Making an OBS ride better
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
From: Kamloops, BC. Canada
Switched to SD springs all round on my sig truck as well as shackle reversal kit. Mine also has a D60 front end. Rides and handles really well, also put on the F350 anti-sway bars front and rear and spring over air bags on the rear.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Puna, Big Island, Hawaii
How do those spring over airbags work for you? They mainly for heavier loads on the bed?
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Well I did it! Could not stand my stiff ride and potholes were a nightmare... Pulled the springs and replaced them..The original ones looked just like the new ones??? But the bushings were pretty bad.. used new OEM soft rubber bushing rather than those poly bushing because I was looking for a soft ride...Pulled of the Monroe Sensitracs and put on yellow Bilstiens.. The monroes were so stiff...(high pressure) that only Silvester Stallone could compress them ... The Bilstiens were very soft and easy to compress. That worried me a bit... Put it all together and it lifted the front 1/4 inch at the bump stop and 3/8 inch at the fender well. Goes to show my old springs at 93k miles were not totally worn out..
Here is the big surprise ... This truck rides like a chevy now.
(well almost) I love it... Pot hole are barely noticeable..Today I stopped at a stop lite fast enough to bob the nose down a little and it came back up and then back down to neutral with a nice soft little bob...Just like a Cadillac! It was perfect.. Now for my thoughts
First I am wondering if springs can stiffen or get hard with age..Just a thought
Second I think the bushing were 30% responsible for small bumps on roads..One of the bushings was almost worn though.
Third The front of these things are stiff enough that using a shock that is stiff as a mother does not make sense.. Those Bilstiens are really nice and allow the springs to flex easily.. I think they are 50% of my nice new ride..
Fourth.. I got the spings at a spring shop and he assured me the were OEM replicas..But I am thinking maybe the are moving just a little bit easier I do not know for sure.
Last...If I was doing off road stuff I would probably go for stiffer poly bushings and stiffer Monroe shocks but I just tow... The Dana 60 probably still ride better yet but for around $800 I am very very please with the ride..
Mark
Here is the big surprise ... This truck rides like a chevy now.
(well almost) I love it... Pot hole are barely noticeable..Today I stopped at a stop lite fast enough to bob the nose down a little and it came back up and then back down to neutral with a nice soft little bob...Just like a Cadillac! It was perfect.. Now for my thoughts
First I am wondering if springs can stiffen or get hard with age..Just a thought
Second I think the bushing were 30% responsible for small bumps on roads..One of the bushings was almost worn though.
Third The front of these things are stiff enough that using a shock that is stiff as a mother does not make sense.. Those Bilstiens are really nice and allow the springs to flex easily.. I think they are 50% of my nice new ride..
Fourth.. I got the spings at a spring shop and he assured me the were OEM replicas..But I am thinking maybe the are moving just a little bit easier I do not know for sure.
Last...If I was doing off road stuff I would probably go for stiffer poly bushings and stiffer Monroe shocks but I just tow... The Dana 60 probably still ride better yet but for around $800 I am very very please with the ride..
Mark
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Well I did it! Could not stand my stiff ride and potholes were a nightmare... Pulled the springs and replaced them..The original ones looked just like the new ones??? But the bushings were pretty bad.. used new OEM soft rubber bushing rather than those poly bushing because I was looking for a soft ride...Pulled of the Monroe Sensitracs and put on yellow Bilstiens.. The monroes were so stiff...(high pressure) that only Silvester Stallone could compress them ... The Bilstiens were very soft and easy to compress. That worried me a bit... Put it all together and it lifted the front 1/4 inch at the bump stop and 3/8 inch at the fender well. Goes to show my old springs at 93k miles were not totally worn out..
Here is the big surprise ... This truck rides like a chevy now.
(well almost) I love it... Pot hole are barely noticeable..Today I stopped at a stop lite fast enough to bob the nose down a little and it came back up and then back down to neutral with a nice soft little bob...Just like a Cadillac! It was perfect.. Now for my thoughts
First I am wondering if springs can stiffen or get hard with age..Just a thought
Second I think the bushing were 30% responsible for small bumps on roads..One of the bushings was almost worn though.
Third The front of these things are stiff enough that using a shock that is stiff as a mother does not make sense.. Those Bilstiens are really nice and allow the springs to flex easily.. I think they are 50% of my nice new ride..
Fourth.. I got the spings at a spring shop and he assured me the were OEM replicas..But I am thinking maybe the are moving just a little bit easier I do not know for sure.
