First Post Suspension Stuff

[Conner299]

So, this is my first post as a new member of Offroadtb.com. Instead of doing what most do, Posting just saying hi, I figured Id share some useful information. So here goes. This last Friday, I decided to do some suspension work on the tail end of the Blazer. Nothing too dramitic. New shocks, sway bar end links and sway bar bushings.
The new bushing were Pro-Thane, red ones(Part #: 7-1185). Oh so pretty, and it was a shame to put them on where they'll be rarely seen. Sway Bar end links were Moog(Part #: K6667 & K6668). The rear shocks I decided to go with were Monroe Sensa Trac Load Adjusting(Part #: 58644). That is the purchase I was most proud off.
To start with, the rear shocks went in nice and easy. Not a single problem there. I decided to go with these because of the extra carry capacity for the Blazer. Up to 1200 Lbs. Ill probably never use this much, But itll be nice to not have the rear end start to dip when I have my kayaking and camping gear loaded up. The ride is a little stiffer, but I dont mind it. The one benfit Ive seen is that they raised the rear end up an inch. Measuring from the ground to the fender well, through the center of the wheel, it went from 34" to 35". Some settling may occur, but we'll see by the time I go to put in the front lift, if I need to get the spacers for the rear. Hopefully not. If so, they're only about 90 dollars.
The rear sway bar bushings were a huge improvement over the old ones. The sway bar actually had what appeared to be wear marks from where it was apparently rubbing, I guess.
The rear sway bar end links were a massive pain the arse. I was able to get one of the nuts to spin off, and figured the rest would be just as easy... NOPE! I couldve just let them soak in some PB Blaster, after a good wire brushing of the threads, but I was impatient. Ended up sawz-alling them off, with a trio of already dull blades. Lesson learned. I blame it on poor design of the stock end links. Nuts, with allen head recesses in the stud. SERIOUSLY!?! Ive already wire brushed and will soak the front all through this week, for when I change out my front sway bar end links, this weekend.
All in all, it dramatically improved my handling. Once I do the front struts, sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings, I hope it gets even better. The best is how much I saved my going through Amazon, for my parts. Had I got all my parts at Autozone, PepBoys, etc., I would've spent over $800 to $900. I paid $518.?? with shipping from Amazon. Here is a complete list of what I got.
Rear End Links K6667 & K6668
Rear Sway Bar Bushings 7-1185
Rear Shocks 58644
Front Struts 171341 x2
Front End Links K80824 & K80825
Front Sway Bar Bushings 7-1187
Keep on Truckin

[navigator]

welcome Edward.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Surprised shocks changed your ride height that much, but seeing as they are a coilover basically...i guess. Keep in mind that the mounts for the shocks may not handle the extra stress of a coil spring.

You mentioned handling quite a bit...kinda not the direction most members take on this site. Many of us have tossed one or both swaybars in the trash. I have a couple rear with good bushings I would give to someone willing to pick up. We tend to be more about flex and offroad ability than on-road handling.

You could build your own front disconnect sway bar link pretty cheap and and be able to grease and rebuild them. There is a write up on here on how to do it.

Nice to see you doing your own work. What are your goals for your truck?

Welcome.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Welcome!

[Conner299]

My goals for the truck are nothing too crazy. Since some of our put-in and take-out trails for kayaking are a little gnarly, I want something I know that can handle them well. I still want to be able to maintain a great ride on the road though, seeing as how it is my daily driver. I also want to be able to do a little bit of light offraoding. we have a couple of spots here in KY where we take our rigs. mainly just playing in some decont mud puddles and easy trail riding. Thats pretty much all Im after.

[djthumper]

Welcome

[boog2006]

I also want to be able to do a little bit of light offraoding. we have a couple of spots here in KY where we take our rigs. mainly just playing in some decont mud puddles and easy trail riding. Thats pretty much all Im after.

Where at in Kentucky? I'm in west Kentucky near LBL. Welcome aboard!

[Conner299]

Im in the Ville. We usually go down to Dirty Turtle to offroad.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I got a couple buddy's that hang out with Turtle pretty often. I need to get down there sometime. I really wanted to go to Boo Bash but it did not work out for me.

[Conner299]

Yeah... When I go down, Im usually a passenger... Wow... That did not sound good at all. What I meant, is once I get lifted, Ill be able to take my own rig. Hopefully, sometime after Christmas. The Bro-in-law is building a straight up tube chassis crawler, so that'll be fun to take down there too.

[wink]

Im in the Ville.

What part of the Ville?

[HARDTRAILZ]

Have you been anywhere else to compare Turtle to? I hear some vastly different opinions of the difficulty. I do want to go see them run the Bounty hills even though its not my kind of wheeling, it would be cool to see first hand. They have some incredible building and driving skills.

[Conner299]

Im in the Ville.

What part of the Ville?

Im in J-town.

[boog2006]

Damn nearly five hours for me...I'm in the middle of nowhere I suppose

[Conner299]

Have you been anywhere else to compare Turtle to? I hear some vastly different opinions of the difficulty. I do want to go see them run the Bounty hills even though its not my kind of wheeling, it would be cool to see first hand. They have some incredible building and driving skills.

Never been anywhere else to really compare. Mostly, just there and some private land spots. The nice thing about The Turtle is the range of diffulcuty. Anything from mild to wild. I wouldnt take a stock Blazer there, but a lot of Jeeps seem to do pretty well. There is a wide variety of trails. Check out their web site and you'll be able to see the array of rigs there.

[v7guy]

Ed, welcome aboard!

You'll find wear on the sway bar from grit getting between the bushing and the bar regardless of the bushing. But the new bushings should firm it up a bit.

I'm really surprised you saw any height change from shocks. Generally springs determine height and shocks control the springs from bouncing excessively.

Before you buy front endings you should look at the quick disconnect endings BartonMD posted on how to make, they're handy when you get to a offroad area.

Lots of good info here, read around,b it's impressive what these things can do
. Look forward to wheeling with you.

[Conner299]

Ed, welcome aboard!

You'll find wear on the sway bar from grit getting between the bushing and the bar regardless of the bushing. But the new bushings should firm it up a bit.

I'm really surprised you saw any height change from shocks. Generally springs determine height and shocks control the springs from bouncing excessively.

Before you buy front endings you should look at the quick disconnect endings BartonMD posted on how to make, they're handy when you get to a offroad area.

Lots of good info here, read around,b it's impressive what these things can do
. Look forward to wheeling with you.

Ive already got the parts to do the front end, and Im definitely looking into doing the quick disconnect sway bar ends. But that wont be for awhile, so Im just going to stick with what Ive got. I fortunately work in a shop that specialises in pipe, and valve actuation, so finding parts to make the quick disconnects will be a snap.

I dont know if you've seen any pics of the rear shocks I put on, but they are basically just a coil over shock. I havent posted any pics yet, but a quick Google of the part number should be able to yield some.

[v7guy]

Those are pretty nifty shocks. I only have access to the site through my phone, apologies for being lazy and not checking the part number lol

[Conner299]

No worries. We get to these kinds of things, when we have a chance.

[Conner299]

Just an update... Finally got the front suspension components put in on Friday. Struts, sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings. The ride is a little stiffer, even with tires at 32 psi. The best benefit is not feeling like Im going to roll over taking turns. Now I just need to get my lift kit, ball joints, control arm bushings, and upgrade my tie-rods. Check one thing off the list, add more. Still in debate on which suspension lift to go with. Trying to decide on whether to go with MarMC lift or SuspensionMAXX.