Stiff Suspension - upgrade just shocks or springs too?

[Heus33]

Currently running old rancho suspension (3.5"). It rides extremely stiff.

I'm going to purchase a set of Bilstein 5100 shocks for all four corners. Should I also upgrade the front coils to a progressive spring or will the shocks alone solve my ride issues?

 

[cody72sport]

i had those exact springs. ditch them! i bought b.c. 3.5" coils, the ride height is the same so you can still use your leafs if you so choose. you wont regret putting bc coils

 

[Heus33]

i had those exact springs. ditch them! i bought b.c. 3.5" coils, the ride height is the same so you can still use your leafs if you so choose. you wont regret putting bc coils

I was leaning toward WH coils. Anyone have a preference for progressive springs?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Shocks don't really have anything to do with stiffness. They just cause the dampening. Spring rate (lbs per inch of compression) is the stiffness. Rancho springs have a high spring rate.

 

[73stallion]

since it's a rancho lift, i'm assuming it's an add-a-leaf? that's gonna make it ride like a buck board. ditch it all and start from scratch. bilsteins will help too.

 

[br0nc0xrapt0r]

I have the wild horses progressive rate coils I had the super lift or skyjacker coils they sucked big time. The wild horses springs with my bilstien shocks are awesome.

 

[Louie]

The wild horses springs with my bilstien shocks are awesome.

Mine too.

 

[68rockcrawler]

The bilsteins will help even with your old coils. I put a set of cheap shocks on the back of my truck and they made it ride a lot stiffer and worse than my old worn out bilsteins.

I have the WH coils on my Bronco with cheap shocks and they ride pretty decent. I''m sure the bilsteins would help them ride even better.

 

[trailpsycho]

Roll the Deavers instead.

 

[phred]

I've got deaver coils and leafs on my big bronco. Rides like a cadillac. Smooth!

 

[Heus33]

Where'd you guys get your deaver coils? I looked on the deaver web page and they list BC and JBG as vendors but I dont see any deaver coils listed for sale on those vendor sites.

Nevermind - just found it in a search: The JBG Super Flex coils are Deavers.

 

[67Stallion]

I replaced my 3 in. rancho lift with 3 1/2 jbg deaver coils and leaves, big difference, i thought i would have body lean on corners, but it dont, handles great! Running new rancho 5000 shocks, but will replace them in time with 7100 bilsteins!

 

[Heus33]

I replaced my 3 in. rancho lift with 3 1/2 jbg deaver coils and leaves, big difference, i thought i would have body lean on corners, but it dont, handles great! Running new rancho 5000 shocks, but will replace them in time with 7100 bilsteins!

Thanks for posting that - body lean was a concern of mine as well. I've read that the linear coils (Deavers) have less roll and wont sag like a progressive coil might.

I think I'm sold on the deavers and some 5100 Bilsteins.

 

[Heus33]

Huh - just measured my lift - thought I had a 3.5" - just measured and came out to 9.5" Thats a 2.5" lift, right? Top of axle to bottom of frame...

 

[67Stallion]

Yep, mine measuring 11 1/4, i think i got 4 1/2 lift coils instead of the 3 1/2. Sitting about inch lower in back, not to bad.

 

[scsm76]

Yep, mine measuring 11 1/4, i think i got 4 1/2 lift coils instead of the 3 1/2. Sitting about inch lower in back, not to bad.

The Deaver coils tend to sit a 1/2" to 3/4" higher than advertised in my experience, although they ride and flex great.

 

[Heus33]

The Deaver coils tend to sit a 1/2" to 3/4" higher than advertised in my experience, although they ride and flex great.

So the 2.5" coils should ride like a 3" coil? Thats good to know. I've placed my order with JBG.

Side note - shipping was only $15 from MI to NY. Thats great for springs!!!