Shorty Shocks...Advice....

[legotech7]

I bagged my 70 C10 all around and at the advice of a local builder, suggested I replace the shocks with the lowered types for a bagged truck. witch I did. I took my truck for a quick ride to see how it felt. The truck was lowered and the bags filled to about 65 psi in the front and the rear at about 45 psi. I noticed that the rear felt a bit bumpy. Do I need to play with the bags a bit to see where it feels like for a smoother ride? The front feels fine and the truck looks good at that height. Also I noticed that I am some what limited to get the rear higher, because the shocks will only stretch so far. I'm thinking I probably could have used the original shocks and have a bit more travel, up and down with out any ill effects. Looking for a bit more advice on this and what I might be able to do to get a better ride...

Thanks one and all.......

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by legotech7

I bagged my 70 C10 all around and at the advice of a local builder, suggested I replace the shocks with the lowered types for a bagged truck. witch I did. I took my truck for a quick ride to see how it felt. The truck was lowered and the bags filled to about 65 psi in the front and the rear at about 45 psi. I noticed that the rear felt a bit bumpy. Do I need to play with the bags a bit to see where it feels like for a smoother ride? The front feels fine and the truck looks good at that height. Also I noticed that I am some what limited to get the rear higher, because the shocks will only stretch so far. I'm thinking I probably could have used the original shocks and have a bit more travel, up and down with out any ill effects. Looking for a bit more advice on this and what I might be able to do to get a better ride...

Thanks one and all.......

Gotta provide more details to get better answers....

Are the shock mounts original mounts, modified originals, or aftermarket mounts?
You should always include details on the mods you've done & parts used for lowering (drop spindles change travel & would use a diff vs a vehicle not using them) etc....
Is your question directed toward the front shocks? Rear? Both?

[legotech7]

Sorry Let see if I can make this a bit clearer. My question is more directed to the rear of the truck, but let me tell you whats been done. Front has 2600 air lift bags with 2.5 dropped spindles with disk brakes conversion from drum brakes. The rear has the same bags with a after market shock relocation kit and an adjustable pan hard bar the shocks are shortened front and back, I got from CPP.I did notice that the rear shocks had limited travel when I installed them therefore limiting the travel of the air bags. the ride seems to be a bit bumpy, especially more noticeable in the rear. If I air the bags a bit in the rear, would that make the ride a bit smoother? I don't know if the issue might be with the bags or the shocks. The shock were specifically for lowered trucks, so hence the query.........

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by legotech7

Sorry Let see if I can make this a bit clearer. My question is more directed to the rear of the truck, but let me tell you whats been done. Front has 2600 air lift bags with 2.5 dropped spindles with disk brakes conversion from drum brakes. The rear has the same bags with a after market shock relocation kit and an adjustable pan hard bar the shocks are shortened front and back, I got from CPP.I did notice that the rear shocks had limited travel when I installed them therefore limiting the travel of the air bags. the ride seems to be a bit bumpy, especially more noticeable in the rear. If I air the bags a bit in the rear, would that make the ride a bit smoother? I don't know if the issue might be with the bags or the shocks. The shock were specifically for lowered trucks, so hence the query.........

Ok.... That's good info. The 2600's out back are going to need >35psi to give good ride quality & limit bounce.

When I first installed that size bag on the rear of my 68, I had to keep air psi too low for the ride height I wanted. The solution was lowering blocks. They gave 2" of drop w/no impact on shock travel. That allowed me to run greater psi for the bags to yield a similar ride height which improved ride quality.

Try adding more psi & see how it feels to you. If you think there's improvement, get some blocks & bump the psi up a little.

[legotech7]

Thank you SCOTI,I forgot to mention I have 2'' blocks on there now, but I had the bags up to 45 psi. I will try the 35psi and see how it rides. The ride is not bad at 45 psi but like I said a bit too bumpy...... I thought the shocks would absorb some of that bounce. Its almost as though I didn't need the shocks...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by legotech7

Thank you SCOTI,I forgot to mention I have 2'' blocks on there now, but I had the bags up to 45 psi. I will try the 35psi and see how it rides. The ride is not bad at 45 psi but like I said a bit too bumpy...... I thought the shocks would absorb some of that bounce. Its almost as though I didn't need the shocks...

You definitely need shocks. They control the momentum of the springs compression/extension travel regardless of whether its a leaf, steel coil, or air bag.

Play w/the pressures & see if you notice a difference in ride quality (keep a log of what you experience).

Me personally.... I stick w/OE replacement shocks vs 'drop shocks'. I just measure the dimensions I have to work with & tweak my shock mounts accordingly. Sometimes this requires a shock from a different app. If that's required, I search for something as close in weight bias as possible to the vehicle I'm working with.

[legotech7]

Advice taken.... I think I will research more on the shocks. I don't think I'm too happy with the ones on the rear....
Thanks again....

[jhama78]

How much droop do the rear shocks have from ride height? if they are extending all of the way then they may be causing the ride to be choppy since they stop dampening at full extension and essentially the rear is trying to come off the ground.

[65Gregg]

Scoti's advice as always is spot on. My truck has a static drop and had CPP relocators and drop shocks, the ride was similar to what you describe. I know this is an apples to oranges comparison, static vs. bagged but I found the solution with the No Limit shock relocation setup. They have multiple shock options depending on your amount of drop plus it moves the shocks outside the frame rails. Best of luck.

[legotech7]

I have the CPP relocation set up and their drop shocks. I have no issues with the front, but I may have to change the rear. I'd like to take care of all these issues before I put the bed back on. Just makes things easier... doe's No Limit have a web site? I'd like to talk to some one there....

Thanks Guy's.......

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

Scoti's advice as always is spot on. My truck has a static drop and had CPP relocators and drop shocks, the ride was similar to what you describe. I know this is an apples to oranges comparison, static vs. bagged but I found the solution with the No Limit shock relocation setup. They have multiple shock options depending on your amount of drop plus it moves the shocks outside the frame rails. Best of luck.

Agreed..... If I were doing aftermarket brackets, I'd opt for No Limits set-up as well.

Legotech7, what brand are the shocks?

[65Gregg]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444925

Here ya go^^^^^

[legotech7]

The shocks I got from CPP, I think they are gas filled if I remember correctly, its were I got the relocation brackets as well....

[legotech7]

Thanks for the link,65Gregg........

[PGSigns]

Are you testing pressures in the bags and the ride with out the bed on? "I'd like to take care of all these issues before I put the bed back on. Just makes things easier..." if so the pressures will change and the shocks will work much better with the weight of the bed there. With out the bed not enough weight to get the shocks to work like they should.
Jimmy

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Are you testing pressures in the bags and the ride with out the bed on? "I'd like to take care of all these issues before I put the bed back on. Just makes things easier..." if so the pressures will change and the shocks will work much better with the weight of the bed there. With out the bed not enough weight to get the shocks to work like they should.
Jimmy

Excellent point..... my suggestions are based on an assembled truck.

[legotech7]

Thank you gentleman, I will take heath, and report when all is said and done........

[Andy4639]

The no limit shock relocation kit is awsume man! I love the way the truck rides now. I've even been thinking about buying a nice set of coil overs to replace the shocks with and take my coils out of it all together.
Here is a thread on my install.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605919

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

The no limit shock relocation kit is awsume man! I love the way the truck rides now. I've even been thinking about buying a nice set of coil overs to replace the shocks with and take my coils out of it all together.
Here is a thread on my install.

I'd check w/Rob & make sure those mounts are built to handle the load bearing of a spring & shock vs just the shock.