Brakes & suspension

[AustinBoston]

I was a Factory Rep for GM (many years ago, late 70s). I can tell you that ANY time that non-factory parts are used on a vehicle it will void the warranty, at least on anything that works in conjunction with that part.

If GM took issue with air shocks on that particular vehicle, it may well have had more to do with drive shaft alignment than suspension. That is why I let the pressure down to 75PSI when not loaded. If I don't, the back-end sticks up in the air and the double drive-shaft is inverted. My S10 has your typical "Truck" mountings for the rear shocks. Not a problem IMHO.

Thanks for your concern :sombraro: .

I hope you don't think every time I "correct" you that I'm even thinking of you.  I'm really thinking of the 90% of the people who read without posting.  For example, this makes post #16 for this thread, while the thread has been "read" over 170 times.

You have proven yourself both intelligent and knowledgeable (even if I don't always agree with you); it's the idiots I worry about, like the one who posted today about hauling a Coleman Sun Valley with with a 10-YO 4-banger (despite claiming to have an F-250, he tows with a small car).  The guy registered months ago, but has only posted 5 times.  He doesn't know that it's about the drive shaft alignment (or sometimes the ABS detection); he just knows "that GM factory-sumthin' guy does it, so it must be OK."  In his own words, "I have got a lot of useful info off of this site."

Austin

[wavery]

I hope you don't think every time I "correct" you that I'm even thinking of you.  I'm really thinking of the 90% of the people who read without posting.  For example, this makes post #13 or 14, while the thread has been "read" over 170 times.

You have proven yourself both intelligent and knowledgeable (even if I don't always agree with you); it's the idiots I worry about, like the one who posted today about hauling a Coleman Sun Valley with with a 10-YO 4-banger.  The guy registered months ago, but has only posted 5 times.  He doesn't know that it's about the drive shaft alignment (or sometimes the ABS detection); he just knows "that GM factory sumthin' guy does it, so it must be OK."  In his own words, "I have got a lot of useful info off of this site."

Austin

I post for the very same reason. I also don't mind being corrected and admitting if I'm wrong. It's all part of the interchange of ideas and sharing those ideas and theories with many others.

That's also why I seldom get adamant or personal about things.

Often times people will PM me with questions. I usually ask them to post the question so that others may learn from the exchange and that also gives people the ability to correct me when I am wrong or give a better solution to the problem that I may not have considered.

I personally think that some of the "Long winded" discussions that we have had ("we" meaning the entire board), have benefited quite a few people. I know that I have benefited from them and find them stimulating .

[joe]

Hi

A couple of questions

Does the truck bounce when it is loaded or not loaded.

What type of tires and pressure.

Most early pickups bounced when not loaded and road much smoother when weight was added. The suspension was designed under loaded and the ride when not loaded was not good.

joe

[acharya108]

I post for the very same reason. I also don't mind being corrected and admitting if I'm wrong. It's all part of the interchange of ideas and sharing those ideas and theories with many others.

That's also why I seldom get adamant or personal about things.

Often times people will PM me with questions. I usually ask them to post the question so that others may learn from the exchange and that also gives people the ability to correct me when I am wrong or give a better solution to the problem that I may not have considered.

I personally think that some of the "Long winded" discussions that we have had ("we" meaning the entire board), have benefited quite a few people. I know that I have benefited from them and find them stimulating .

I apologize if my questions seem foolish or ill-informed, but as y6u all have said, this forum is a good learning forum for us new people. I am retired from 40 years in the emergency medical profession. New graduates were always a challenge, but if they showed interest and a desire to learn they were more readily accepted. We all have to start somewhere and there is always more to learn. I hope that i never run out of some new challenge, experience or opportunity to learn something new.
I thank all of you for the advice and help provided. I am sure that I will need more.
marc

[wavery]

I apologize if my questions seem foolish or ill-informed, but as y6u all have said, this forum is a good learning forum for us new people. I am retired from 40 years in the emergency medical profession. New graduates were always a challenge, but if they showed interest and a desire to learn they were more readily accepted. We all have to start somewhere and there is always more to learn. I hope that i never run out of some new challenge, experience or opportunity to learn something new.
I thank all of you for the advice and help provided. I am sure that I will need more.
marc

Please....never be sorry for asking questions. We ALL learn things when people ask questions. Your question is read by many (as stated above) and many profit from it. :sombraro:

[austinado16]

Hi......What type of tires and pressure.......joe

*clink*


Uh-oh.......I think somebody just stepped on landmine.