Last...If I was doing off road stuff I would probably go for stiffer poly bushings and stiffer Monroe shocks but I just tow... The Dana 60 probably still ride better yet but for around $800 I am very very please with the ride..
Mark
Here is the big surprise ... This truck rides like a chevy now.
(well almost) I love it... Pot hole are barely noticeable..Today I stopped at a stop lite fast enough to bob the nose down a little and it came back up and then back down to neutral with a nice soft little bob...Just like a Cadillac! It was perfect.. Now for my thoughts
First I am wondering if springs can stiffen or get hard with age..Just a thought
Second I think the bushing were 30% responsible for small bumps on roads..One of the bushings was almost worn though.
Third The front of these things are stiff enough that using a shock that is stiff as a mother does not make sense.. Those Bilstiens are really nice and allow the springs to flex easily.. I think they are 50% of my nice new ride..
Fourth.. I got the spings at a spring shop and he assured me the were OEM replicas..But I am thinking maybe the are moving just a little bit easier I do not know for sure.
Last...If I was doing off road stuff I would probably go for stiffer poly bushings and stiffer Monroe shocks but I just tow... The Dana 60 probably still ride better yet but for around $800 I am very very please with the ride..
Mark
Help.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
Are stock bushings a PIA to remove i.e.do you have to burn them out then cut the tube around them, or are they just a rubber isolater pushed into the spring end?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
Curious about this as well, I just rolled over 200k and am wondering which direction to head. I can't afford the $1.5K for springs and shocks right now, so am thinking I might just do shocks and bushings to start.
Are stock bushings a PIA to remove i.e.do you have to burn them out then cut the tube around them, or are they just a rubber isolater pushed into the spring end?
Are stock bushings a PIA to remove i.e.do you have to burn them out then cut the tube around them, or are they just a rubber isolater pushed into the spring end?
Watch the length of your brake lines as you lower the axles as the stock ones are short.
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Curious about this as well, I just rolled over 200k and am wondering which direction to head. I can't afford the $1.5K for springs and shocks right now, so am thinking I might just do shocks and bushings to start.
Are stock bushings a PIA to remove i.e.do you have to burn them out then cut the tube around them, or are they just a rubber isolater pushed into the spring end?
Are stock bushings a PIA to remove i.e.do you have to burn them out then cut the tube around them, or are they just a rubber isolater pushed into the spring end?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
Consider superduty B codes leaf springs for the rear...definitely will soften up the ride. I put air bags on mine when I carry our slide-in truck camper.
Last edited by LeoJr; Feb 5, 2023 at 08:04 PM. Reason: Added "leaf springs for the rear"
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
So you run the Q's in front and B's in the rear? Are they the same number of leaves with the block?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
Holy smokes, I just read the reviews here on these and this might be the direction I'm heading. Spendy, but apparently worth it.
https://cpaddict.com/bilstein-5100-s...d-front-shock/
https://cpaddict.com/bilstein-5100-s...d-front-shock/
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
When I put a D60 on the front of my F250 4x4 I put in a 2" reverse shackle kit and superduty U code leafs up front. In the back I put superduty B codes and F350 4x4 4" lift blocks. (F250 4x4 lift blocks are 2".) Yes, I believe they are the same number of leaves but I had to account for the taller lift block and I also added an overload leaf. It might already had the overload leaf, but I still had to do a fair amount of measuring to get the right U bolts from Ford. I do not not remember what length U bolts I ordered.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
From: Kamloops, BC. Canada
I’ve done a number of D60 swaps (3 now) on my trucks and use Precision Metal Fabrications reverse shackle kits. Superior design and very strong, direct bolt on kit. V code SD springs up front and SD B code rears with the rsk makes for an awesome ride and handling is improved. You’ll wanna use PMFs adjustable pan hard bar and drop bracket and SS brake lines. I typically remove the over spring overloads and install air bags on all my trucks and install anti sway bars front and rear. A Borgeson mid steering shaft an close tolerance steering box along with Bilstein 5125s makes for a really nice riding and wicked handling rig. D60 swap with SD springs are still the least cost best bang for the buck to improve ride. And can do in stages, first do D60 RSK and swap buy blocks for rear until you can source B codes or think it’s ‘08 plus SD rear springs are even nicer ride.
j
j
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
Also, '95 and up D60 brake calipers, their mounts and I think even the rotors are different than '94 and older so try to find a donor axle that matches your existing truck.