Shake vibe solution advice

ic3man5 · January 26, 2016

Just installed the leaf spring clamps tonight, figured for $16 and 5 minutes of install time might as well try it. The truck rides great now and I really want to know why this happened considering it should have made the ride worse and stiffer. I did notice the leaf springs are shorter on this truck and angle up pretty high behind the axle compared to my RAM.

cato · January 26, 2016

Think I may need to try this also.

southern_sierra · January 28, 2016

Just installed the leaf spring clamps tonight, figured for $16 and 5 minutes of install time might as well try it. The truck rides great now and I really want to know why this happened considering it should have made the ride worse and stiffer. I did notice the leaf springs are shorter on this truck and angle up pretty high behind the axle compared to my RAM.

The clamps made my ride much better too. The only thing I can think of on my truck is I carry about 400lbs all the time and I think it was bumping the overloads and the clamps changed it some how. I have gone over all the places where my truck was ruff before and I would always say XXXX and now I am enjoying those same places and smiling. I want to try moving the clamps 2 inches more forward to see what happens but I'am happy with now. I just keep saying amazing.

ic3man5 · January 29, 2016

The clamps made my ride much better too. The only thing I can think of on my truck is I carry about 400lbs all the time and I think it was bumping the overloads and the clamps changed it some how. I have gone over all the places where my truck was ruff before and I would always say XXXX and now I am enjoying those same places and smiling. I want to try moving the clamps 2 inches more forward to see what happens but I'am happy with now. I just keep saying amazing.

Agree, let me know if you decide to move them forward more or back farther. I'm curious if it will do the same thing if moved closer to the axle also.

I'm also tempted to see if the last generation has the same size coil spring up front as I'm tempted to try and find something with a softer ride up front. Right now I feel like I can take my truck on a race track with no body roll... to extreme for a truck IMO.

southern_sierra · January 29, 2016

Yeah I think the front springs are alittle to stiff. I changed out the rancho shocks 10k miles ago to the black stock shocks which helped some. I have been thinking about the bilstein 6112's when they come out because they will have a softer springs. I have also looked at Icon front shock and spring, I like it because you can adjust the height like you want or fine tune as to where you want them without taking them out to do so. The 6112's will be around $700 and the icons are about $1050 a pair. The Icons come as a complete package and the 6112 you have to use your on top hat and other parts to install. So I 'am not sure what I will do hate to have to spend that much and not help. But since I added the clamps I'am liking the ride better everday.

hotrodz37 · February 9, 2016

I installed mine about 5" in front of the blocks, but didn't really experience any ride improvement.

What are your u-bolts torqued to for those that have had an improvement? I have mine at 110 ft/lbs which might tighten up the ride even more. I also have bilstein 5100 shocks so might not be comparing apples to apples, I would really like this $15 solution to work though!

hotrodz37 · February 9, 2016

Agree, let me know if you decide to move them forward more or back farther. I'm curious if it will do the same thing if moved closer to the axle also.

I'm also tempted to see if the last generation has the same size coil spring up front as I'm tempted to try and find something with a softer ride up front. Right now I feel like I can take my truck on a race track with no body roll... to extreme for a truck IMO.

Ic3man,

Did you ever experiment with moving the clamps back and forward? If so what did you settle on for the best distance?

Another member clamped his about 8" behind the ubolts and had great results.

I did mine about 5" in front of the blocks and didn't see much improvement but am willing to try behind or another distance if you came up with an ideal mounting point.

Thanks in advance!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ic3man5 · February 10, 2016

I haven't done anything with them since I installed them (5.5" in front of the axle). Was hoping southern_sierra was going to try this first as its cold as hell out right now.

edit: First thing I'd try is moving it as close as possible to the axle and see what that does, Ideally it should soften it up some but I have no clue because this shouldn't make our rides this much better to begin with...

southern_sierra · February 10, 2016

I haven't done anything with them since I installed them (5.5" in front of the axle). Was hoping southern_sierra was going to try this first as its cold as hell out right now.

edit: First thing I'd try is moving it as close as possible to the axle and see what that does, Ideally it should soften it up some but I have no clue because this shouldn't make our rides this much better to begin with...

I tried the clamps 8 inches behind the blocks, I didn't go 1/4 miles and knew it was rougher than before any clamps. I put them back 4 inches in front of the blocks and the ride is much smoother than before any clamps. I carry about 400lbs all the time in the rear so may effect my truck different. I had already tightened my u-bolts down tight as hell before I had added any clamps and the vibration I had in the rear has not been back. I added the clamps hoping it would help the ride and it did made the rear feel 50% smoother.

hotrodz37 · February 10, 2016

I haven't done anything with them since I installed them (5.5" in front of the axle). Was hoping southern_sierra was going to try this first as its cold as hell out right now.

edit: First thing I'd try is moving it as close as possible to the axle and see what that does, Ideally it should soften it up some but I have no clue because this shouldn't make our rides this much better to begin with...

I installed mine 5.5" in front of the rear block and didn't have much luck. Another member installed his 8" behind the rear u-bolt and had his vibration disappear. I am thinking it could work in either position depending what mods are done, shocks, empty bed etc.

I actually started a thread to try and compile all of the data to get the best solution for most of us.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/183075-spring-clamps-reduce-rear-vibration/?hl=spring+clamps