[nicknack]

Hoping I can get some advice on a suspension upgrade for my 87 sierra. The ride is currently very rough... from what I can see the springs and shocks are pretty knackered, especially the rear. Found these on Ebay (link below) and was wondering if they are any good. I will not be doing any thing heavy with my rig, beach, sandhills, corrugated country roads, that kind of thing. Thanks in advance.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-Sierr ... 1940346570

[Asho]

Putting new shocks and springs in, is almost guaranteed to improve the ride over the original gear. However, it can be just as affordable to find a suspension guy in your area to custom make the springs for you. Also the set includes gas shocks that will give a decent ride, but because of the light nature of a sierra oil shocks give a far better ride. Most of the old guys who have owned the sierras for a long time will recommended nylon bushes over rubber.

[Gwagensteve]

I couldn't disagree more.

Most aftermarket springs, and especially those eBay springs, will not improve ride.
The softest riding aftermarket leaves are Old Man Emu (ARB)

Finding an actual spring maker who would match the performance of Old Man Emu springs will be a very difficult and costly exercise. Most will do the old "reset and add a leaf" which won't help anything.

The valving in a shock dictates its ride characteristics. All shocks contain oil. Foam cell shocks still contain gas (on this case air) but at low pressure, the foam serving to reduce emulsification of the air into the oil. They aren't very effective. Almost all shock currently available contain nitrogen at some pressure to reduce emulsification. Some shocks are monotube and separate the high pressure gas from the oil with a floating piston. These can be incredibly soft riding. I have bilstein monotube "gas" shocks in my car and they are incredibly plush.

Most people I know who have owned Sierras for some time have given up on urethane bushes and gone back to rubber to improve flex and ride quality.

Nisknack- if you want the best ride quality and don't want to be messing with derating leaves and trying to find soft shocks etc just go for Old Man Emu.

[Asho]

Ok I have to agree with Steve now, I was expecting a set of old man emus to cost an arm and leg... Comparing their only about $150 more, I would go for them.

As for the part about custom built springs, that still stands but then again I know an old guy who has made me a custom built set for $480.

[Gwagensteve]

They outperform Old Man Emu for ride?

[MrRocky]

Worth mentioning all susp kits off the shelf will ride quite stiff until they wear in a little

[Asho]

I admit I have never driven a zook with old man emus, but the ride went from "back shatterer" to "corrugation? what corrugation?"...*slight exaggeration*

[nicknack]

Thanks for the tips and interesting discussions...

don't u just wish we could buy like the yanks?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARB-CS012FA-Old ... ZL&vxp=mtr

ARB seem to cost and arm and a leg here in oz.

[Gwagensteve]

OME is very expensive in the US compared to local brands.