I've been looking around on this site, and a few other places, for some help with my suspension. I bought my truck almost 2 months ago. ('90 4.9 4x4 long bed.) I placed a post in another section of this site, and was told to ask in the pre - 97 section, so here I am. My front springs have a keeper of sorts in them, holding them up. Not what I'm happy with. I have no idea what the front should be sitting at, nor what it would sit at if I just removed the keepers, so I figured I"d be best off to replace the springs altogether. Now, being new to this truck, and not much of a suspension guy, I have to ask for advice.
I'm not trying to get crazy with a lift, or putting a stress test on my steering parts (or wallet). I just want to have enough room for the existing 32's, which are pretty close clearance, or maybe a set of 33's, and keep the truck level in the process while having some decent, safe suspension. The rear looks OEM to me, but I have no reference points other than to put a measuring tape to the rear fender well. I'm not sure where to go with this, and my local parts stores aren't much help. Any advice on what to hunt for and where? Also, while I admit not knowing much about the suspension, I know that if I go very far, I'll need to change the pitman arm, shocks, and brake lines. I'd like to avoid as much of that as I realistically can.

 

well any lift on these trucks is kind of extensive u got to drop the ibeams and radius arms n put drop brackets so any lift besides a leveling kit "u can never get them alined right" any lift even leaveling u will have to change the front shocks and any thing over 4 inch u have to do break lines and pitman arm

and what are u talkin about when u say "keeper" are u talkin about the j clip on top of the spring or the big nut and washer on bottem?

if i was u and u didnt want to do extensive work id buy a set of wider fender flairs and trim the fenders and front bumper u will maintain ur factory ride. not that hard to do

or u could do a body lift some people dont like em but ive driven an f150 with 6 in suspenchen and 3 inch body on 38s it didnt handle that bad

but as with any lift or puttin over size tires i tell everyone CHECK ALL UR FRONT END PARTS "universals bearings ball joints tie rod ends bushings" anything shows signs of ware replace it ive seen guys tear up bearing on lifted trucks driving down the road and flop the tire in. ive also seen lifted trucks with big tires snap the old tierods and the wheel would flop around and cause the person to loose control.

just remember the more wieght and rotating mass u put on the front of ut truck the more them parts have to work inferior parts or worn parts woulnt cut it

 

[QUOTE=losthillbilly73;4765170]

and what are u talkin about when u say "keeper" are u talkin about the j clip on top of the spring or the big nut and washer on bottom?

Thanks for the reply Hillbilly. The keeper I refer to looks like two threaded rods pushing two brackets apart, thus spreading the springs open.
I think that in the end, I just want to get back to what the truck sits like now, but Im not sure what to look for. I have no idea if the truck is sitting like it should, or if the springs are altered. If the truck is just being leveled out with these keepers, then I'd like to replace the springs with something that is going to be close to what it is, without them.
I haven't contacted them as of yet, but I have found an off road place near by. I think I will go visit them and ask for one of the guys hanging around to step out and look at what I have and then go from there.

 

You'll need more than just springs to level it out. You need drop brackets for the radius arms, and more. You can go the wrong way about it and get some camber adjustmenters so it will align with just the springs. It'll be extremely hard to align it, and it'll go through wheel bearing and ball joints like toilet paper. It'll be a nightmare, and end the end, you could just have spent less money to lift it properly.

 

yea what ur saying aint stock sounds like some home grown atempt to level or to stiffen the spring

stock the spring sets on a threded perch with a big nut and washer holding the bottem and then at the top it sits ina cup with a single j-clip holding it in place

 

I've seen those seperators, and yea, they're pretty redneck. When the suspension drops over a bump, those seperators can fall out. You can get rubber bumpers, but I would only use them to restore the front end to stock ride hieght. SO basically only use those if you have old\tired springs until you replace the springs, or if you have a heavy engine combo and\or a heavy bumper.