Ride quality after spring conversion?

[Rottie]

Hey guys I did a little searching and didn't find what I was looking for. I'm thinking about swapping my monoleaf in my 98 Sport to a 4 door spring pack. I'm wanting to cure the typical rear end sag and be able to put just a little more weight back there, but I don't want it to ride like a brick either. How is the ride quality on your trucks (to the guys that have done the swap I'm talking about)? After the swap, do I use shocks for a 4 door or can I stick to the same shocks I already have? I won't do much, if any, offroading so I don't want to buy a set of Ranchos or anything like that. OR, would I be better off with AAL's instead? Keep in mind I don't want the ride too harsh- I drive this thing about 100 miles a day. Thanks for any input.

 

[Ritsui]

You can't do AAL "instead" as AAL requires multiple leaves. If you just get a set of 4-door springs off a low mileage truck, then you should be in good shape. That will cure the sag and ride quality will be both better and more solid than with the monoleaf. If you're sagging more like an inch or more, then you might want the AAL as well (stiffer ride), or just go with brand new (four door) springs if that's in your budget.

 

[Rottie]

Thanks Ritsui. I understand now.

 

[hunterdan]

I've got the 4 door leafs, AAL and shackles in the back along with the rear sway bar removed. The ride is like night and day. The 4 door leafs made a difference, the AAL actually improved it a bit more, as the springs were no longer resting on the overload spring and when I removed the rear sway bar it allowed the rear axle to go over bumps a little more smoothly, especially when 1 side goes over a speed bump or other obstacle and the other side doesn't touch it. The best improvement in ride quality was actually with the removal of the sway bar. I also have Pro Comp ES 9000 shocks in the rear which are on the stiff side. The shackles didn't really make a difference in the ride at all. If I was going for ride quality I would find a slightly softer shock, like the ES 3000, or something along those lines.

Dan

 

[Rottie]

Thanks hunterdan. That's what I wanted to know!

 

[gto78]

Is removing the rear sway a common thing now? Or did you just do that for offroading. I always thought removing the sway was a major safety risk, I know from experience that disconnecting the front sway made my vehicle extremely hard to control after very slight changes in road conditions.

 

[hunterdan]

My truck hasn't really seen much more than a dirt road or 2, but I tried removing to see how it handled and if it rode better, and it did. So I removed it completely.

Dan

 

[Tbars4]

huh??? what??? i have never been censored myself nor have i seen anyone say they were censored on here...i'm thinking it's more than just your unhappy talk about a vendor here...:scratch:

 

[cstanton]

....

enough of the nonsense lol i want to hear more testimony about removing the sway bar.....would you recommend it on a daily driver.....whats to expect vs stock.......any mods that need to be done before doing the removal?

 

[IZwack]

The anti-sway bar of course will increase the tendency of the vehicle to sway/roll a little more but you probably wont notice it as long as you take the turns at logical speeds. The addition of the AAL also stiffens the suspension so that somewhat makes up for the missing anti-sway bar.

 

[Dopler174]

What if I take off the sway bar and add a AAL? Will flex be hurt? I know AAL makes the springs super stiff.