1/2 ton ride quality issues...

[JCampbell]

I’ve been having some ride quality issues with Shorty™ since I dropped the front end a few more inches. When I bought it, the front end was lowered a little, and I assumed it was done with springs, so I picked up a set of 3” spindles and went at it. When I realized it already had drop spindles on it, I pulled the springs and cut a full coil off each one (because I didn’t have drop springs readily available. I knew this was somewhat “questionable” going into it, but the front end was already blown apart, it was Sunday afternoon, I needed it back together for Monday’s commute, and I’ll be d------ if I did all that work for nothing.

Anyway, the front end has felt a little “spongy” for lack of a better term. Really have to slow for dips in the road and whatnot to keep the LCA’s from embedding themselves into the asphalt. I have a sway bar off a ¾ ton Sub that I plan to throw on the front which I hope helps some of the side-to-side (the tires rub the inner fenders with aggressive cornering), but I can’t see it helping the overall ride. Do cut coils produce a spongy ride, or is it something inherent to the ½ ton springs? Will a decent set of drop coils help firm it up?

Any thoughts/suggestions?

FYI: I did replace the shocks with mid-grade replacement units when I rebuilt the front end.

[clinebarger]

Is it bottomed out on the "Bump Stops"?

[JCampbell]

No, bump stops are gone.

It's not a "lack of travel" issue. More like "too much travel".

[bigwheel15]

Sounds like shocks to me, cut coils and drop springs would do the opposite of what you're experiencing, they'd make the ride firmer.
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[sethv]

+1 on the shocks. My dad's ranger has bad shocks and it seems really "spongy" as well.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

A lot of people are switching to cut 3/4 ton springs for this reason good shocks help too.
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[JCampbell]

Yeah...I kinda went cheap on the shocks. Normally I run Rancho 5000s on everything (even dropped trucks) but I was running short on cash and needed to stick something on there.

I've heard about the 3/4 ton springs. Any idea if they are dimensionally similar? Will a coil cut off a 3/4 spring sit the same as a 1/2 ton spring with a coil cut?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I always cut a half coil at a time and let it settle for a week till I cut another. I tune the highly this way till its at my desired hight.
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