Hey guys, new to the forum and am looking for some specific ideas to improve the ride on my 89 regular cab 4x4. It is all stock and has just been repainted and has awesome interior for the year . I would like to improve the ride quality so I don't go out and buy a duramax so I don't have to go to the chiropractor so much. I do need new shocks and tires soon so I would like to start there but all suggestions are welcome.Thank ahead for your input

 

Good luck,

I'd say go airride.

 

Keldermann would be the best if you want to spend the money. I've ridden in Keldermann equipped 1st gen 4X4's and they ride better than a 3rd gen.

http://www.keldermanairride.com/stan...ruck/index.php

 

Speaking of shocks, I'm getting ready to replace mine. Any suggestions? Any that I should stay away from? The suspension is really soft right now, I probably need new coil springs too, but I'll do the shocks first. I don't mind something a little stiff. I tow a light (2500#) trailer fairly often.

 

Well, you can try this if your not afraid of work.... It worked on my 4x4, may see better results with a 2wd..

Here is some good reading for ya..

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=224332

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=230798

 

Newer seat, new shocks, and passenger rated tires.

 

The Kelderman kit would be the cats meow, but they are spendy. Since yours is a 4x4 you could get new custom made leaf springs. The last price I got was under a grand for front and rear. The key to a softer ride with leafs is more leafs springs that a thiner. You'll get a better ride and wont loose any load rating.

 

The plastic buttons between the leaves do help, but in the front, the biggest problem is limited travel. I moved the bump stops up to get more travel and played around with shocks too. Springs with more arch, but no more leaves will lift the truck but not stiffen the ride, so you get more travel there too. Narrow radial tires help a lot. I actually added leaves in the front and improved the ride because it was not bottoming all the time, but it was only slightly better.

In the rear, if you change to a new spring, be sure to keep the lifting blocks and don't get the aftermarket springs with a deep arch that do away with the blocks. The deep arch makes the truck squirelly on turns because the outside wheel moves rearward on corners so it gives the feel of spinning out all the time.

No matter what you do it will never match the coil spring setup on a third gen.

 

I took all the springs out last week and had them rearched. Cost $400 and worth a fortune.I can't believe the change in the ride. I put it off for a year and regret the wait. They also added a long leaf. I couldn't get to drive well and now it's like a new one.

 

Im Just Going To Take Two Of My Leafs Out. But Ive Got Ride Rite Bags If I Need To Tow Anything

 

does the kelderman system work on 2wds or will taking a leaf out help my ride since i have a 2wd or will it sit too low on the rear end.

 

You can put the rear Keldermann setup on a 2wd, it works just fine. The front on 2wd's is plenty soft, it's that kick in the pants from the back that beats you up.

 

if you take a leaf or two out it wnt affect your ride hight at all only when you load it down it will so if you tow it would be best to have air bags.

 

well i really don't tow much with this truck so i may just try to take a leaf or two out, does it really make that much of a difference in ride when you remove the leaf or 2

 

This is what I'm planning on doing for the rear of my 92:
http://www.offroadexchange.com/proje...er_rear_su.htm

Those particular GM springs are known by quite a few different length numbers(not quite sure why...) but, they are nice and long, and the longer the leaf spring, the better they will ride. They're also cheap.
I have a set from a 3/4 ton that I am probably going to use, I'm not overly concerned about their carrying capacity, I have some airbags to install for that.
I'm sure with some bracket re-designing you could keep it to the stock height, but, in my case, I scored myself some front lift springs for cheap, and hopefully the 3-4" from the stock GM springs will do the trick to level the truck out.