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View Full Version : Busy Busy Busy!!

macojoe
03-09-2006, 04:44 PM
I have been making some improvements to the tow Vachiel!!

When towing the camper 6000 # it sags a bit, and this has bothered the crap out of me!

The Camper
http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/camper.jpg

So what I did was remove the 3 leaf spring for the 1/2 ton, and added 5 leaf 3/4 ton springs from the junk yard out of a 2001 Chevy 2500
I started yesterday afternoon at 2pm, got all done except pass side, it was getting dark at 5:30 and was 29*
So I waited for day light and 38* to finish this morning. Man I wish I had a grarge!! :(

While I was doing it I also added a oil change, filter, grease the front end and all new Gabreil Max Control shocks .

Man the ride is great!! what a difference, the old shocke had 2 that were leaking and it was tuff, but man this is as smooth as silk now!
The springs are great did not make it to stiff at all! I am happy now!! ;D

Old 1/2 ton springs, If anyone needs let me no?

http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/jyjyw.jpg

New 5 leaf installed forgot before pic's

http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/o_yi.jpg

The old stock shocks

http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/mhd.jpg

The new Shocks

http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/snmh.jpg

2" lift but hard to see here

http://syncboard.com/albums/album03/truckcamper.jpg

Thank god for air tools!!! ;D
Skools Out
03-09-2006, 05:27 PM
are you going to lift the front to match?
willy
03-09-2006, 05:49 PM
Nice you have skills Bitterman ;D
macojoe
03-09-2006, 06:04 PM
I have been thinking of cranking the bars in the front a bit?? The thing is that that will stiffin that front end real hard!
You can change out the keys and put fords in there tighten the bars and get 2"
But I am not sure if I want to sacrifice the ride? I will see how it feels over the next week.
TheTinMan
03-09-2006, 08:24 PM
Are those Bilstein shocks?
macojoe
03-09-2006, 08:42 PM
No I was going to get them but I had to special order, so they had these Gaberil Max Control, I have heard some good things about them, so since My brother works for a auto parts store I got his 20% discount and gave these a try.
So far so good, I will give the a 50 mile run to work tonight, I will let you no better tomorrow how I like them. But so far I think they going to be great.
I learned of them threw the fullsizechevy.com message board.
Skools Out
03-09-2006, 10:17 PM
i9f you crank the bars up it will void warranty and start to wear tires bad
macojoe
03-09-2006, 10:20 PM
well there is no warrantee and I would never crank much if I did at all, I don't think I will, I like tyhe ride the way it is. but I would head right for the alinement shop if so.
captbent
03-09-2006, 10:30 PM
IF YOU WHERE CLOSE ID WOULD HAVE YOU USE MY GARAGE ITS NOT LIKE I DONT HAVE ANY ROOM
willy
03-09-2006, 10:46 PM
Cap where is it jersey or rhodes land
Franco
03-09-2006, 10:50 PM
Hey MJ, you shouldn't have a big difference cranking up the torsion bars 2 inches, it will be a little firmer, but not much. Crank them up and drive it ten miles or so and come back and measure again. If you have to, adjust them level and drive again before getting the front end aligned. I'm a Service Director at a GMC dealer, see it often, no big difference.

Hey Skools, it won't void the warranty on a new vehicle, the only time that that would occur is if the modification you did caused a failure to a component, then the repair would not be covered.
Stinky_Hooker
03-09-2006, 11:07 PM
MJ, I did the same thing to my 4x4 Sonoma I just got rid of. I turned the front bars up and like Franco said it was a little firmer, but not much. I liked it, as it felt better than the spongy factory setting. I got about 1.5" out of the front when I cranked mine up. ;)
Skools Out
03-10-2006, 02:22 AM
oh ok that's good to know Fran i'll go crank them up on my truck then thanks ;D ;D ;D
macojoe
03-11-2006, 03:34 PM
How much are you cranking?? I mean do you scok up right up all the way.

I might do it tomorrow??

Thanks guys
mirage2521
03-13-2006, 06:47 PM
Why didn't you just go with a load displacing hitch for the TT. I bought one when I got my trailer and it is amazing the difference it makes, it is a 34 ft trailer, wieghs about 9k and with the LD hitch the truck does not sag a bit. When the trailer is not hooked up, the ride is as comfy as ever
macojoe
03-13-2006, 09:12 PM
I have the bars already and it made a huge difference, but was still a slight sag and I am so anal I had to fix it!!

I only tow the camper 2 or 4 times a year as I go from June to Spet then 1 weekend in Oct, so a small sag would have never been a problem.

I just hated the truck so low to the ground!! I have no idea what Chevy was thinking on the 1500 to make them so low???

I think it looks good right now and it rides like a dream!! The 3/4 springs made no difference in the unloaded ride. I do feel that the front is a bit spongy and I am going to crank away!! Just don't want to go all the way to the max. I may crank all the way then back it half way back??