Leaf Spring Mod | Review | Chevy Colorado | Towing
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
- I add two leaf springs to the Chevy Colorado's stock leaf spring pack. I take before and after measurents. I even get a chance to test the custom suspension provide a performance review on towing and hauling.
keep a eye on frame they rust quick im fixing my 08 now 4x4 single cab z71 love that little truck got 140 thou on it popped leaf spring hanger to be fair its hsd lot gravel and ton of red dog had bring off mountain a mile rough road empty payload lol
yeah gas tank on d side filling it give u differance id say idk
with the new springs probly not as bad if any
You have built a very capable WT and retained the 7K tow capacity. The Peak coil over kit may be a good option. It allows you to dial in ride height side to side. I ran the ZR 2 stage with the AAL for about a year. Then went to Deavers, significant improvement in handling, rear has very little roll.
Thanks for the info, Steven! I didn't want to jump off the deep end and change too much at once. At the same time, I don't suspect the leaf spring upgrade will be the last mod I do to the suspension. But yah, it has been working well and glad I did it.
maybe try it empty on gas
RAS , Roadactive Suspension Works great
Hi Mario, just discovered your channel. I have a 2015 Colorado LT crew cab 4x4 with tow package. We picked up our first ever RV travel trailer in October 2020 a 2021 Forest River Ibex 19QBS. My first tow experience was to our storage facility about 20 minutes from dealership. I noticed immediately that I was expierencing porpoising or a bouncy feeling as I drove. Did you expierience anything like that? I was really unnerving. I started researching immediately and discovered that I may need a suspension enhancement also. I was thinking of trying Timbrens to replace stock bump stops to improve ride quality while towing but may also need leaf springs enhanced. Great channel keep it up.
Michael, The only time I have experienced that with the stock suspension is on extremely windy roads or hitting large dips on the freeway. It was never a constant thing and could be tempered by not driving so fast. For example towing the trailer and some cargo on backroads, I would expect to have my hands full approaching a turn at the recommended speed -- as indicated with those yellow signs that have the turn arrow and a suggested speed. It was only on rare occasions where it was obvious I was using the bump stops and really only while I had a lot of cargo in the bed (no trailer). I never really drove that fast pulling the trailer over obstacles like a dip at the base of an overpass. I decided on the leaf spring upgrade because I am very confident I will dedicate my truck to hauling heavy loads full time. I feel the stock suspension in new condition is versatile and you just need to drive slower when hauling. I don't know that I would invest in bump stops. I would want to make sure all of the suspension and steering components are in very good condition before making any changes to the spring rates. I would start by inspecting the steering linkage and all bushings. Maybe even check the steering box and shocks/struts. I would also try testing the truck without the trailer by securing some payload in the bed.
Found this really interesting Mario!! My z71 is 36in at the wheel arch. I bought the z71 for the better suspension and ground clearance, or so I thought!! Were you having issues with towing or payload that prompted your upgrade? I am not really clear as to what you were experiencing prior to your upgrade. Another great video though, thanks for including the measurements!! Looking forward to more!
Barbara, when I have the truck bed loaded down with cargo and/or pulling a trailer, the truck can sway back and forth on its suspension. Going over bumps while turning or going over bridges with wind gusts is where this is most obvious. This alone is not a reason to customize your leaf springs. I chose to add leaf springs to my leaf pack because my truck will be dedicated for towing and hauling. It will almost always be loaded down. The engineers at GM chose the components they did because of consumer demographics. An off-roading trim package should not equal a towing/hauling package. There is no (current) way to have your cake and eat it too. I plan to travel off of the pavement and use my 4 wheel drive but I realize my truck's bias will be towards carrying payload. As I understand it, the tire diameter for all Colorado trim levels is the same or very close. In order to get additional clearance you need to change the tire diameter. Lifting your truck does not equate to additional clearance but may accommodate larger tires. Having a higher center of gravity is not something to aspire for. Remember that luxury trim packages will almost always have additional weight when compared to stripped down base models. Weight will affect the truck's ride height.
@@MarioWorkedOnIt Thanks for the explanation Mario!! makes a lot of sense!! You would think when gm offers a Tow/ haul package on their trucks they would include a beefier suspension. I think I am running a 17in tire. I am planning a fairly long trip next week with the trailer. I will be mindful of the issues you have mentioned as I did not notice any on the short shakedown trip I took last weekend. Thanks again for your great videos and great explanations!!
Glad to hear you are able to get out of town and enjoy your trailer! Stay safe!
Would the air ride be a better option than the leaf packs when wanting to use your truck for dual purpose of overlanding and hauling?
Air ride is a different kind of animal. I used a Buick to tow stuff to the track. Essentially, it was a pimped out Trail Blazer, but it had factory air ride. Worked awesome for the highway. Not sure it is appropriate for off-highway. For the Colorado, my axle weight will be similar when compared to towing because I place a lot of cargo in the trailer while towing to compensate for the tongue weight. So the rear axle spring rating is appropriate for either scenario.
@@MarioWorkedOnIt I'm talking about aftermarket air bags designed for tow vehicles that level the rear of the vehicle and compensate for the load. Adding leafs to your spring pack allows for less articulation during offroad situations. You do seem to put a lot of load over your axle so I'm sure the add a leaf helps, and it gave you the rear lift you needed. It's got to be stiff when you don't have the trailer hooked up I'm sure.
@@kevinfoley7704 If I empty out the bed, it is a little stiff. I am certainly open to ideas regarding the suspension. I jumped on this option because it seemed like the path of least resistance to get my foot in the door and be poised to do what I am doing now. Actually, I need to do MORE off-roading. So this is something I will be keeping an eye on. Thanks for commenting!