Swapping 3/4 Ton springs into a 89 r1500 burb.

[Vbb199]

After loading up my 89 burb I've made posts about a few times with a trailer, and a light load, it squats it, or slightly under level loads it.

I'm wanting to upgrade the rear end to some 3/4 Ton rear springs.

With the upcoming completion of my s10 sas project, I'm looking to tow it to the nearby trails and go riding, just don't want her squatted.

Don't want to turn this into a science project, with bigger axles, different wheels, etc etc.
Truck has high sentimental value to me, and it's currently what I drive. A spring swap is ALL I want to do, it'll take me a Saturday afternoon I'm sure.

What I'm asking is, will any "generic" 73-91 c20/r2500/k20/v2500 springs fit in my 89 burb? Or do I need to be looking for something specific?
Just need a little more arch in the rear.
Don't want camper special springs, or k30 rears, still want to maintain a fairly soft "suburban" ride, but want to be able to load the ass with some weight and not have it squatting.



Thanks guys.

 

[77 K20]

I thought something changed for the '89-91 springs. But can't say for sure.

Have you thought about a helper spring? On my S-10 ZR2 the rear suspension was so soft I couldn't haul much in the bed or tow a trailer decently. I installed a helper spring and gave it some extra load capacity. Ride stiffened up a bit- but that was ok. Pretty cheap to do also.

 

[75gmck25]

Go to the rockauto.com site and lookup the spring options for your Suburban. It looks like base springs on both the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton are 1800 lb rating, and 2300 lb were an option.

The site also lists an overload spring option, which might be better if its a modern design. Most modern overloads are arched so they are spaced away from the spring pack under light load so they don't affect the ride, but push against the spring pack under load and and stiffen the suspension.

Bruce

 

[Vbb199]

Go to the rockauto.com site and lookup the spring options for your Suburban. It looks like base springs on both the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton are 1800 lb rating, and 2300 lb were an option.

The site also lists an overload spring option, which might be better if its a modern design. Most modern overloads are arched so they are spaced away from the spring pack under light load so they don't affect the ride, but push against the spring pack under load and and stiffen the suspension.

Bruce

I thought something changed for the '89-91 springs. But can't say for sure.

Have you thought about a helper spring? On my S-10 ZR2 the rear suspension was so soft I couldn't haul much in the bed or tow a trailer decently. I installed a helper spring and gave it some extra load capacity. Ride stiffened up a bit- but that was ok. Pretty cheap to do also.

I've considered just helper springs. Or air bags, air shocks, etc.

 

[skysurfer]

A spring swap is ALL I want to do, it'll take me a Saturday afternoon I'm sure. Don't want camper special springs, or k30 rears, still want to maintain a fairly soft "suburban" ride, but want to be able to load the ass with some weight and not have it squatting.

I get it, you want to keep it simple, but I'd like to suggest another option that will handle additional weight and maintain the ride quality when you're running unloaded.

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[Vbb199]

I get it, you want to keep it simple, but I'd like to suggest another option that will handle additional weight and maintain the ride quality when you're running unloaded.

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My life is so overcomplicated lately with axle swaps, transmission rebuilds, motor swaps, etc etc etc.
This one I want to keep simple, and sometimes people amongst the forum like poking the inner me and push the idea of upgrading drivetrain LOL.


How's those working out for you? Is that pump fairly quiet?

 

[bucket]

I like John's suggestion for the helper air bags. But if you decide to just do springs, the longer 56's can ride similar to the half ton springs, despite having more capacity. Your holes should already be in the frame to move the hanger back.

 

[Vbb199]

I like John's suggestion for the helper air bags. But if you decide to just do springs, the longer 56's can ride similar to the half ton springs, despite having more capacity. Your holes should already be in the frame to move the hanger back.

What can the 56's be found in?

 

[77 K20]

56" were hit and miss on 4x4 3/4 tons. It seems like all the 2wd 3/4 tons have them.

I bought mine from RockAuto for a '77 C20. They had good descriptions of load capacity, number of leafs, and spring pack thickness.

 

[TubeTruck]

Measure your rear springs. '88 they went to the 64" springs but I'm not sure about Suburbans.

 

[Vbb199]

Don't know if I said this or not, but there's a 80's model c20 nearby in the local yard, it's got a 14 sf rear, toolbox bed truck.

Think those would be fine?
Either those or the helper springs.
I would like to do the air bags, but I feel that's something I can't complete within a few hours. Not to mention, for this truck, the added accessories I'm not a fan of. I want to try to keep it as it was when my dad gave it to me.

 

[Vbb199]

From what I can see, it almost looks like the springs sag just a tad anyway.

Thought about having them rearched, but finding someone to do that may prove difficult.

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[Vbb199]

Go to the rockauto.com site and lookup the spring options for your Suburban. It looks like base springs on both the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton are 1800 lb rating, and 2300 lb were an option.

The site also lists an overload spring option, which might be better if its a modern design. Most modern overloads are arched so they are spaced away from the spring pack under light load so they don't affect the ride, but push against the spring pack under load and and stiffen the suspension.

Bruce

I looked at rock auto last night. They have some overload helper leafs that raise the back up 1-1.5 inches. Was a even 70 with shipping.

 

[Vbb199]

Only pic I have of the truck on flat ground with the trailer. You can see what I mean.

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[skysurfer]

How's those working out for you? Is that pump fairly quiet?

The bags were installed around '05 and have worked fine. The ARB pump can be heard but it's the quietest of the three I've had. The first two pumps were different no-name brands I got off ebay, so their life expectancy was about what I paid for.

I hesitated to even suggest this option because of what you posted, but figured it was worth considering if you want to maintain the exact same ride quality you already have.