67 K-20 Rides hard

[ChevyTruckGuy68]

Hi everyone, i hope that everyone is enjoying there holiday season. I have a question about my 1967 k -20 suspension. I use the truck all the time and it drives well but it rides very hard. The truck stills has the original springs in the rear which are HD springs because it originally had a camper in the back. I replaced the front springs because one of the owners before me had a k-10 spring on one side and a k-20 spring on the other side. If i can remember correctly i bought my front springs from a company online called General Spring. I bought 5 leaf pack set up for the front that was supposed to be equal to another pack that they sold which only used 3 leaves. I then had a local auto parts supplier custom size up shocks for me which i think where actually rear shocks for other model vehicles but fit in size and length. Beyond all of this it still rides hard front and rear. If anyone has any information i would gladly listen up. I was also wondering if anyone was close to Connecticut and has a k-20 pick-up or burb. I would gladly meet up and do some ride sharing and comparison so i can figure out my issue. I am near in Middletown CT.

Thanks, Andrew.

[ChevyTruckGuy68]

Maybe this one will be right side up

[ChevyTruckGuy68]

I tried!

[68bowtie]

this truck is AWESOME!! very cool photo too.

[Stocker]

Well, my first thought was it's an old K20, of course it has a harsh ride! But that's not too helpful....

Looks like a nice truck, especially on its wheels instead of its roof. Sits just the way it should.

Hard to say about the ride. Could be very stiff shocks, or more likely stiff springs front & rear. No telling the specs on your aftermarket fronts but they might be extra stout. And you already know the rears are HD. Are there rear overloads that could be removed to soften the ride a bit?

[swamp rat]

It will never be like a C10, asside from new springs you can do new shackle bushings, and new shocks. Some springs like from softride are suppose to be less harsh.

[68panelman]

Had a 72 K20 that rode pretty hard, but never had a five leaf front pack, they were 3 leaf, 4" lift. Are they squared off ends or tapered?

[special-K]

Those front springs are one issue. How did it ride before? The only 5 leaf packs I've seen up front are lift springs. not sure why the parts guy didn't just get you shocks that are listed for this truck. It is possible the shocks are not a good match-up. Are they gas? I learned a long time ago that with the old school multi-leaf lifts you aare better off using hydraulic shocks Gas shocks were made for Baja racing originally where continued rapid cycling occurs for 500 miles straight. They control cavitation better, but that's not an issue with how we drive. Hydros give more, so ride softer, and it's not like a solid axle truck has body roll issues

[StingRay]

Not a K but had a 69 Longhorn 3/4 ton Camper truck as a kid. It rode like a tank. Hit a speed bump not belted in and your head would bounce off the roof. No joking as I learned the value of seat belts quickly! That 3/4 ton hauled a 2800 pound camper with 7 people and all our crap. Towed the boat too. It didn't even squat with about 5K on it. It needed two tons of load to ride nice. I can't imagine what the 30 series Longhorns were like LOL.

Even a 20 series coil spring truck would haul a helluva load but they rode much better than the big 20 series leaf truck.

[ChevyTruckGuy68]

Alright thanks guys, ill have to continue to do some investigation. My father has a 68 c-10 and it drives like a dream. I know my truck will never drive like that but i wonder if it could drive at least a small fraction smoother than it does now. My twin brother is a ford guy and we are currently restoring his 74 f-250 4x4. That thing rides night and day compared to my k-20. Out of curiosity do the mid 70's k-20s ride much nicer than the 60's including powering steering and brakes. Still love my truck, just some random questions.

Thanks, Andrew.

[1972RedNeck]

My '72 K20 rides a bit rougher than most of our Highboys. I take it you don't haul much? If so, I would try flipping one or two of the bottom leaves over or even taking them completely out.

[StingRay]

We had a 77 3/4 ton Camper Special and it rode a lot better empty than the 69 did. We hauled pretty much the same load with it. I don't think it was the truck the 69 was though. In a battle of capabilities the 69 would have won. The 77 was definitely more refined.

[special-K]

My '72 K2500 doesn't ride rough with it's stock original springs. It rides like all the other dozen or so K/20s and K2500s I've had. Something's not right.

[68panelman]

I looked up general springs website and saw no 5 leaf pack available, only 2 of 3. Was this custom made?. Do you have a pic of them?. Love your truck, and want more pics of it anyway.
That's all I want for Christmas

[jimmq]

My 72 k20 has a 3 leaf pack with the HD ft spring package. I bought a set of used springs to replace a bad side, it was a 2 leaf. I just added my bottom leaf to the pack. It rides like a typical straight axle 3/4 ton 4x4, not bad in my opinion. Im 1 town away if you need to take any measurements.

[Chrome8]

Put a snowplow on the front and a load of firewood in the back, should take care of the problem