I have searched alot and have read that SD springs are the best. Problem is I can't bring myself to hack off the bumper mounts. Question is how much better is the ride with the stock OBS springs? I can't handle the ride on my truck anymore. The whole truck will bounce front to back like a rocking horse. It is around 45mph, and then goes away. I have skyjacker springs front and back. 9000 shocks on all corners. I am getting rid of the mud terrains and getting all terrains next week. Are my wheels too narrow? I am at the point of getting rid of the truck if I can't fix it. What are you thoughts? Please help before an OBS hits ebay!
RSK and stock springs? Can't handle the ride anymore! @%$#
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
My truck rides considerably better then stock with the Sky RSK and stock F-350 springs. It rides WAY!!!! better then it did with the 4" lift I had before. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif I cannot say fore sure about using superduty springs as I have not rode in an obs truck with this mod. It doesn't quite ride as well as my Dad's 04 PSD though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
Joined
·
697 Posts
Man, get rid of those Skyjacker springs,they are your prob.I had them on mine and they drove me nuts!Just like you said,truck would bounce around 45 mph.A longer spring is always better but,the main thing about the SD springs is they have more leaves,that are thinner.This gives a better ride than a spring w/3-4 thick leaves.You can get good springs for an OBS from Nat.,Deaver or Atlas.Sky Man. has a 5" SRK that you could run w/your stock springs.
Brian
Brian
[ QUOTE ]
Man, get rid of those Skyjacker springs,they are your prob.I had them on mine and they drove me nuts!Just like you said,truck would bounce around 45 mph.A longer spring is always better but,the main thing about the SD springs is they have more leaves,that are thinner.This gives a better ride than a spring w/3-4 thick leaves.You can get good springs for an OBS from Nat.,Deaver or Atlas.Sky Man. has a 5" SRK that you could run w/your stock springs.
Brian
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry Brain but the SD front springs have the same # of leaves. The reason a OSB rides crappy is because...1. no travel, 2 axel is located offcenter on the springs causeing the spring to want to move in a wave motion not a linear motion.....hope I explaned this correctly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif, 3rd the shackel that moves is located incorrectly for the direction the truck normally travels /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. Nothing you can do with the stock type springs and location will help...talked extensively with Deaver about this FYI. A RS kit alown will not improve the ride that much. Been there done that!
Rear SD springs are thiner and longer and will help the OBS.
All are my Opinions and as usuall are subject to revision as necessary. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Cary
Man, get rid of those Skyjacker springs,they are your prob.I had them on mine and they drove me nuts!Just like you said,truck would bounce around 45 mph.A longer spring is always better but,the main thing about the SD springs is they have more leaves,that are thinner.This gives a better ride than a spring w/3-4 thick leaves.You can get good springs for an OBS from Nat.,Deaver or Atlas.Sky Man. has a 5" SRK that you could run w/your stock springs.
Brian
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry Brain but the SD front springs have the same # of leaves. The reason a OSB rides crappy is because...1. no travel, 2 axel is located offcenter on the springs causeing the spring to want to move in a wave motion not a linear motion.....hope I explaned this correctly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif, 3rd the shackel that moves is located incorrectly for the direction the truck normally travels /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. Nothing you can do with the stock type springs and location will help...talked extensively with Deaver about this FYI. A RS kit alown will not improve the ride that much. Been there done that!
Rear SD springs are thiner and longer and will help the OBS.
All are my Opinions and as usuall are subject to revision as necessary. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Cary
Joined
·
697 Posts
Yes, the stock springs w/a SRK won't give the best ride because they have a neg. arch.A pos. arch works better w/the shackle at the rear of the spring.
caryt,so whats the diff between, say a Deaver spring for a SD & a Deaver spring for an OBS w/a SRK, except length?
Like I said, Skyjacker springs SUCK!
Brian
caryt,so whats the diff between, say a Deaver spring for a SD & a Deaver spring for an OBS w/a SRK, except length?
Like I said, Skyjacker springs SUCK!
Brian
I am just finishing up (this morning) my own home brewed shackle reverse system on my 89 crew cab. I am running the stock spring that sits basically straight as an arrow loaded and will let you know how the ride / handling has been affected.
I purchased the shackle from Sky and fabbed my own front crossmember. They do not have a direct bolt on for an 89. Apparently the 91 - up frame rails are boxed all the way to the front?
Anyway I will post back with a boat load of pics.
On a side note, I will not be running a track bar unless I can see it to be needed after test drive.
Mike
I purchased the shackle from Sky and fabbed my own front crossmember. They do not have a direct bolt on for an 89. Apparently the 91 - up frame rails are boxed all the way to the front?
Anyway I will post back with a boat load of pics.
On a side note, I will not be running a track bar unless I can see it to be needed after test drive.
