How to handle an extra 1k# up front?

SKIBO · 12-13-2012, 02:24 PM

I recently added a Hammerhead Armor front bumper/brush guard with a 18,000# capacity Super Winch to my 2007 K3500 Classic CC. This set up comes close to 1000 pounds. As you can imagine this has resulted in the front suspension being over-taxed compared to a stock set up. Other than a leveling kit and some 17" Rockstars the front is stock. Any suggestions on how best to resolve this? Guys at Fabtech say go with an OE heavy load torsion bar to make up for the added weight which should be close to what those are designed to deal with if one was mounting a snow plow etc. Any ideas would be appreciated and thoroughly evaluated by our friends here I am sure!

03 zr2 · 12-13-2012, 04:15 PM

i run a warn heavy duty winch bumper with an m12000 with a fabtech 8 inch lift that is set at 6 inches and 35's. I have all the goodies for the front end including dual shocks and the factory shock also. The truck rides great, only problem I have had is that it is really really hard on jounce bumpers. I swithced to the z71 poly ones to see if that helps. Other then that no problems yet.

jdugie123 · 12-13-2012, 04:32 PM

Ya I have ran ranch hand style bumpers with winches on all my trucks just crank your t bars some and it will level out

SKIBO · 12-13-2012, 05:22 PM

Crazy thing is it rides and sits level. The issue is when rolling and hitting any rough spots or like a bridge end I get an extreme amount of wheel hop. Its noticably worse when pulling regardless if is bumper of goose neck hitched. Its to the point that it feels like I am loosing traction because the tires are lifting. Gonna start with a heavy replacment shock and see if the torsion bars can be cranked any more. If not, gonna try to go with the heavier bars and see if that helps.

jdugie123 · 12-13-2012, 08:32 PM

Maybe some timbren would help

bubblebutt · 12-13-2012, 09:39 PM

If it rides level your torsion bars are fine,
If it's bouncing = shock issue

**chevylovinfordtech** · 12-13-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKIBO

Crazy thing is it rides and sits level. The issue is when rolling and hitting any rough spots or like a bridge end I get an extreme amount of wheel hop. Its noticably worse when pulling regardless if is bumper of goose neck hitched. Its to the point that it feels like I am loosing traction because the tires are lifting. Gonna start with a heavy replacment shock and see if the torsion bars can be cranked any more. If not, gonna try to go with the heavier bars and see if that helps.

sounds like you need shocks bud, but if it really worried about it then do what the guys at fabtech said, sounds like it would be the way to go if that's what they do with snowplows on the front

stm suspension · 12-24-2012, 09:27 PM

Honestly, the heavier springs would probably help- but it is the shocks not having enough rebound damping for what you've got going on.

The front end is extra heavy, so when you compress the front (bump or something) the front end goes down further than it "should." So the spring is applying more force than it "should" be for a bump that size. So the spring is pushing back extra hard, and you've got the weak rebound damping (resistance to motion) so the front end bounces coming back up- comes back up too fast. Stiffer springs often help to keep the end from moving too far- but they usually can use some additional rebound damping to go along- usually. So if it's a proper shock, a proper suspension shop can open it up and change the valving. It's what we do to motorcycle suspension all day long.

12-13-2012, 02:24 PM	eBay Motors #1 (permalink)
SKIBO Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 6	How to handle an extra 1k# up front? I recently added a Hammerhead Armor front bumper/brush guard with a 18,000# capacity Super Winch to my 2007 K3500 Classic CC. This set up comes close to 1000 pounds. As you can imagine this has resulted in the front suspension being over-taxed compared to a stock set up. Other than a leveling kit and some 17" Rockstars the front is stock. Any suggestions on how best to resolve this? Guys at Fabtech say go with an OE heavy load torsion bar to make up for the added weight which should be close to what those are designed to deal with if one was mounting a snow plow etc. Any ideas would be appreciated and thoroughly evaluated by our friends here I am sure! __________________ 07 Chevy LBZ CC 4X4 DRW 3500, Hammerhead Armor Front and Rear Bumpers w 18K Superwinch, B&W Turnover ball hitch, Step bars, Rockstars w 285-80-17 Transforce ATs up front & HTs on rear. K&N filter. 05 5.3 Chevy Z71 4X4 Tahoe 00 5.3 Chevy EC Z71 4X4 03 4.3 GMC CC Sonoma 4X4 ZR5 05 5.3 Chevy Police Pursuit Tahoe

