It should ride a little smoother with the overloads out. What psi are you running in the rear tires. I usually run mine at 55 psi if I am not hauling anything.

Also if you pull the overloads out would you be willing to sell them?

 

Removing the overloads will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the ride. They only touch when you have at least 1000lbs in the bed, so riding empty they never touch the pads except for Extremely big bumps

 

x2 on what Brad said.

Go look at it. Without a load the overloads aren't in contact with anything suspension-wise.

 

x3 , they don't touch unless loaded down , take them out and when you go to tow your gonna kick your self

 

X4 on that as well. The idea is that you ride around on the "regular" spring pack, resulting in a better ride. Then when the weight is added and the back of the truck starts to go down you come in contact with the overload spring. At this time you are now adding an extra spring to the mix to help with the extra load. So, as mentioned above, removing the overload springs will not do anything for you other than: having a saggy butt when load and headlights in the trees at night. I honestly can't see any reason to remove them.

Good luck on searching for a better ride. I'd sure like to know what you find out. Posted back and let us know what you find out.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I just didn't want to sound like an idiot but I just don't know that much about suspensions. I didn't know if they added extra rigidy to the leaf packs or anything so instead of messing with the u bolts and stuff I will just leave them there. Brad I know on your truck you have super duty rear leaf springs with a 5 inch block, does the rear of your truck ride pretty stiff?

 

..... Brad I know on your truck you have super duty rear leaf springs with a 5 inch block, does the rear of your truck ride pretty stiff?

Depends on which truck you are talking about. My CCSB dually rode pretty rough. My CCLb rides like a Crown Vic.. My CCSB is no longer a dually, and I think that will help the ride greatly. I just have to finish the bed and test drive it

 

You have a SD axle up front. Do you carry two different spares? The SD and OBS lug patterns are different.

I would swap out the rear OBS springs with SD ones. The popular SD rear spring is a "B" code. If you tow heavy, look into a "C" code. The SD springs are progressive. The size of the block doesn't affect the ride, just axle wrap.

Do a search under my name, I've posted the different spring rates for the SD rear springs. I also run a 5" block and "C" codes.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

Yes for now I have been carrying 2 spares which is a pain. Sky has a rsk kit out that allows you to install a SD axle and SD springs in the front and accounts for the extra spring width as well. Its a nice kit but wasn't any fun to install cause the kit I got has new rear spring hangers that replace the factory ones for better spring alignment. The rivets are a beast to get out.

 

Yeah, could of gotten a PMF RSK too. Their stuff is really nice

 

It may be easier to install but having the shackle at the correct orientation is the better design..plus build quality of the Sky kit IMO is better.

As far as the OBS rear springs its the bottom spring that's the main problem its curved unlike the flat bottom spring of the SD rears.

 

That is funny. For all those years you sold people the old SKY kit and told them the rear hanger was fine in its stock location. NOW it is not

 

:doh: :whs:

 

Fine yes as it did work but I guess we shouldn't try to improve the kits ...shackle angle was never as good as I wanted and it took more time than I wanted to get it resolved but its been done for years now.

 

You always acted like the Sky Kits were perfect, and everyone else's weren't. Now there was room for improvement? What a load of crap.

Rusty

 

So what is the proper angle of the shackle? I am running a Sky RSK.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

Could someone post what is wrong with the old Sky RSK? And what era Sky kit?

What is the proper angle for the shackle.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

Cary will have to respond with that Info since he is the one saying the shackle angle is off

 

I have an old sky kit as well, also not sure whats wrong with it... Maybe we need to put a clear picture up of our current shackle angle, and whoever knows can chime in on what it should be in relation. My shackle angle with superduty V codes currently is pretty much vertical, not sure hot that could change too much because the axle is pretty much right where I want it to be in the wheel wells...

 

^^^^^ x2

Here is my shackle angle with Sky RSK, "V" codes. My axle is centered in the wheel well openings and the shock is vertical.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

The bottom of the shackle should be slightly rearward of the top of it.

If the bottom is forward of the top, as the spring compresses it has to actually lift the truck for the shackle to move rearward. This makes the ride harder than it has to be.

 

So the only way to achieve is to move the shackle bracket on the frame. If you slide the front mount back, wheels will not be centered in wheel well.

 

You can replace the frame bracket and install the new one if you want the shackle angle corrected to match the SD's.

 

Who makes the brackets and do they utilize the OEM holes?

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

Billy,
Not sure Im even allowed to do this ? But I assumed Cary's product would be from Sky, and here it is..

www.sky-manufacturing.com - FordSuspensionFrontShackleHangerKit8897

Looks like they attempt to use factory holes, apparently they are not all perfectly the same though. I wonder how much of a difference it makes.