The added weight from the Dmax is over what the initial weight for original Torsion bars spring loads were designed for.

If the shocks were too soft, It would fell really springy in the front as a shock is designed to dampen and control the spring effect. Ever taken the shocks out or had a blown out shock and drove around? There is virtually no control when you hit a dip, it bounce's up and down several times before coming back under control. With a good shock, it may bounce up once, come back and partially bounce up a second time but It is alot more controlled.

As you stated about the weight being shifted more to the front, again because of the Dmax swap. Shifting the weight forward will make the rear stiffer because there is less weight between the vehicle's center of gravity and the rear axle. Pulling a leaf out of the pack, may help lessen the stiffness in the rear. I believe the caltrac's are adding to it amplifying the stiff feeling..

 

I messed with the truck tonight and I didn't realize how little slack were in the limit straps I had on there. Took them off and put on the Ranchos and its a lot better up front. Still hits the bumpstops when I hit speed bumps hard enough, that's gotta be the springs. I'm not sure how much of the change is from the shocks and how much is from pulling the straps off...might switch back to the Belltechs tomorrow again to see if it's the same. I have the Ranchos on level 9 and they are not as stiff as I thought they would be...coilovers may still be in my future. Definitely going to try pulling a leaf as soon as I have time also.

 

OK, working on the rear leaf springs now. I pulled the shocks off and went for a drive around the block. The vibration/shudder that I had before when hitting smaller bumps like expansion joints is significantly worse with no shocks installed. Happens at any time, acceleration, coasting, slowing, etc. Comes and goes as I hit bumps. I can also get the rear of the truck to almost hop off the ground by bouncing the rear bumper. Does this sound like the springs are too stiff? I want to be reasonably sure that I'm heading in the right direction before I spend the time to pull the second leaf.

 

Kyle, you were right about the 9000's...on their stiffest setting, they are about the same as the Belltechs. I was expecting more out of them...glad I spent $200 to get the same thing that I already had.

 

That is a result of no shocks! Shocks dampen the compression and rebound.

If the rear was to stiff you would hardly be able to compress the springs as you push on it.

 

Yeah I am not the smartest when it comes to suspension stuff, lol.

It was suggested to me by a friend that my rear shocks might be too stiff. I am confused why the vibration/shudder feeling that I am trying to get rid of would be greater with no shocks though, I was thinking that if the shocks were too tight then running with them off would get rid of that feeling. I think the straps I had on the front were the problem there, seemed better today, but I'm not sure what to do with the rear now. When the shocks are installed the rear hardly seems to move at all.

 

need more spring up front and the back ride will change, the weight ratio is skewed on this truck of yours so normal thinking wont apply

you will need 2500 Dmax torsion bars up front, do this first then worry about rear after...youll be surprised how well it rides

 

That's an indication that the rear shocks were too stiff. As I mentioned before and as George C just stated you need to get the front under control.

The limit Straps will definitely make it fell stiff in the front.

The Rattle/ Vibration could be anything. You need to identify where it is coming from first. Along with dampening the suspension, the shocks also isolate some of the road noise.

 

Ok so let's talk about the 2500 torsion bars for a sec then. The truck currently has the WY bars in it, which are 5913 lbs according to this page:

GM Torsion Bar 401

It looks like the Duramax trucks have the GL bars, which are 8782 lbs. Is that too big of an increase? Should I be looking at one of the bars in between?

Also, I am not understanding how changing the spring rate of the front will make the rear ride better. If the static ride height stays the same, shouldn't the weight distribution stay the same as well, meaning that the rear ride quality would stay about the same?

Sorry for all of the questions, suspension stuff is something I know pretty much nothing about. I've been doing some reading but it's hard to find info on trucks specifically.

 

you now are a pogo stick up front and its taking all weight off the *** end of the truck. by making front stiffer youll apply more weight to *** end of truck thus making it ride smoother