performance truck suspension

[Slow Ride]

Now that the Hotchkis TVS is not available, who makes a performance suspension kit that actually works and provides a decent stance? The Eibach and Ground Force kits seem pretty lame. Eibach is front coils and shackles. Ground Force is spindles and shackles. WOW!!!

I picked up an '05 GMC RCSB recently and am exploring my options.

picture of new truck
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/13391340453267525169IM102565x421_A5-1.jpg


My other truck is a '90 Chevy RCSS with a Western 4/6(coils/spindles/flip), Belltech shock extenders, newer replacement LMC leaves and KYB MonoMax shocks. It handles OK. Not much for hauling heavy loads. Smallish tires 235/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear. The ride is very nice. I've had it dropped for almost 9 years.

picture of old truck
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/DSCN0666-1.jpg

I'd like for my new truck to have a little more "grown up" stance, I guess is the best way to put it. I would like for it to have a more serious/aggressive ride quality and handling while not knocking my fillings out. It currently is all stock with too tall 265/70/17 Toyo Open Country tires.

I was looking at maybe a 2/4 or 3/5. A 4/6 still looks higher on a NBS vs OBS, but tire sizes start to shrink. I'm open to running 18's or 20's. Rear gears will be selected based on tire size. I'll sell the monster truck tires on there now and get some winter tires of appropiate size. Days like today after getting 14" of snow tend to make me think more ground clearance may be better. If I was still driving my '90 I would not have gotten to work today.

Discuss...

[2ndgenhunter]

Whats your budget for this?

Mcgaughy's makes kits for your truck.
http://www.mcgaughys.com/truck_new.html

Then there is Ridetech. I love their truck packages. I did their street challenge kit on a 83 C10. That thing was a dream to drive.

If you don't want to bag it, You can just buy their bolt in 4 link and just run DA coilovers. As for the front...
Maybe some drop spindles, coils and some DA shocks.

But with Ridetech you could air up for the deep snow days.

Just food for thought. Good luck!

[astroracer]

I did a static 4/6 drop on my '95 GMC. Springs and spindles in front and a flip kit in the rear. Poly bushings all around and a Hellwig rear bar. The truck runs on rails with stock rear springs, 255/50 and 275/50 Nittos on 17" rims.
Dropping the CG on these trucks solves 75% of the cornering/stabilty problem. Stiffening up the suspension a bit and throwing on a less compliant short sidewall tire takes care of most of the rest.
It's my opinion that you don't need to throw a lot of money at these trucks to make them handle. If all you are looking for is a nice handling street truck doing as I did will get you there for well under a grand and no butchering... Of course the truck doesn't see any snow...
Mark
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/album_pic_phppic_id558vi-1.jpg

[Slow Ride]

I guess the Hotchkis stuff is available on ebay. What do you guys think about their 2" drop coils with DJM 2" drop A-arms up front and the Hotchkis 4" drop leaves in the back with a flip kit and a lift shackle? Then add the big ol' swaybars and some good shocks like the Edelbrock IAS or some Bilsteins?

[JohnUlaszek]

I had Hotchkis sways and bilsteins on a Silverado 4x4 a while back and was quite happy with the result

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/tech/0504htp_2004_chevrolet_silverado_modified_truck/index.htmlhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/0504htp_truck_12_z-1.jpg

[astroracer]

I guess the Hotchkis stuff is available on ebay. What do you guys think about their 2" drop coils with DJM 2" drop A-arms up front and the Hotchkis 4" drop leaves in the back with a flip kit and a lift shackle? Then add the big ol' swaybars and some good shocks like the Edelbrock IAS or some Bilsteins?

The 2" dropped arms will reduce ground clearance and may affect wheel clearance at full L/R lock. Deep positive offset wheels will have a problem. I ran this set-up on an '89 for long time.
The flip kit in the rear will give you a 6" drop and you will need a c-notch. I don't think you'll want to use a dropped spring under the flip kit as this will be too much. You can run the stock leaf with no issues. Save your money.
Mark

[Slow Ride]

I'm just worried that using the stock leaves with the hotchkis front springs and swaybars will cause the rear end to get a little loose in the twisties.