At what point should you upgrade your rear springs/shocks?

I have not had any problems but when we pulled the camper shell and the box drawers, dog boxes I notice how much more sprightly it drives but the drawers and dog boxes are going back in.

It sits level fully loaded. Guessing it regularly carries about 500# in the back plus 140 -500 lbs of people in the cab. The weight in the back is a constant day in and day out

 

Your probably fine leaving things as is..But a stiffer pair of shocks definitely wouldn't hurt.

 

If your springs begin to sag or you feel the need for more rake replacement shackles are an affordable option to get more rake back. The stock rear leaf springs are not the most robust. Their are replacement options but much more expensive than new shackles.

Shocks are more for the ride or comfort. If original they are 12 years old, and may be due for replacing. If ride is acceptable then probably ok.

 

I personally would base it on the shape of the springs.
Stock height spring over axle leaf springs are generally flat in nature. If your springs have a negative arch or are S shaped at normal unloaded ride height then your springs are shot.

 

I agree, you should look at the leaf springs to see how they are shaped when the bed is unloaded. The first time I put the 2007 that I purchased used up on a lift, I knew the rear leaf packs were toast just by looking at them. I could also see that the truck still had the original shocks on it, they were also toast.




My solution.

 

Yep. That's bad. Mine are similar. Maybe a little better.

 

Thanks for the insight and things to look for

At this point, with the truck unloaded but not on a lift, it looks like the leaf springs in front of the rear tire are level and the ones at the back end of the truck have a sight upwards curve...I guess when I take it in for regular service they can look at it as well and tell me what they think.

I have had a car that needed new shocks and recall bouncing that I don't have here. The ride is pretty solid

 

If you are still riding on original shocks, replace them with Bilstein 4600's or better. BTW, the bounce test doesn't work so well on these trucks.

 

There’s only 2 leafs springs, one for each rear tire, so what you’re describing is the same leaf spring. Mine lasted 9 years before I heard a rattling under my truck and the second leaf from bottom was broke in half and dangling. No off-roading. I had no idea they were toast, but have had a topper on the rear since 12’. Don’t dare pay retail for springs, so many guys remove their practically brand new springs to lift and sell locally. I got my new springs for $140 from a 2018 Sport w/ 300 miles. It woulda cost me $1400 from dealer. I also gained 1/2” lift in rear.

 

Bounce and shock wear doesn't necessarily always define a shock that's fading. Sometimes it feels like the rear end is not being dampened when the shock is unloading going over a bump or dip.

 

If I repace shocks I guess I should do the front and back?. I am only at 160K miles I do have to align the front end a good bit but SC roads are not the best and there is some light offroad (mainly dirt and gravel and fields).

 

Definitely. You can get Bilstein 5100s all the way around for under $500. Yes, do them all at once. Nothing detrimental, but I put my rear ones on, then had to wait a couple weeks to get my struts put on. During that time I could easily tell that I had new ones on the back and that the front ones were too "bouncy".

Also, I only had 40k on mine before replacing and I could tell a huge difference.
You will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

So where would I get this done? The dealership does most of my maintenance (including tires because they will match and that way I get rotation when I do my oil changes) but they are definitely more expensive than others.

There is zero way I am going to do any of this personally. Do I buy the shocks and take them in or do I get them at the place who installs them? They can inspect my springs too.

 

Call around in your area. My dealership wanted $575 just to install the struts
(LOL!!!!). Another shop wanted $300. Found someone to do it for half of that. I normally do my own stuff, but didn't have the room or time for this, so it was worth it to me to have it done.

I purchased the shocks/struts from 4wheelparts. If they have a shop near you, they install as well.

 

Most reputable tire shops will install what you bring in and perform an alignment when finished, the dealer will do the same and charge a little to a lot more. Both can inspect your springs... it's not rocket science. I think Bilstein 5100s are a waste of money unless your truck is lifted, or you are running oversize tires. The tried & true 4600s are perfect for standard suspensions & tires.

 

Good thought, and agreed on the 4600s. Mine is stock, but at the time, the 5100s were only $35 more, so I went with those to have the option of adjusting the front later. Not to mention, I just couldn't do the yellow and blue under there with the bright red sway bar. I assume the OP is just looking for a stock replacement.

 

It is all about function. Figure the constant weight in the bed. Add a couple of hundred pounds of kayaks on a bed rack and general truck use. Dirt/Gravel roads and highway Most of my offroad is fields. Also towing but not a trailer big enough to require brakes. Either our kayak trailer with 6 yaks or a boat trailer with a 1756 jon boat. We drive pretty conservatively.

 

Replacing the shocks is a no-brainer, and I bet the springs are fine. Firestone air bags in the rear with automatic inflation / deflation, and maybe the addition of a rear anti-roll bar would increase your stability and virtually eliminate any sagging.

 

After some more research, the 4600s are being added to the "to do" list.

 

I'm starting to wonder if my leafs have gone out. The rear end is really squirly lately. They look fine, but just don't feel right. Truck has about 20K miles on it. Has Toytec shackles set at low height.

 

I was in the same boat. I had 170k on my 14 and decided to go 5100s all around(2cd clip up front, no spacers). My leafs are still suspect, I have a cap,jon boat and similar weight as you all the time. I had a local garage install my 5100s, also tires and alignment; took them most the morning(4hrs)...$240 labor.
I'm still debating on new leafs, or a helper or shackles... would like about an inch lift in the rear because the 5100s in middle setting put me pretty much level(.5" rake)
I will say i dont notice much of a difference in ride since the install, might be a stiffer but our roads are crap up here.