I'm gonna skoot over here------------------------------------->outa the way.

[acharya108]

Hi

A couple of questions

Does the truck bounce when it is loaded or not loaded.

What type of tires and pressure.

Most early pickups bounced when not loaded and road much smoother when weight was added. The suspension was designed under loaded and the ride when not loaded was not good.

joe

It bounces both loaded and unloaded, but unloaded is definitely worse. It doesn't bounce excessively, as the present shocks do dampen a bit, but it seems that you are probably right when you state that the suspension was designed under loaded conditions.
  The tires are 15 inch with 35 to 42 psi pressure rating.
It definitely sags in the rear more than it should, or perhaps it's weight rating is over rated.
Due to the age, the springs might have some fatigue, but this truck was not used to carry a lot of weight by the previous owner. I am only the third owner and I know the previous owner. I have ordered new shocks from Gabriel and will see how it rides after I install them. I have another load of gravel that I need to get and that will tell the difference in the new shocks. It really tows the Coachmen Classic without problem, but has a little sway on the highway. Perhaps the weight distributing hitch vs anti-sway bar/ Super Spring etc. I'll wait until I see how the new shocks do before making any other changes.
marc

[wavery]

. I'll wait until I see how the new shocks do before making any other changes.
marc

Wise decision. It's a good idea to make your changes one at a time so that you know which change made a difference.

While you are installing the shocks, it might be a good idea to make sure that all of your spring shackle bolts are tight and the bushings are in good shape. You shouldn't have and sway with that truck.

Is your trailer riding level when towing??? If the front is too high, that may cause swaying.

[austinado16]

One other thought, make sure the tires are LT rated, and no P rated.  P=passenger car tire, LT=light truck.

When I first bought our Suburban it had a set of P rated tires and it was like driving on marshmallows because the sidewalls were so squishy.

[acharya108]

Wise decision. It's a good idea to make your changes one at a time so that you know which change made a difference.

While you are installing the shocks, it might be a good idea to make sure that all of your spring shackle bolts are tight and the bushings are in good shape. You shouldn't have and sway with that truck.

Is your trailer riding level when towing??? If the front is too high, that may cause swaying.

Thanks Waverly & Todd. I will check all fittings and connections as they can come loose with time and I will verify the tire ratings and actual pressure. I will re=post when I have results to share.
marc

[joe]

Hi

The reason I was asking about the tires was that your truck was designed to have bais ply tires, not radials (which I assume you have), with presuures from 24 to 28 or 30 depending on the load. The 71 F100 came equip with G78 15 4 ply passenger type tires. These tire sride and behave a lot different then radials.

A way to check the shocks is to stand on the rear bumper and pump your knees to get the truck to bounce. Once the truck is bouncing step off and see how many bounces the truck does before it stops. One bounce is great 2 is good and anything more then two the shocks should be replaced.

When working on olding vehicles you need to take care and find out what the original conditions were. Most older vehicle do not act like newer ones. But more important things that are done to fix or modify newer vehicles might not work on older ones.

Below is a web site that is for 67 to 72 Ford pick ups. They can help you out better with your truck then this web site. Take a look, there is also a forum on the web site.

http://www.fordification.com/lit-home.htm


joe

[austinado16]

Wow, what a nice site for the vintage Ford crowd!!

[aw738]

As long as you realize that on the 2000 S-10 (and probably the '99, but I'm not sure), that using air shocks voided the original warranty. Aparently, Chevrolet had a problem with them, too.

I can't imagine a '71 having a problem unless it is badly worn or corroded, but both the wear and corrosion are a distinct possibility with a 36 year old truck.

Austin

FYI

I work in the automotive after market and run into this all the time. If the product was designed to be a DIRECT replacement for the vehicle it will not void the warranty. As far as the air shocks they are NOT a direct replacement.


Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which states, in part, in Title 15, United States Code, Section 2302, subdivision (c), as follows:

[fallsrider]

I wouldn't use the weight of gravel in the bed as an idicator that it won't carry the tongue weight of a PUP.  2 different things!  Half a yard of gravel might weight 400-600lbs (just guessing).

Gravel weighs MUCH more than that! It weighs in at 1.45 tons per yard, so a half yard of gravel would weigh about 1,450 lbs.!  :yikes: