modding suspension?

[Kroner]

I just got a 1st gen in sepember and it rides like a brick. My truck is a 91 2wd with no helper springs. Are there any springs that can be swaped in to make it ride a little better? I was thinking about maybe finding springs out of a newer 3/4ton truck? What do you guys think?

[Ace]

The only way to make it ride really nice is with a complete air ride makeover with Kelderman, etc. You can get modest improvement with Skyjacker softride springs and good shocks, but it will still ride more like a buckboard than a limo.

[dpuckett]

A D250 that rides like a brick? What did you come from, a 1/2ton Light duty Chevy? In all seriousness, I thought the one D250 I had rode comparable to the 1/2ton I had in high school.

Do you have a separate pack of overloads, or is yours a single stack of about 8-10 leafs? How much have they flattened out? If they are flat, they will ride stiffer. Rumblefish's D350 I sold him rides much smoother than my mom's D350- identical trucks, except for the springs in his truck are arched; hers are table top flat. If yours are flat, it may be time for new springs or at least getting your rearched.

You can also swap in an sir ride set up, thogh that is probably half what you paid for the truck- $15-1800, unless you have some pretty good fab skills.

Someone used to make a smooth-ride shackle or something like that. I never pursued it much, forget who it was.
Daniel

[done_my way]

Wasnt it called "Velvet Ride", or something of the like? Roadmaster Active Suspension? Its in my head, just dunno behind which door exactly...

[Kroner]

actually came from a 96 4x4 and it didnt ride much better. Does kelderman still sell kits for the 1st gens? Is that the only option for the front?

[dpuckett]

AAhhhh, now he tells us. The front. Get some good shocks and some new springs, and it should ride pretty good. Also a good time to replace the upper and lower control arm bushings and check the ball joints.

DP

[RumbleFish]

my old D250 rode like a caddy. 7 leafs out back, no helpers. the front was soft, but in need of shocks.

my D350 rides good (for a 1 ton), but i keep forgetting the spine-crusher leafs out back. i guess thats what i get for rolling in a 1/2 ton for a year.

its things like this that remind me im in a truck, and not a car with a bed.

[peobryant]

Going from driving my mothers Lexus for a week, back to my dually, I could tell a pretty dramatic difference.

[1991cummins]

haha, yah, i feel like an idiot when i drive my girlfriends car and catch myself slowing down to .2 mph for a speed bump. its just habbit i guess, or maybe my genetic instinct is set to 1ton standards haha, sorry for the jokes

[randyswelding]

if it dont have 6 wheels and ride like a brick i aint interested in it ,maybe thats why i cant take a girl out with out her complaining

[SChandler]

If it's the front that rides stiff, definitely put new springs and shocks in it. And while your at it, do the ball joints and replace the rubber bushings in the control arms. I rebuilt the front end in my D250 a couple of years ago and it was amazing how much difference it made. Before the rebuild, I had about 1" of suspension travel before hitting the bumpstop, so basically, hit anything on the road larger than an ant and the suspension bottomed out. It is amazing what getting the front suspension back in shape will do for the ride quality.