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2003 Chevy Silverado CHANGE SUSPENSION

Tiny
GCLINT
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,000 MILES
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 EXT. CAB THAT WAS ALREADY LIFTED ( 4" TO 6" ) I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ROUGH RIDE, ESPECIALLY ON A DIRT ROAD. MY QUESTION IS CAN I DO SOMETHING TO SOFTEN THE RIDE LIKE CHANGE THE SHOCKS OR WOULD I NEED TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION BACK TO STOCK, WHICH WOULD BE QUITE AN EXPENSE TO ME. THX.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 1:48 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok what shockes are on it? As for taking it back to stock you can't. Once a suspension lift has been done it can't be reversed as there is stuff grinded off and removed to allow the hardware for the lift to be installed. Also how is the ride height, meaning how does the front look compared to the back. Is one end higher then the other?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
GCLINT
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IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION THE FRONT AND BACK HAVE NO NOTICEBLE DIFFERANCE IN HEIGHT, 2ND THING IS THE SHOCKS ARE, FABTECH PERFORMANCE SHOCKS NO MODEL # IS VISIBLE THAT I CAN TELL. ONE MORE THING IS THAT I HIT AN POTHOLE ONE DAY AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FRONT SPRINGS OVER EXTENDED AND YOU COULD HEAR THEM. ANY THOUGHTS?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok there shouldn't be front springs you should have a torsion bar front suspension and rear leaf. Now if is it making noise in the front then it may need adjusting. Is the front higher then the rear or the other way around? You will find that Fabtech changed the control arm so the front shock is not what it was stock either because of the lower mount. You shock should now look like the pic below? If so then you need to ask for a shock for an 04 1500 and I would go to a Rancho 5000 series shock it will ride better. Get back to me on my question above about the ride height.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/249564_293034_1.jpg

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Friday, January 22nd, 2010 AT 9:56 AM
Tiny
GCLINT
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THE RIDE HEIGHT IS LEVEL. THE SPRING IN FRONT IS A COIL SPRING. THE SHOCK DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE PIC YOU SHOWED IN YOUR RESPONSE.
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Sorry it's 2 wheel drive so it is coils not torsion bars. So shocks should be like stock just lifted. In you previous response you said it was a noticable difference from front to rear so I figured it was unlevel. Depending on the lift you may be able to go back to stock if you wish or change out the front springs so that it rides like it should. Does your truck look like the pic included where you have all the new brackets (blue) as shown or not?


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/249564_2wd9905c1500_well_1.jpg

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Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 AT 8:56 AM
Tiny
GCLINT
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THE SUSPENSION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PIC YOU SENT, YES IT IS TWO WHEEL DRIVE. IM ASSUMING THAT I CAN TAKE IT BACK TO STOCK. DO YOU THINK I NEED ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF THE SOUND OF THE SPRINGS OVER EXTENSION, AND CHANGE SHOCKS FOR THE SMOOTHER RIDE?
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Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 AT 11:26 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok here is how they show there kits. Either 3 inch or 7 inch lifts for you truck. Now the 3 inch is a spindle lift so the kit is new spindles for the front new shocks all around and rear block kit with u-bolts and that is it. If that kit was used then yes you take it back to stock. However if you have all the brackets and such then you have a 7 inch lift so the kit comes as a very intense kit that comes with most everything you see in the previouse pic and more. You do some modifications and install. It is not going to go back stock as brackets have been removed to make room for the kit and all the drop brackets. I would check the shock. Othere then that there isn't much you can do.
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Monday, January 25th, 2010 AT 7:15 PM
Tiny
GCLINT
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OK THX. I WILL THINK ABOUT YOUR SUGGESTIONS, AND GO FROM THERE. THX.
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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok let me know if there is anything else I can help with. Thanks and have a great day.
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Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 AT 10:48 AM

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