i want to make my rear end tighter!

[mr fun]

got a backup truck, dodge 150 ram, 82 model. kinda light in the rear. thinkin some coil over shocks, maby airshocks? helper springs? air lift bags? just a little loose changing lanes, or any weight at all. just want to stiffin her up a bit. suggestions? fun out :p

[Tom D.]

How about a sway bar.

Tom

[sho305]

I had a ranger once that had new springs in the front and 2 extra leaves added to the back, still was not real high. I could load it with weight and it did not squat, but it wagged tail with a 19' I/O like crazy and was tippy with even with only weight in the box. First part of the problem was the tires. The sidewalls were soft. I got some new tires I could put 50psi in for towing, but they were better even at the normal 30psi and great at 50(old tires only rated for 35psi max). Still felt funny sometimes. Used another ranger once and it felt fine with no wiggles. Climbed under there and yep, it had a rear sway bar. Both had the same front bar. So I went to the boneyard and got one and bolted it on. It worked great and the truck drove much better too.

I would not bother with the springs unless it sags. Get a sway bar and check the tires. More sidewall ratings and/or higher psi ratings help a lot. It will ride harder with more pressure, but mine seem to ride good when I let them back down. Now I got a bigger 3/4 ton, and can't find anything that bothers it. With those junk tires I could push on the ranger's box side and get the truck to wiggle sideways on the tires easily.

I don't piss with it now; I had a guy I know just about die when his trailer wipped and rolled the whole rig a few times, then caught on fire. I had a job once driving delivery, and drove dual tire pickups. They don't move with a trailer on, big difference from all those sidewalls. I'd get one but they suck in the snow and I really don't need a 1 ton.

I also had a lose hitch cause a wiggle with an old reese type once. I drilled a new hole further in for the pin to make it tight again.

[dc96819]

Do a 2/4 drop with Eibach 2in drop spring in front and 4in shakles in back with Hellwig or Hotchkis sway bars with some 17in rims
and edelbrock shocks
:)

[at100plus]

My wife has a great bun buster DVD you could borrow.

[WATERWINGS]

Try some allum.:D

J/K

[175checkmate]

Just replace the springs. I found a site years ago. http://www.espo.com/
They sell new everything for the old stuff.

[mr fun]

sounds like a sway bar is a must. checkmate, good source. 96819, do you have experince with this setup? i have seriously considered dropping it, it's a LWB in perfect condition bodywise, just dont a goofy ride, like the softness of the LWB. HUN+ maby i could drop a crate V-10 in her? :rolleyes: fun out :cool:

[sho305]

Florida.

Around New Years a guy offered to give me two old mid 80s Ram 1500s. Said one drove ok, other needed help. I told him I was not going to dig the snow out to get them, so they would have to wait until spring if I even want them. He said OK. Just about forgot about that.

[dc96819]

Originally posted by mr fun
sounds like a sway bar is a must. checkmate, good source. 96819, do you have experince with this setup? i have seriously considered dropping it, it's a LWB in perfect condition bodywise, just dont a goofy ride, like the softness of the LWB. HUN+ maby i could drop a crate V-10 in her? :rolleyes: fun out :cool:

My experinces is with Silverados but thats the easiest and cheapiest way for a all around sport truck.

[Rickracer]

Shocks with variable damping work pretty well as an all around choice. Monroe has been replacing their Magnum series with a line called Sensatrac which are variable. I have installed a bunch of these on all kinds of trucks, and they work well, and aren't terribly expensive. Wheel and tire selection will make a pretty noticeable difference too. Lightweight wheels and lower profile tire with relatively stiff sidewalls can make an enormous difference in road holding ability, provided they have a good foundation to work from (springs, sway bars and shocks). Another good idea if you really want a corner burner is polyurethane suspension bushings. Even replacing the sway bar bushings and end link bushings with poly can make a noticeable difference. Let me know if I can help ya. :cool:

[mr fun]

i forgot about your "lil green monster" ;) thats kinda what i'm lookin for sept in a full size "old schooler". i'll be in touch, hope all is well, tell everybody i said "HEY" :p fun out

[stvhelm]

Just something to think about. it sounds like your getting that wondering in the lane on the highway. now add a trailer and its 3x worse. first I'd check all the steering joints. next check the back lash in the steering box with the steering wheel. If there is too much play there you can adjust the screw on the steering box to get the play out. while your down there you can quickly check the alignment with a tape measure. measure across the front of the 2 front tires then measure across the back of the 2 front tires. the difference should be 1/4 inch less on the front side. wheels that toe out will wonder. The trailer only adds to the problem. the more tongue wieght the better it will handle. 75lbs or more is good.

[mr fun]

this is info i never really considered. i hope this helps other folks in their "TOW" part of the "TOW n GO" equation. that was a segment in Hot Boat before it got all commercial. for those in Reo Linda, the tow refers to your rig and your go is your SCREAMER! :D fun out :p

[stvhelm]

yeah, and the roads that are indented where the tires run are the worst. the wheel will keep trying to pull when you get close to one side of the lane and then you over correct it and then the other wheel will pull the other side. now your swirving all over the place. I know the feeling. I had a bronco with alot of miles that did it until I fixed the front end.

[Kavalk]

Don't set that steering box too tight!!
Most of them require a little clearance when at centre, the clearances decrease as the wheel is turned.
Check the suspension bushings.
Replace 'em yourself. The part is cheap.

[stvhelm]

Yes, if you over adjust your steering box it will stay turned after you make a turn. thanks for bringing that up. I figured out that one the hard way too. Ran up a few curbs:D

[sho305]

I like to jack it right behind the wheel, so the weight is still compressing the suspension. Then I look all over for something loose.

[mr fun]

poly bushings, sway bar, shocks, lowering spindals and rear leaf springs? and a set of baby moons n a can of red spray paint?!? :D i have this vision. fun out :p

[sho305]

Don't forget the spark plug in the tailpipe:D