After lift kit install questions

[laurentj23]

Hey all,

I'm finally completed my lift kit install on my 86 gmc k1500. I used a 6" tuff country ez rides all springs with diy4x zero rate spring. Blisteins shocks all round.

I also convert the 52 rear to 56 using the diy 4x udsr shackle.

I test drove it yesterday and noticed that it's really.bouncy. is that normal? I also shimmer the front axle 4 degrees to correct the pinion angle.

Besides alignment, what else do I need to do before taking it to the hwy?

 

[theblindchicken]

There's two different types of bouncing... Is it harsh, as in very little suspension flex? Or multiple soft bounces after a bump or dip in the road?

Harsh would indicate suspension binding or your shocks have too much dampening.

Soft bounces indicate that the shocks aren't dampening enough.

After the lift, my truck was bouncier in the front, rear was softer than before. Made for a much more comfortable ride. I got a set of the Rancho RS9000XL's for their adjust ability, and it helped quite a bit to tune the shocks to my preferences.

 

[laurentj23]

There's two different types of bouncing... Is it harsh, as in very little suspension flex? Or multiple soft bounces after a bump or dip in the road?

Harsh would indicate suspension binding or your shocks have too much dampening.

Soft bounces indicate that the shocks aren't dampening enough.

After the lift, my truck was bouncier in the front, rear was softer than before. Made for a much more comfortable ride. I got a set of the Rancho RS9000XL's for their adjust ability, and it helped quite a bit to tune the shocks to my preferences.

I would guess it is harsh since just driving down the road, it is bouncing up and down. I retorque the rear spring shackle on the front rear and rear rear to 40 ft lbs and it's still doing it. Anything else I need to check?

 

[87scotty]

Mine hopped quite a bit before alignment

 

[theblindchicken]

Would also help to grease the bushings on the springs and shackles. This will prevent any little bit of binding.

Unfortunately, the larger of a lift you go, the stiffer the suspension will need to be to achieve the added height.

After researching more on your lift kit,

the rear 56" springs have a rate of 425 lbs./in. (The 52's would have a rate of 420 lbs./in.)
the front springs have a rate of 465 lbs./in.

Comparatively, the front 4" ez ride springs on my truck have a rate of 325 lbs./in.


Disregarding the damping force from your shocks, this would result in that to compress 1 inch of spring travel, your front wheels would need to provide an upward force of 425 lbs per wheel (850 lbs total) and the rear would need 465 lbs per wheel (930 lbs total). Due to this higher spring rate, you will feel a lot more of the smaller inconsistencies in the road versus another truck with lower spring rates.

 

[laurentj23]

So would the ride be like stock if i use shackle flip instead on the rear?