This 64 rides like a darn truck.How do I fix?

[jsinor1956]

I have a 64 step side, ugly but on the way up. got it running good but it rides like a truck. it sits up nice not to low . I want it to be stock high but I want it to ride better. What springs and shocks do you guy's think I should use? I just want to have a nice little driver. I need some help here guys!!!! Thanks'
Jim

[ruffrida2005]

Well with it being a 45 year old truck, You need to change out all the bushings and tie rods, ball joints. Get it back to being tight. If you want it to be stock hight measure your old shocks since I dont know how long they are, and order a good set. That should really help you out. For the springs I dont think theres much you can do except replace with a stock spring.

[markeb01]

The front end usually isn't the problem, it's generally the back of the truck that makes the ride miserable because as a truck, the springs need to be strong enough to hold up a maxium capacity load. If the truck is normally driven around empty, by design it's going to ride rough. I had the same problem with mine for almost 20 years. I basically use my truck like a car, but the rear springs were so hard it barely had any up and down movement. I purchased stock replacement springs, and they were made out of even thicker wire than the originals and didn't bounce at all. I reinstalled the originals and lived with the problem for another ten years. I have degenerative discs in my back so the longer this went on the more of a problem it became.

About a year ago I pulled the Gaylord bed cover and 300 lbs of sandbags I had been carrying to soften it up a bit, and it rode hard as a rock. So, I went to a custom spring manufacturer - Pohl Spring Works in Spokane Washington, and had them fabricate custom coils for the rear. They figured everything scientifically, measured all the dimensions of an original, tested the existing spring rate, then determined the desired spring rate and custom wound new ones that have about a 400 lb payload capacity.

Now the truck sits at the same ride height, but rides comfortably like a car. It was expensive at almost $400 for the two custom springs, but it made it possible for me to be able to keep driving my truck.

Other methods to cure the rough ride are perhaps air bags, at least in the rear, or putting in a heavy steel floor in the bed to add some ballast weight over the rear suspension.

[tapeworm]

Maybe try Early Classic; They seem to be the experts with chassis parts for these trucks.

[TwiggyTheDrummer]

Buy a car? Just Kiddin. There really is a great amount of changes that you can do to these trucks including suspension. Just don't plan on finding too many hoods.

[SCOTI]

The front can benefit from later a-arms (73-87's have rubber bushings). The rear can still maintain full load capacity & ride better w/some air bags. Add some KYB GR-2's & a front sway bar & you should be good to go.

[ruffrida2005]

What Scoti said is point on. but change out all your bushings as well. You can set up the air bags to be set to ride height. Just a little fabing!

[jsinor1956]

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I will check out champion spring in my area.
Jim

[jsinor1956]

Originally Posted by TwiggyTheDrummer

Buy a car? Just Kiddin. There really is a great amount of changes that you can do to these trucks including suspension. Just don't plan on finding too many hoods.

Thanks, I got a nice extra hood if you are ever in need.
Jim

[jsinor1956]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The front can benefit from later a-arms (73-87's have rubber bushings). The rear can still maintain full load capacity & ride better w/some air bags. Add some KYB GR-2's & a front sway bar & you should be good to go.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense.

[ruffrida2005]

If twiggy dont want your hood I might. What's wrong with it. Mine has a lot of rust.

[Dustin07]

Originally Posted by markeb01

About a year ago I pulled the Gaylord bed cover and 300 lbs of sandbags I had been carrying to soften it up a bit, and it rode hard as a rock. So, I went to a custom spring manufacturer - Pohl Spring Works in Spokane Washington, and had them fabricate custom coils for the rear. They figured everything scientifically, measured all the dimensions of an original, tested the existing spring rate, then determined the desired spring rate and custom wound new ones that have about a 400 lb payload capacity.

Now the truck sits at the same ride height, but rides comfortably like a car. It was expensive at almost $400 for the two custom springs, but it made it possible for me to be able to keep driving my truck.

Other methods to cure the rough ride are perhaps air bags, at least in the rear, or putting in a heavy steel floor in the bed to add some ballast weight over the rear suspension.

all things considered if you like the ride, $400 isn't that much. it may seem like a bit to some folks, but it's a hell of a lot less than what you CAN spend on rear suspension.