12-13-2012, 04:15 PM	eBay Motors #2 (permalink)
03 zr2 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 144	i run a warn heavy duty winch bumper with an m12000 with a fabtech 8 inch lift that is set at 6 inches and 35's. I have all the goodies for the front end including dual shocks and the factory shock also. The truck rides great, only problem I have had is that it is really really hard on jounce bumpers. I swithced to the z71 poly ones to see if that helps. Other then that no problems yet. __________________ 2006 lbz LT crewcab blue efi live atp fass 150 afe intake 4 inch Diamond Eye straight pipe, mbrp down pipe Fabtech 8 inch lift with dual shock setup Fabtech tierods, cognito brace kit, idler arm support bracket,kryptonite gusset 35 mt toyo's warn bumper with m12000 Built tranny by Alligator performance(Holton)

12-13-2012, 04:32 PM	eBay Motors #3 (permalink)
jdugie123 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 99	Ya I have ran ranch hand style bumpers with winches on all my trucks just crank your t bars some and it will level out __________________ New: 09 2500HD CC/LB diamond eye duals muffler delete with black 6" tips, front and rear replacement bumpers, 6000k HIDs in lows and fogs B&W turnover ball both gooseneck and bumper hitch Traded In : 04.5 D/A MBRP 4" cool duals with muffler delete, volant air intake, EFI Live,raptor 100gph, suncoast level IV, ATS copilot, nicktane fuel filter, 6" RCD, 37" Super Swamper M16s , 4.56 gears, bushwacker cutout fender flares, wet okolie set covers, MTX subs with a sony amp, full replacement front with 9.5K warn winch built in and rear replacement bumpers, B&W turnover ball both gooseneck and bumper hitch

12-13-2012, 05:22 PM	eBay Motors #4 (permalink)
SKIBO Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 6	Crazy thing is it rides and sits level. The issue is when rolling and hitting any rough spots or like a bridge end I get an extreme amount of wheel hop. Its noticably worse when pulling regardless if is bumper of goose neck hitched. Its to the point that it feels like I am loosing traction because the tires are lifting. Gonna start with a heavy replacment shock and see if the torsion bars can be cranked any more. If not, gonna try to go with the heavier bars and see if that helps. __________________ 07 Chevy LBZ CC 4X4 DRW 3500, Hammerhead Armor Front and Rear Bumpers w 18K Superwinch, B&W Turnover ball hitch, Step bars, Rockstars w 285-80-17 Transforce ATs up front & HTs on rear. K&N filter. 05 5.3 Chevy Z71 4X4 Tahoe 00 5.3 Chevy EC Z71 4X4 03 4.3 GMC CC Sonoma 4X4 ZR5 05 5.3 Chevy Police Pursuit Tahoe

12-13-2012, 08:32 PM	eBay Motors #5 (permalink)
jdugie123 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 99	Maybe some timbren would help __________________ New: 09 2500HD CC/LB diamond eye duals muffler delete with black 6" tips, front and rear replacement bumpers, 6000k HIDs in lows and fogs B&W turnover ball both gooseneck and bumper hitch Traded In : 04.5 D/A MBRP 4" cool duals with muffler delete, volant air intake, EFI Live,raptor 100gph, suncoast level IV, ATS copilot, nicktane fuel filter, 6" RCD, 37" Super Swamper M16s , 4.56 gears, bushwacker cutout fender flares, wet okolie set covers, MTX subs with a sony amp, full replacement front with 9.5K warn winch built in and rear replacement bumpers, B&W turnover ball both gooseneck and bumper hitch

12-13-2012, 09:39 PM	eBay Motors #6 (permalink)
bubblebutt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 717	If it rides level your torsion bars are fine, If it's bouncing = shock issue __________________ 2008 GMC Dually LMM 6" lift 285/75R17 "E" TOYO M/T Banks intake/DPFdelete with MBRP exhaust PPE Hot Race tuner / TransGo Jr. / Pillar gauges JVC - DVD/Nav system & Back up camera/2500w inverter/ 55w reverse lamps/Amber strobe lights X4 corners front hidden hitch/rear hitch/turn over ball 5th wheel hitch/custom grille DRW # 101

12-24-2012, 09:27 PM	eBay Motors #8 (permalink)
stm suspension Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 33	Honestly, the heavier springs would probably help- but it is the shocks not having enough rebound damping for what you've got going on. The front end is extra heavy, so when you compress the front (bump or something) the front end goes down further than it "should." So the spring is applying more force than it "should" be for a bump that size. So the spring is pushing back extra hard, and you've got the weak rebound damping (resistance to motion) so the front end bounces coming back up- comes back up too fast. Stiffer springs often help to keep the end from moving too far- but they usually can use some additional rebound damping to go along- usually. So if it's a proper shock, a proper suspension shop can open it up and change the valving. It's what we do to motorcycle suspension all day long. __________________ Dave. '06 LBZ, stock, long bed for hauling '07 KX250, VOR 530 SMRC.

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