Well, I changed out the keys that were on my truck to lift the front end about 2". I added 2" blocks on the back, and air shocks. Now it seems like the truck rides kind of top heavy. This is especially noticeable when driving on the highway with higher winds, or next to semis. The truck sways side to side a lot more than it used to. It just doesn't ride as well on the street like it used to. Any ideas on how to improve the ride? I am not sure if changing out the rear blocks for leafs will actually help my problem.

 

I know the exact feeling your referring to. The blocks aren't really causing the problem. When you crank the torsion bars tighter, it makes it a stiffer spring, and therefore it won't soak up as much of the shock when you hit a bump, or wind causes you to sway. The only way to fix it is put a real suspension lift on the truck (drop the lower control arms and keep the factory spring rating).

 

Well, I am really thinking about going back to my stock keys then. The handling is just too bad for me on the highway, especially driving in snow storms and that. How do I find out when I am back to "stock" tension with my original keys?

 

Theres really no way to measure the spring rating, just bring it back down to the stock height.

 

Thanks.

The real reason I raised it in the first place was because the truck had 31 inch tires on it and they were rubbing a little bit at stock height. I think I will just deal with the rubbing instead of dealing with the poor handling.

 

Does your truck have a body lift? That can also help with tire clearance. It will raise the truck's center of gravity (which will also make it feel top heavy), but it shouldn't feel as bad as cranking the bars.

 

You may want to conceder an aliment first. Now the camber is off. This can affect how the truck handles. Also getting polyurethane anti-sway bar bushings can help. For me my truck with lift keys handles better then my dads stock z71's suspension does. Less bouncy and and smoother. So for me its just right. Just remember these trucks are not Caddys. Also you can try a lower adjustment on the key to give you a softer ride. Keep tuning on it. Then if no more tuning is available go with the stocks.

 

Lol, wow, I just assumed he would have gotten an alignment. +1 on that...If you haven't gotten an alignment definately do that first! I agree with crazy4x4rt though, I like the way my truck handles sitting up high, and I drive 75 mph on the highway to and from school every day.

 

Yeah, I got an alignment as soon as I installed the new keys. I will try lowering them and go get it realigned. Unlimited alignments for 5 years.

If both of you like the way your truck handles riding higher then I need to play around with it. I am sure I can tweak it then and get something I like. Maybe I went too high on the front for the ride I want. I went about 1 3/4" higher or so with new keys.

As far as lifting, I have no body lift. Just the keys in front and blocks in back. Is there more I can do to the front on the 4WD instead of just keys? I was always under the impression that it was 2WD that you could body lift the front on.

 

It may just be me, but you sound confused about what a body lift is. When you do a body lift, you unbolt the entire body from the frame, raise it up and put spacers between it and the frame. Its not something you do to the front, it would be the whole body (cab and bed).

As for anything else you can do... the only other 2 options are the trailmaster suspension lift (very expensive, or design something similar to it like I'm working on) or do a solid axle swap.