2000 Chevy Silverado project "Charlie Murphy"
12-27-2013, 10:41 AM
#251
Well, first off, I need an alignment bad.
I think it's silly how good the front suspension is compared to the rear. I was playing with it off camber a bit, ramping over the bumps on the edge of my parents driveway. It just absorbs it. I can jump up and down on the front bumper and there's more travel than it's ever had. I think the liner way a coil spring works is better than the twisting way a torsion bar works.
Like I said, I need to get it aligned. When the ride height is exactly where I want it, I'll drill the lower a-arms and install some bumpstops. I can't really do that until I'm 100% sure the height is correct. I may need to trim the bumpstops I bought.
I am curious to see if the addition of airbags in the rear will change things at all. Theoretically it shouldn't. Also, I was pondering what I could do to improve the rear in general. What if we fabbed up upper mounts (or modified the factory rear shock mounts), in the rear and went a similar route as we did in the front? I could remove all the leaf springs but one and use them to locate the rear.
A mono leaf + air bags + Coilovers. Do you think that would improve the rear suspension while maintaining the ability to tow on occasion?
I think it's silly how good the front suspension is compared to the rear. I was playing with it off camber a bit, ramping over the bumps on the edge of my parents driveway. It just absorbs it. I can jump up and down on the front bumper and there's more travel than it's ever had. I think the liner way a coil spring works is better than the twisting way a torsion bar works.
Like I said, I need to get it aligned. When the ride height is exactly where I want it, I'll drill the lower a-arms and install some bumpstops. I can't really do that until I'm 100% sure the height is correct. I may need to trim the bumpstops I bought.
I am curious to see if the addition of airbags in the rear will change things at all. Theoretically it shouldn't. Also, I was pondering what I could do to improve the rear in general. What if we fabbed up upper mounts (or modified the factory rear shock mounts), in the rear and went a similar route as we did in the front? I could remove all the leaf springs but one and use them to locate the rear.
A mono leaf + air bags + Coilovers. Do you think that would improve the rear suspension while maintaining the ability to tow on occasion?
12-28-2013, 05:37 AM
#252
Glad to hear it! I jad the same thought about the rear after I finished with the front. I asked a few people about doing coilovers in the rear and the consensus I received was that it didnt help much. I had that same thought about taking all the leafs out but one just to located the axle, but never got around to doing it. For the purpose of selling stuff that would be hard to do since you can just bolt something on. I would be happy to help with the math and stuff if you decide to try it.
Your front parts took care of the worst of it. It'll be interesting to see if my helper bags have an impact on anything.
So, I finally had some time to mess around with the helper bag install. Earlier my truck wasn't low enough so I installed spring hangars and Atomic's coilover adapters.
I followed the instructions and I just couldn't get the air bag mounts to line up where the instructions wanted them to be.
I searched around for other people's installs and found this:
I installed Air Lift Co. Slam Bag #59103 yesterday took me like 3 hours used all basic and tools and a drill for the installing the upper brackets. I have a 2/4 mcgaughys drop kit, n the rear was bottoming out all the time. Heres some pics of the install…
Box Contents
Frame
Lower Bracket Installed With the installation tool
Upper Bracket installed
Air Bag Installed
Air Bag Filled and Aligned
Box Contents
Frame
Lower Bracket Installed With the installation tool
Upper Bracket installed
Air Bag Installed
Air Bag Filled and Aligned
The instructions want you to install like classic07 did above. On earlier trucks there is a dimple in the frame for added strength. It doesn't change where you install the airbags. You just have to line up the upper hole with the bump and use a spacer on the lower hole.
No matter what I tried I could not get it to line up the way the kit wanted it to be. I tried bending the lower mount and it still wouldn't line up.
So I installed mine on the other side.
See the lower mount on the left and where the paint is scrapped away? That's where I tried to mount the upper bracket. On the right, I moved the bracket up higher, above that dimple in the frame. This made for a more flush mount anyway.
If you look closely, you can see the spacer behind the upper left bolt hole.
Here it is mounted up with the empty airbag installed.
I still need to install the passenger's bag and run the lines.
Something occurred to me though. Wouldn't it be better having the bag installed on this side anyway? Wouldn't the air bag be helping prevent axle wrap under hard acceleration? I know it's no replacement for traction bars, but it has to help right?
I'm planning on running the airlines to the gas fill door. Right now, the passenger side rear sits about 1/2-3/4 inch higher than the drivers side.
I should be able to fix that by adding air to the drivers side, correcting "Chevy lean", right?
12-29-2013, 12:56 AM
#253
Airbagtastic!
Man, these things inflate crazy fast! Like 0-100 psi in maybe 10 seconds. Right now they're sitting at 68psi. There's no point in inflating them any more at this point.
Tomorrow I'll check the pressure and see if there are any leaks. After that, I'll button everything up. I need to readjust my rear sway bar for the new ride height.
I hope the airbags make the rear feel better. We'll see.
I installed the schrader valves behind the gas door.
Does anyone know where I can get replacement rubber bumpers for the gas door? There should be 2 in those holes on the right side.
Man, these things inflate crazy fast! Like 0-100 psi in maybe 10 seconds. Right now they're sitting at 68psi. There's no point in inflating them any more at this point.
Tomorrow I'll check the pressure and see if there are any leaks. After that, I'll button everything up. I need to readjust my rear sway bar for the new ride height.
I hope the airbags make the rear feel better. We'll see.
I installed the schrader valves behind the gas door.
Does anyone know where I can get replacement rubber bumpers for the gas door? There should be 2 in those holes on the right side.
12-29-2013, 11:00 AM
#256
Thanks guys!
I searched around for the gas door bumpers and it looks like there are a couple options. On eBay you can find factory like replacements or you can go with an upgrade of sorts. The different version has larger bumpstops on them. Dorman part number 961-375.
I'm going to hit up my local Autozone and see if they happen to have them. If not, they can be ordered through Amazon or Summit for like 6.00 shipped.
I searched around for the gas door bumpers and it looks like there are a couple options. On eBay you can find factory like replacements or you can go with an upgrade of sorts. The different version has larger bumpstops on them. Dorman part number 961-375.
I'm going to hit up my local Autozone and see if they happen to have them. If not, they can be ordered through Amazon or Summit for like 6.00 shipped.
12-30-2013, 04:10 AM
#257
I got the truck back on the ground. I need to re adjust the rear sway bar and trim the exhaust. I put 10 psi in both bags and measured the rear height. I ended up adding right around 20 psi to the driver's side bag to make it level.
The roll pan needs some tweaking to fit better. I'd like to have it welded in eventually. For now though, I think I'm going to bolt it in.
I'm going to build a license plate mount that fits into the receiver hitch. I'll just remove the plate when I want to tow.
The roll pan needs some tweaking to fit better. I'd like to have it welded in eventually. For now though, I think I'm going to bolt it in.
I'm going to build a license plate mount that fits into the receiver hitch. I'll just remove the plate when I want to tow.
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54inches (05-01-2024)
12-31-2013, 01:14 AM
#260
I think I'll paint some sweet flames on there or something. lol
The only thing I really have here to cut it off with is a saws-all and an angle grinder. Maybe if I mark it well with masking tape, I can cut it somewhat squarely.
I really need a big pipe cutter.
The only thing I really have here to cut it off with is a saws-all and an angle grinder. Maybe if I mark it well with masking tape, I can cut it somewhat squarely.
I really need a big pipe cutter.