A Bouncy Ride!

spoolin4 · January 4, 2011

Well, I've put a Superlift levelling kit on my 2005 GMC Sierra Z71 1500. 1.5" blocks in the rear and 1.5"-2.5" torsion bar keys for the front.

Now I have the front maxed out at 2.5" to get the current stance that I want, but the front end is quite bouncy.

Now I'm not a noob, just a car guy who now owns a truck. I can also fabricate(weld etc...) so making something isn't too hard. I understand why it's bouncing seeing the shocks are unloading quicker due to the lift, but what can be done?

If shocks are needed for the front, what a good size and brand?

I was also thinking of making a spacer to lower the shock about an inch so it will be near factory.

Thanks!

Wingnut · January 4, 2011

The shocks are not unloading at all, you've eliminated most, if not all of their down travel.

If you can fab it up, the easiest route would be to just space it down an inch or so like you said. I put longer shocks on my '02 and it made a world of difference after cranking the torsion bars.

uh6tdrvr · January 4, 2011

Yep, if you havnt put new shocks on it, they are about at their limit especially if they have to extend more. Longer shocks or turn it down a touch. 2.5 sounds like a lot anyway, what's your angles look like?

spoolin4 · January 4, 2011

The shocks are not unloading at all, you've eliminated most, if not all of their down travel.

If you can fab it up, the easiest route would be to just space it down an inch or so like you said. I put longer shocks on my '02 and it made a world of difference after cranking the torsion bars.

What shocks did you go with to accomomate the lift?

uh6tdrvr · January 5, 2011

Thats just it, he didn't. 2.5 is a HUGE amount for a crank.Your problem is that you have eliminated the suspensions ability to travel down. so its like riding around with the suspension at or near the max extension. You can get some lift out of the torsion bars, SOME. sure it will ride like that but you better be ready to replace nearly all of the front end cause it will play hell on ball joints ect ect. And if you replaced the keys THEN cranked out 2.5 WITH the new keys, you are probably about 1.5 inches too high. Look at your CV boots, at your angles and at your upper control arm. The bounce that you are getting is from the tires......thats your suspension with the entire front end at max lift/flex with no where to go but SNAP!

Wingnut · January 5, 2011

The shocks are not unloading at all, you've eliminated most, if not all of their down travel.

If you can fab it up, the easiest route would be to just space it down an inch or so like you said. I put longer shocks on my '02 and it made a world of difference after cranking the torsion bars.

What shocks did you go with to accomomate the lift?

I walked into 4WP and bought some of the cheaper ProComps for like 20-30 bucks each. They were made for a 3" lift if memory serves. It's been WAAAY too long to remember the part numbers though, sorry.

Thats just it, he didn't. 2.5 is a HUGE amount for a crank.Your problem is that you have eliminated the suspensions ability to travel down. so its like riding around with the suspension at or near the max extension. You can get some lift out of the torsion bars, SOME. sure it will ride like that but you better be ready to replace nearly all of the front end cause it will play hell on ball joints ect ect. And if you replaced the keys THEN cranked out 2.5 WITH the new keys, you are probably about 1.5 inches too high. Look at your CV boots, at your angles and at your upper control arm. The bounce that you are getting is from the tires......thats your suspension with the entire front end at max lift/flex with no where to go but SNAP!

I think he meant 2.5" total. And while it's harder on parts, it's not THAT big of a deal in my opinion. I've done this to many trucks (not just my own) and I've never known anybody that's had an issue from it. Hell, if it were THAT big of a problem, this forum would be riddled with threads about it.

spoolin4 · January 5, 2011

Its Superlift torsion bar keysat the maxxed out setting. When the OEM keys were in there I had them maxxed out and the ride was nice (obviously).

My truck is not much higher than a OEM 2500 HD series GM. Probably the same height actually when parked next to one.

If I were to loosen the torsion bar key bolt to lower it more, the truck would look stupid and an "un-level" stance, hence the reason why I bought a namebrand levelling kit.

Wingnut · January 5, 2011

You know that you could have just bought the torsion bar keys off of a 1/2 ton Ford truck and they would do the same thing as the Superlift keys...But for cheap, right?

spoolin4 · January 6, 2011

...I know that now, lol...

I'll get my 6" lift eventually, damn they're expensive...

hrspwr · January 6, 2011

You know that you could have just bought the torsion bar keys off of a 1/2 ton Ford truck and they would do the same thing as the Superlift keys...But for cheap, right?