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Dually Suspension \  NEED HELP--95 GMC EXCAB DUALLY FRONT END

NEED HELP--95 GMC EXCAB DUALLY FRONT END

Dually Suspension Dually Tech
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replies 8
following 4
 
68tuneportwagon   +1y
Just a little history, in 85 I had one of the 1st full size Chevy's slammed around Atlanta. Since then there's been several other lowered trucks & various other customs and over the last 15-20 years I built several Restmods and Mid-Year Corvettes.
The new story is, I recently purchased a 95 GMC Extra Cab Dually, Supercharged 454, rear axel flip, c-notched, rear helper air bags and supposedly front spindles. I feel this is a VERY nice truck.
Now the problem-- This thing is driving me crazy, Almost every time I hit any kind of bump, dip in the road, drive around perimeter,ect. the front tires bang into the frt inner fenders. I realize I've got a lot older since have lowered trucks but, all I hear is how great everybody's lowered dually rides and this thing rides like crap. My 68 Impala wagon drives & rides like a dream. I REALLY need some input on this guys as I love the truck but I can't keep going like this. I also realize that with what info I have on the truck it may be hard to diag but PLEASE offer any suggestions you may have. I feel like the back of the truck is fine other then it needs shocks (suggestions welcome) but, I have to do something with the front end. I don't want to go with a full bagged suspension. Again, any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated .
Thanks, Tim
brianbgboy   +1y
Replace all the bushings with the energy suspension stuff and check your coil springs. I've seen bell tech and djm get weak after time and let the frt end just sag and bottom out on bumps.
someotherguy   +1y
Also possibility the front doesn't have actual drop springs, but factory springs that have been torched. If the rear is flipped, then the front would need a combo of spindles and drop springs to get low enough to match, not just spindles alone, so some kind of drop spring has been done - whether properly made aftermarket, or torched/cut factory which sucks IMO.

Richard
68tuneportwagon   +1y
Thanks, That's kind-a what I have been thinking that the frt springs have been cut. I know that's what we did back in the mid 80's, but back then we didn't really have many options. I asked the guy I bought from before I bought it and then again after I bought it what had been done and he kept telling me spindles. I don't think he really knows for sure as it was lowered when he bought it even though he is a mechanic and owns several Muscle Cars.
Next question, What does everybody recomend for shocks? I know I need rears as one of them is blown out. Also, Is it really true that everybody elses truck REALLY does ride good after being lowered? It seems like when I started this search for a lowered dually EVERYONE and I mean everyone kept telling me how great their trucks rode. I find that hard to believe but as I said I really do like this truck and would like to get it comfortable.
THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT
brianbgboy   +1y
I lowered mine with dim spindles and springs upfront and flipped in rear. Used slammer shocks. Rode much better than stock.I since raised it and now can't stand to drive it. The 1time ton springs are stiff!!
someotherguy   +1y
Yeah they ride great when lowered correctly using quality parts and proven methods...they ride like shit when they're lowered by hacks.

Richard
68tuneportwagon   +1y
Thanks Again for Everbody's HELP, I'm going to order new frt springs and new shocks all the way around. It sounds like that's the smartest thing to do at this point.
68tuneportwagon   +1y
Ok--After many many hours of reading & research I decided to buy new front springs which are Western as the local Summit did not have DJM in stock today and I wanted to get everything at one time. So I bought Western springs that are supposed to be 2" drop, Front & Rear DJM Dropped Shocks, & New Front Bump Stops. I also bought a set of Belltech 1" Spring Spacers.
After all of everybody's responses and the research that I have done and checked my truck further and it appears that the front springs that are CURRENTLY on my truck appear to be a charcoal gray color like DJM springs and dont' look like they've been cut or altered.
My question is, Do ya'll think I can use the Belltech 1" spacers, intsall the DJM Shocks and this solve my problem or at least make it better? My thought is, if I can intall these spring spacers and it raise the truck enough to either stop or lessen the amount of scrapping I can save the money on the springs. I'm concerned that even with the new springs that it may not change anything.
I had a supplier friend of mine that owns an Accessory business and owns and has owned several lowered small trucks suggest I take at least 1 if not 2 of the rear leafs out of the rear spring pack to soften the rear ride.
Does anyone have any thoughts or better yet experience with changing the rear springs at all and remember I have air bag helpers on the rear.
Again, Thanks to everyone that is responding and trying to help with this issue.
comegetsome   +1y
yes removing a few of the rear springs will def soften it up....but on another note how much air do you run in your helper bags....to much without a load and its gonna be stiff....but just alittle pressure empty should ride alittle better as it wont bottom out
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