Ok guys I'm installing the GSK kit and it says to leave out all shimms and stuff. Does this meen the baby one also? in total there was 4 springs in there and do I replace the middle two and omit the baby one. I have read the 4K kit just adds the baby spring? Is it the same spring or a stronger one? Thanks

 

Yes, you want to pull all the shims out. There are usually 3 shims under the stock spring seat. Sometimes the oil sticks them in ther pretty good.

The only spring you re-use is the large outer spring.

 

Thanks wannaD
I will go back in and check again but...I even pulled out the big spring and tried to find some but no luck?

 

NOPE!!!
No shims except one for the big spring?
Anyone else ever find no springs?

 

I just did mine this last week end, it had 2 big shims with the big spring and one small one.
jman

 

Have you seen this?:

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/mor.../GovSpring.htm

 

Ratsun:
Here is a pic of the entire spring and shim pack out of my 97. See the shims towards the right of the pic. They are supposed to stay in. The insructions say to remove all springs and shims, but to leave the big spring in place (confusing to me). I removed everything and had to adjust the idle (too low) by tightening up the retainers two clicks.


Here is a link to more pics of my install.
http://dustyrock0.tripod.com/test/
Hope this helps

Dusty

 

take all the crap out of there...the kit comes with a new bottom and top cap or seat or whatever u wanna call it....on a 3k gsk the only thing u keep if remember is the large outer spring and pack all the new stuff in it

 

Maybe for your kit. But the one I got from Piers said to leave the shims in as I stated. BTW I called Piers to verify. Since I had already removed everything he said to go ahead and leave out the shims.

Dusty

 

I've done a lot of GSK installs. After the third set I quit worrying about the presence or lack of shims unders springs or even the big washer shown in DustyRock's photo near the 12" mark on the tape measure.

I hold the large outer spring in place and remove three (3) inner springs, shims (if any), plus both pieces of the original seat. If you have the large washer under the outer spring it stays.

Install the new seat, plus two (2) springs for 3k or three (3) springs for 4k, then the keeper including shim for outer spring (if any).

Button it up and run the engine. Engine RPM should increase evenly with throttle position. If the engine rpm hangs and then jumps, the springs are too tight. If idle rpm is low, the springs are loose.

 

Thanks guys
I went in and pulled them all out again and only had the big shims at 10-12 in DustyRocks picture (great job on the pics I might add) so if I had left the big spring in theres no way they could have come out. End result there were no shims in either one? Wont get a chance to start her up untill wend so we will see then. I was just worried I had missed something not finding any shims Just for fun where are the shims normally between the inner seat and the spring?

 

Fueling is correct about leaving the big spring in place so you will never know about the shims under it. Even when I removed all the springs the shims were "stuck" inplace by the oil film. It wasnt until I slipped the telescoping magnet down the hole did the shims show themsleves. My truck still doesnt have them in and it runs great. No stutters, erractic rpms etc.
Of course I was a bit concerned about the shims thats why I called Peirs. Again he said leave them out (not worth going back in) to replace them.

Dusty

 

I have found many combinations of spring and shim.
Outer spring is the idle spring and sometime a shim in the bottom (near seat) and sometimes at the top (keeper). Shims on the inner springs (you remove) are also either at seat or keeper.

I deleted this part from earlier post. After removing the inner springs and seat, I remove the outer spring plus any shims or bottom washer to get a total parts count. I think the bottom washer has only been on 1/2 the trucks. I call it a washer as it goes under the seat as well as the idle spring. Shims only go under an individual spring.
If the outer shims are at the bottom, I move them to the top to avoid getting caught under the seat on assembly.

GSK is my favorite task at a BOMB party.

-John