Mike
Joined
·
697 Posts
Runboy, I'm not using a track bar on mine - no probs.Handles fine. My only complaint is that at parking lot speeds I get some "clunking" from the springs being pushed side to side when steering.Might not be a prob w/ stock springs, my Nationals have 9 leaves in them, so there's alittle more movement side to side in them.
Brian
Brian
Joined
·
605 Posts
My buddy has an F350 gasser with stock springs and an RSK. It ride alot better than it did thats for sure. The RSK will help, and if it doesnt help enough you can always do SD springs later. Are you running F250 or 350 front springs as the F250 springs make it so friggin rough it hurt my back when thats what i had.I wouldnt get rid of it yet, My truck rides like a Cadillac, compared to stock. But i would say do the RSK with the right springs and go from thier.
Ok, here are a few pics of my one off custom fabbed Shackle Reverse Crossmember. There are also a few more in my gallery.
shackle5.jpg
shackle7.jpg
shackle8jpg
shackle9.jpg
The ride is quite a bit smoother and a lot more solid feeling. A lot of the bumps in my neigborhood that were really "jarring" are still there but the edge is somewhat taken off. It is still a 1-ton with 1-ton springs and an empty bed! Overall I would say it was well worth the effort.
I will post more pics and some actuall height measurements as soon as I can.
I still can't quite see the connection that some are making between Skyjacker springs and bouncing at 45mph. What does spring rate have to do with speed? Maybe there isn't enough shock dampening for the stiffer than stock spring?
Mike
shackle5.jpg
shackle7.jpg
shackle8jpg
shackle9.jpg
The ride is quite a bit smoother and a lot more solid feeling. A lot of the bumps in my neigborhood that were really "jarring" are still there but the edge is somewhat taken off. It is still a 1-ton with 1-ton springs and an empty bed! Overall I would say it was well worth the effort.
I will post more pics and some actuall height measurements as soon as I can.
I still can't quite see the connection that some are making between Skyjacker springs and bouncing at 45mph. What does spring rate have to do with speed? Maybe there isn't enough shock dampening for the stiffer than stock spring?
Mike
Joined
·
3,340 Posts
Have you considered it is the rear springs are too stiff?
On the front I have the stock springs and RS kit and it smoothed out the ride in the front a lot, the hard hitting bumps are still there though.
I still have the stock rear springs and they are terrible, it will buck similar to what you describe, and I have come to the conclusion that it is the rear that causes it. If I have any type of weight in the bed it will go away. I also tried a really low tire pressure in the rear when the bed was empty and the bucking went away.
I don't know about Skyjacker springs, but the other mass produced sets I have had rode really bad, way too stiff although none were on my Ford, all Toyota's. I am going to try a custom set of springs for my Ford. They said that they would replace the stock 4 leaf pack with a 8 leaf pack that used leafs half as thick so they would be much smoother riding, but you just double them up to retain the load carrying capacity. I just haven't gotten around to ordering them yet. So I have no definitive answer yet.
On the front I have the stock springs and RS kit and it smoothed out the ride in the front a lot, the hard hitting bumps are still there though.
I still have the stock rear springs and they are terrible, it will buck similar to what you describe, and I have come to the conclusion that it is the rear that causes it. If I have any type of weight in the bed it will go away. I also tried a really low tire pressure in the rear when the bed was empty and the bucking went away.
I don't know about Skyjacker springs, but the other mass produced sets I have had rode really bad, way too stiff although none were on my Ford, all Toyota's. I am going to try a custom set of springs for my Ford. They said that they would replace the stock 4 leaf pack with a 8 leaf pack that used leafs half as thick so they would be much smoother riding, but you just double them up to retain the load carrying capacity. I just haven't gotten around to ordering them yet. So I have no definitive answer yet.
The truck rides ok as a truck and I can deal with that. The bouncing is putting me over the edge. Will bagging the rear maybe get rid of the bounce? I have skyjacker rear lift springs also. They seem softer than the factory ones. Maybe running 25psi in some bags will get rid of that bounce?
Joined
·
697 Posts
Got4wd,My front Skyjackers where really,really stiff,as in no movement.Up front I now have a set from Nat.Spring.They have 9 thin leaves in them and ride nice.I still have the Softride Skyjackers on the rear and they are very soft,they ride nice over bumps,better than stock.But,I think they are too soft.I can bounce the back of the truck up & dn,maybe an 1/2" or so when parked.It's too little movement for the shocks to damp out.The bouncing/vibes are just about gone if I put some weight in the bed.I'm fixing to order some 10" springs from Atlas so I can get rid of the fac. blocks and hopefully smooth out the ride.
Brian
Yes,I think bags might help.
Brian
Yes,I think bags might help.
Joined
·
697 Posts
Runboy, that's nice work!
Brian
Brian
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
