Purchasing a TVS sytem a couple of questions

[Dbl G]

You should take some pic's from underneath so we can see what type of coils, shocks and leafs etc. you have on your truck

[CSR]

TVS install update.......
After 11 days and 750 miles, I seriously blew out the stock rear shocks. Going over the canals here in NOLA were just too much for the stockers and the lowered suspension. I've got severe oscillations at speed crossing any road to bridge transition. Makes for an interesting drive to work. Still awaiting the Bilstien's.

[bgstew6]

Did you order Hotckis Bilsteins or regular bilsteins, some shock extenders might be in order.

You can cut down your stock bump stops or replace them with shorter ones as well.

[Harley#356]

definately have to do something with the rear bumpstops!

most either cut them down...easy job with a hacksaw...just hard foam bumpstops.

or for a cleaner look, you can pick up some Energy Suspension bumpstops from pepboys, etc. THe ones i got were a bee hive type look, and an inch shorter than stock, and a bit skinnier but that doesnt matter. eventually after i lowered the rear down more i even cut an inch off those, so they still offer some adjustability, and only 10 bucks or so

[N2BOOST]

Not to jack the thread but do you have to use camber kits with the tvs alone????? and what about if you shave a little off of the front coils????? TIA

[CSR]

Originally posted by bgstew6
Did you order Hotckis Bilsteins or regular bilsteins, some shock extenders might be in order.

I've ordered the Hotckis Bilsteins. I searched old threads a bit and no one has stated if you needed the extenders with the whole TVS package (inc shocks). Any thoughts?

You can cut down your stock bump stops or replace them with shorter ones as well.

Bump stops cut 1/2 way.


Oh well, I had read some folks ran the stock shocks for quite awhile (with/without extenders I don't really know). My stock ones are just plain dead.

[Harley#356]

stock shocks SUCK no matter what the application even if one is keeping the stock suspension its a HUGE upgrade just to put bilsteins on. lol

i ran my 3" rear drop for a year and a half with no shock extenders. still rode fine, just probably harder on the shocks with them operating in more of their compressed side of the range, rather than right in the middle area. got extenders on now though with 4.5" rear drop

Originally posted by N2BOOST
Not to jack the thread but do you have to use camber kits with the tvs alone????? and what about if you shave a little off of the front coils????? TIA

no matter what the drop springs are, you need a camber kit, otherwise the alignment will be off. so yep you'll need it with the TVS, or if you cut a 1/2 coil or full coil off the stockers

[ilaybrk]

356 what shackles did you use and if i cut 1/2 coil off tvs spring looking for full 2 inch what shackle do i need. thanks

[Harley#356]

when i had my belltech 2" shackles i got about 1.5" out of them. I switched to JLP's 2-3-4" shackles and on the lowest setting the most they got me was a solid 3" rear drop. Definately the lowest possible you can go with shackles, i actually had to flip the direction the bolts go in, and bend a crimp edge from the bed a hair underneath to make room for them. BIIIG shackles! lol

and the general rule of thumb for coils is every 1/2 coil you cut off nets 1" drop. so 1/2 coil = 1" drop, 1 full coil = 2" drop.

with the tvs coils, i'd be a bit careful of cutting 1/2 coil off right away. maybe try 1/4 coil at first. i ran some cut hotchkis coils in my truck for a day, and those suckers gave me a hair over 3" of drop in the front with no insulators but i dont know how far the original owner cut them. i would remove the stock insulators if you havent done so yet, before cutting the tvs coils. that'll net you another 1/2" drop up front

[N2BOOST]

I thought everyone said they are too noisy this way??????
Meaning with no isolators...

[ilaybrk]

I wanted to cut coils and keep isolators in so they wouldn't make noise. Josh what was difrence from tvs coils and 1000ruslows what did it change in your ride and handling thanks

[Harley#356]

i've never once heard anybody complain about noise from removing the isolators. 1st time i've heard anything about that, and i've been running none for almost 2 years now

you figure the bottom of the spring sits right in the metal lower A-arm and you dont get any noise, removing the rubber pad from the top of the spring wont create any noise either. and i didnt notice any added vibration feel through the steering wheel either, just a slightly improved feel of the road if anything. The ruslow coils are ground flat up top, and are actually intended to be ran with no isolators

i think the tvs coils have a bit lower spring rate than the ruslow1000 lb'ers. i'm not sure if the hotchkis coils i had in were cut wrong (too much heat...fuked up the spring rate ) but they felt quite a bit softer than the ruslow's, but still a bit stiffer than stock. if i came a cross a good deal i'd actually step up to the ruslow 1100's because i love how they ride and handle, but still perfectly happy with my 1000 lb'ers with 1/2 coil cut off, and will soon be cutting another 1/4 coil off for just a hair more drop up front

[ilaybrk]

yea tvs springs are 825 per inch does anybody know what the rate of stock spring is

[Harley#356]

i wanna say 760?

[ilaybrk]

thanks