I can also tell a noticeable difference between full and empty tank, not sure if that means much. I just ouldn't tell when I had the AALs.

I took the AALs out when I had the 881s because it had too much rake for my liking. I like things level.

I guess what I was asking is will new improved shocks help it ride better? Or would I be wasting my time because my leafs are bad. Leaf packs are just too damn expensive for me right now.

As for going through dips and feeling the rebound it has to be really deep dips going 25-30mph. It kinda feels like my old struts. On the rebound I feel like I gain some lift out of my seat. But it's hard to tell what's really going on it just rides like shit. I'll make a few passes on a big dip to see if I can pin point it this weekend.

 

A good pair of shocks will always be better than a bad pair of shocks.

ToyTech coilies @ 2.5"+/- and 1.5" blocks.