GMC suburban sagging
Question:
oops…I meant to ask if the truck was sagging more on the left-hand (drivers side) than the RIGHT? Sorry. MDH – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Is the truck sagging on the left-hand (drivers side) side more than > the left? It is common for these trucks to sag some on the left hand > side due to the placement of the spare tire (inside on the left rear). > My ‘90 burb sags 3/4" on the driver’s side. A good buddy of mine has > a ‘89 GMC and his also sags 3/4" on the driver’s side. You can have > the springs re-arched, but they will eventually sag again. If you > want to invest the money, find a spring shop – you might be able to > get a set fabricated that will sometimes be heavier duty than your > factory set. > hi, > I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I > have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. > Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My > question is: > 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? > 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? > (available used that’s why). > 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good > again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? > I would appreictae any help and suggestions. > humayun
Response:
Is the truck sagging on the left-hand (drivers side) side more than the left? It is common for these trucks to sag some on the left hand side due to the placement of the spare tire (inside on the left rear). My ‘90 burb sags 3/4" on the driver’s side. A good buddy of mine has a ‘89 GMC and his also sags 3/4" on the driver’s side. You can have the springs re-arched, but they will eventually sag again. If you want to invest the money, find a spring shop – you might be able to get a set fabricated that will sometimes be heavier duty than your factory set. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > hi, > I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I > have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. > Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My > question is: > 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? > 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? > (available used that’s why). > 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good > again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? > I would appreictae any help and suggestions. > humayun
Response:
Lift up the carpeting and take a good look at the rear corners of the truck. The place where the body sits and is welded to the cross piece has a tendency to rust and allow the rear part of the body to sag. I had to fabricate a new cross piece for my 87 K5. It took most of a 3-day weekend to do it. I also welded in a new section of real floor while I was at it. — You don’t shoot to kill. You shoot to stay alive.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hi, > I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I > have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. > Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My > question is: > 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? > 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? > (available used that’s why). > 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good > again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? > I would appreictae any help and suggestions. > humayun
Response:
> hi, > I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I > have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. > Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My > question is: > 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? > 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? > (available used that’s why). > 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good > again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? > I would appreictae any help and suggestions. > humayun
Shocks do not help sagging. Shocks help control the bounce and smooth out the ride. Any perceived help was nothing but perception. The springs are the only thing that help sagging and yes, they need to be replaced. You can heat treat them but they won’t meet factory specs. You can put add a leafs on but they won’t meet factory specs. Go to the junk yards and see if you can find the ones for your truck. And I believe the 91’s will work…they did use different rear ends for different applications, but I believe the springs did not change…but verify that first. HH
Response:
hi, I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My question is: 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? (available used that’s why). 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? I would appreictae any help and suggestions. humayun
Response:
> hi, > I have a GMC suburban 1500, 1989 model. The truck is sagging at rear, I > have noticed same problem with other trucks of same model and year. > Changing shocks helped a little bit but sagging is still there. My > question is: > 1. Is is because of bad leaf springs? > 2. Can I use same leaf springs as in 1991 suburbans for my 1989 model? > (available used that’s why). > 3. I have heard some places heat treat these springs and make them good > again. Has anyone tried this? and is it worth it? > I would appreictae any help and suggestions. > humayun
Just whip out your J.C. Whitney catalog or look them up on the net www.jcwhitney.com and order yourself some helper leafs or helper springs. D_Hawg 99 Burb 01 Yukon
