Suspension Softening 4x4

[brianzero]

Hi All,

My suspension is so rigid that the truck rides more like a torture device than a truck. So, what would you do to lighten up the suspension? Remove leaf springs? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[captainzeros]

Are you sure it's actually the suspension being too hard? That sounds sort of odd to me. On my truck all the shocks had worn out and it rode like crap, I could put one boot on the rear bumper and bottom out the suspension and I'm not a big guy, meaning the leafs were surprisingly supple and bendy. Four new shocks and some front ball joints later and it's the Cadillac of little beat up 80s pickup trucks.

[brianzero]

Man, its is the suspension...I feel like Ive been beat up by Kimbo Slice everytime I drive it. My main problem is that I live on potholed cobblestone streets and have to do a little off roading everyday, just to so basic errands. I was reminded how bad it was yesterday after driving my friends older Jeep Cherokee.

If I was to put my boot on the back bumper, nothing happens movement wise on the leafs...not only that, a load in the bed doesnt really make a difference ride wise. So, do I yank out a leaf and see what happens?

[captainzeros]

Quite possibly the suspension is shot and bottomed out, ie, far too soft and sitting at the bottom of it's travel instead of too stiff and stuck at the top. Look under the truck and see if it's bottomed out and sitting on top of the stops. I'll take some pictures of mine to compare it to if you'd like, once it's daytime again.

Diagnosing what's wrong sounds like a really good idea before doing major operations like pulling out a leaf.

*edit* Oh, and I wasn't questioning whether it was the suspension or not, just whether it was a problem of too hard or a problem of maybe being too soft and/or bottomed out. In my (rather limited, I admit) experience I've never seen a suspension get stiffer, only looser and softer.

[brianzero]

I suspected that it might be shot, but it 'looks' like everything is correct. There is still concave curvature to the springs. One thing is that the springs are dry, but not rusty. It looks like other 4x4 guys are pulling out the overload spring which is the bottom most spring, and it is reported that this spring causes this harsh ride. They also report that removing the overload spring doesnt kill the height, but softens the rear end.

Thanks for the pics in advance!

[captainzeros]

The handy dandy labeled Datsun 720 rear suspension diagram! (labeled for future use by newbies, not calling you one). Good thing I'm little enough and flexible enough to weasel my way around under my truck.

[brianzero]

Ahhh...interesting. Could it be that the last owner added a leaf to my set up or took one away from yours? Mine has 4 total!

Ill take a pic after I get back from lunch...

[PEZi]

the simple fact that it is a 4x4 might be the reason for the extra leaf

[captainzeros]

It's entirely possible. I think PEZi is right, my truck is a rwd, and on inspection the leaf springs appear have a clip for one more leaf than they have. I don't believe the PO would've removed a leaf though, odds are it'd be a factory thing. My truck used to be a farm truck and soft ride takes a back seat to hauling capacity in that respect.