Blazer ride qulity

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Blazer ride qulity

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Blazer >> Mechanical & Maintenance >> Steering, Suspension & Drivetrain >> Blazer ride qulity

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Blazer ride qulity - 7/3/2007 4:13:38 PM

phantom

Posts: 44
Joined: 6/20/2007
Status: offline

I have had my 1999 Blazer about a year now. I am not satisfied with ride quality it is terrible. Just going dow the back alley seems like none of the shock is being absorbed by the suspension feel every little bone jarring bumb inside the cab .

My Dad has a 2002 Ford Ranger 2wd 6cyl 5 spped manual. It puts the blazer to shame as far as ride quality goes the shock of bumps is being absored by the suspension and one can hardley feel them in the cab.

I put new Rancho 5000 shocks on it helped a bit. What else could a person do to the suspension on the Blazer to improve it besides switching to different shocks. I am on a budget do not really want to mess with lift kits unless it would fix the harsh ride.

I did not notice when I bought the Blazer that the rear leaf springs are bent downward a little at the front shackle. I do not know what this is from I looked at other blazers and the leaf is straight where it attaches to front shackle. Would this be some kind of modification or just some wild and crazy 4x4ing.What would the effects be of the rear leafs being bent down slightly at the front shackles do the rear leafs need need to be replaced because of the slight bend.

Thanks for any sugestions
1999 S10 Blazer LS 4.3L Vortec, 2door, W

< Message edited by twinstar -- 7/4/2007 6:05:05 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/4/2007 8:31:38 PM

EuroGoldLS

Posts: 3121
Joined: 2/9/2007
From: Princeton, NC, USA
Status: offline

It should ride way better than the Ranger, Rangers ride rough by any stretch of the imagination. Something is wrong.

Is it lifted? If it was lifted by a T-bar crank in the front it will be a beast.

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/5/2007 12:18:30 AM

phantom

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Joined: 6/20/2007
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I have only had it a year. I do not think it is lifted. It has stock tires. p235 75r x15.
Like I said it may have something to do with the rear leaf springs. They are bent downward where the leaf attaches to the front shackles. Both sides are bent downward about 6 inches of the the front of each leaf starts to slope downward. This maybe killing the ride quality???

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/5/2007 9:51:17 AM

lennyblazer

Posts: 1988
Joined: 5/6/2007
From: Appleton, WI / Houghton, MI
Status: offline

take a picture if you can a post it, this would help in analyzing the problem (both of the truck and of what you think is wrong). I know my rear leafs are flat coming out of the front leaf shackle.

-Lenny

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-Lenny
4.3L Auto. 3.73Gears

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2358267

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/5/2007 6:13:24 PM

phantom

Posts: 44
Joined: 6/20/2007
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Sorry no pic. I have had a look at a few other blazers and the leafs are flat coming out of the front shackles so I think mine are not correct. What is a t bar crank.

The front end seems to sit higher than the back end. Guess I will have to put up with it till I have more cash to put into it I have already spent a lot on it.
thanks anyway for your reply.

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Post #: 5

RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/5/2007 8:48:32 PM

lennyblazer

Posts: 1988
Joined: 5/6/2007
From: Appleton, WI / Houghton, MI
Status: offline

Well the front end being higher could be from either saging rear springs (which it sounds like) or it could be a T-bar crank in the front. What a T-bar crank is, is that the front suspension on a 4x4 use torsion bars to adjust ride height and not sure what else on the front suspension. A T-bar crank is where you increase the angle of the torsion bars therefore increasing the height of the front end. This also increases the angles on your CV and ball joints causing premature wear on these components if drvien daily. I am not sure what the stock front height is supposed to be but I could measure mine and post later. If you had a tbar crank and nothing done in the rear it might cause excess sag on the rear suspension. just some thoughts.

-Lenny

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-Lenny
4.3L Auto. 3.73Gears

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2358267

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RE: Blazer ride quality - 7/6/2007 6:28:02 AM

phantom

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Joined: 6/20/2007
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got picture with cell phone but do not know where it is going after confirmation of being uploaded .

Thumbnail Image

*combining consecutive posts*

Oh there it is. Not very good picture.

*EDIT by swartlkk* Combined consecutive posts. Please use the edit feature to add additional information to your post if another member has yet to reply. Thank you.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by swartlkk -- 7/6/2007 6:57:20 AM >

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RE: Blazer ride quality - 7/6/2007 6:57:41 AM

swartlkk

Posts: 14499
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From: Waterloo, NY
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I would inspect the springs for broken leafs. Those look like they are over arched in the wrong direction. That could account for some crappy ride if the back end is always hitting its bump stops.

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/6/2007 7:34:54 AM

phantom

Posts: 44
Joined: 6/20/2007
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these might be better pics.

Attachment (2)

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/6/2007 1:30:53 PM

blznlowxtreme

Posts: 1450
Joined: 3/20/2007
From: tennessee
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mine rode pretty good until i put my 20's on there. but thats my fault

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/6/2007 1:59:10 PM

EuroGoldLS

Posts: 3121
Joined: 2/9/2007
From: Princeton, NC, USA
Status: offline

You definately have something wrong with a leaf. either a weak leaf or a broken leaf. That kills your ride quality because your leaf spring can't bend much further, which results in very little shock absorbtion..

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My theory is that every disrict in the USA tries to send their lying scumbags to either prison or Washington D.C. -rivereye

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Post #: 11

RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/6/2007 5:21:54 PM

lennyblazer

Posts: 1988
Joined: 5/6/2007
From: Appleton, WI / Houghton, MI
Status: offline

Do the leaf springs look like that on both sides? Cause I would have to agree that something is not right with the rear leaf springs then, either one is bent real bad or one broke. I just looked at my blazer again and it looks like i might have close to the same problem. I was just thinking that shocks would fix it up since they are factory shocks or at most were replaced at 60,000 and I have 135000 miles on them now. Going to replace the shocks and probably doing a lift in the fall when I have some more money. Does any one know of a lift kit that includes new rear leaf springs? (I'll post this as a new topic too)

-Lenny

_____________________________

-Lenny
4.3L Auto. 3.73Gears

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2358267

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Post #: 12

RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/7/2007 5:54:16 AM

phantom

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both sides are bent like that.

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/7/2007 7:26:36 AM

EuroGoldLS

Posts: 3121
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From: Princeton, NC, USA
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Change the leafs. Thats all I know to tell you at this point...

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My theory is that every disrict in the USA tries to send their lying scumbags to either prison or Washington D.C. -rivereye

(in reply to phantom)

Post #: 14

RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/7/2007 12:04:30 PM

phantom

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Joined: 6/20/2007
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Yeh ,I will checkout auto wreckers online in Canada. Should be able to find some leaf springs cheap.

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/15/2007 5:59:45 AM

phantom

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Joined: 6/20/2007
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New BF goodrich all around helps a bit. ZM6 listed in RPO. Does that mean I have it? I guess ZM6 is off road package.

Thanks
1999 Chev Blazer 4x4 2door LS 4.3L Vortec W

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RE: Blazer ride qulity - 7/15/2007 8:20:46 PM

rriddle3

Posts: 1332
Joined: 12/22/2006
From: Fort Worth,Texas
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinstar

New BF goodrich all around helps a bit. ZM6 listed in RPO. Does that mean I have it? I guess ZM6 is off road package.

Thanks
1999 Chev Blazer 4x4 2door LS 4.3L Vortec W

Yes, ZM6 is " CHASSIS PACKAGE , OFF ROAD SUSPENSION"

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2002 Blazer LS 4dr 2WD Auto Trans
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