I don’t have any experience with this product, but the Sulastic website videos and data are pretty convincing. Do you have this vibration issue that needs “fixing” ?

Rob

No...but always curious.

I know what you're going to write..."if it ain't broke don't fix it". In this case you're right as I'm quite content with the current performance of my truck.

The other question I forgot to ask is regarding the helper spring bump stop. Chad removed the bump stop so the helper springs don't engage, rationalizing that the air bags will take the "impact" vs the helper springs. This makes no sense to me. Airlift never mentioned removing the helper spring bump stops in their installation instructions. Any thoughts or comments on the wisdom of removing that bump stop?

Chad's truck (as shown at 7:32 in the video.

I don’t follow Chad’s mods, so I don’t know the whole story . . . but, overload springs typically engage to protect the rest of the spring leaves from being bent beyond their designed travel range and thus at risk of permanent deformation. If the main leaves are being flattened enough to regularly engage the overload leaf, removing the ability for the overload spring to do its job doesn’t sound right.

Rob

howson Hi Howard, I too have considered these shackles in the hopes of smoothing the unladen ride somewhat. Still on the fence. With regards to removing the overload brackets, I also considered that with our last fifth wheel. The pin to axle distance (shorter trailer) was such that large dips or bumps would cause the rear of the truck to porpoise violently. I installed timbrens rather than airbags which improved that situation significantly, but did not completely mitigate it. I started wondering if those "bump stops" weren't causing the springs to act like a diving board. The timbrens, at least in my mind, were taking the place of the overload springs. The overload springs were not in constant contact with the stops while at rest. But when we got the big Sol, this problem completely disappeared. (Only one end of the spring in contact at rest) I don't think I would remove those bumpstops unless you were trying to solve a specific problem, and had another component like air bags or timbrens to take their place.

X2 Bump stops and overload springs protect the main spring pack.

Addition: Also if Chad blows an airbag, its uncertain how the rig would handle but most likely damage would occur to the main spring pack from being overloaded.

Jim

howson Howard, GM forums I frequent have guys that love the shackles. Most find that it helps when unloaded.

As for removing that bump stop, I'm not a fan of that idea because of the various reasons mentioned. However, I can see where it changes the dynamics of the bag because it creates a "hard" high "k" (spring constant) change in the suspension. This change will result in a noticeable change in the ride when it makes contact during a shock impact (it would be like hitting a pothole even though there is not one). I know several of the fords at work with overloads have guys complaining b/c the overload rides on the rubber and sqeaks non stop.

Chads airbags may or may not have integrated bump stops depending on where they are mounted. But to eliminate a secondary (overload) spring pack and rely on an air bag made as a supplement is not a good idea as it can fail. Having stated that, I use my airbags to raise the truck in the unloaded stance for towing. This allows the main spring pack and supplemental airbag to handle the primary motion and the secondary spring to act as a backup to handle those Michigan no bottom roads. Using this method, the secondary spring is primarily not in use but during impacts, the secondary spring comes into play where Chad has nothing or maybe his integrated bump stops. Bad idea.

For the Sulastic shock absorbers, they add compliance and may help while unloaded. An airbag will do the same.

Jim

I wonder if the intent of removing the overload springs stops (and adding air bags) is to lower the back of the truck to level the 5th wheel? If this is the case, the primary springs are likely being flattened (over loaded) beyond their original design intent.

Rob