Coil springs required?

[Seefral]

Hi. I have a 2000 Limited with original(?) suspension and 200K miles. I drive a lot on washboard roads and it's gotten to be a brutal ride. It sits level. The stock ride height is fine. I haven't felt it bottom out. None of the coils are broken.
I'm planning on replacing all 4 corners with bilstien 4600s. Replacement coil springs are pretty expensive and I also need to the the timing belt change soon. Given the truck sits okay and doesn't bottom out do I need to invest in new springs?
I only drive the truck ~8K miles per year but I don't plan on selling it any time soon.

 

[fourwd1]

If you have 200K miles on a "original ?" suspension, it's no wonder the ride is brutal.
Even if the original suspension was replaced at maybe 100K you'd likely still need a new one at 200K. You could try just the Bilstein's and see how they do and go from there. Especially if you're doing the work yourself. But if you're paying for the work it would be much cheaper in labor $$ to do it all at once instead of in 2 steps.

 

[phattyduck]

You are likely hitting bump stops and feeling the effects of worn bushings. Both cause plenty of harshness.

If the rear ride height is find and you don't often carry weight in the back or tow, you can keep the original springs. 4600's will be good for shocks, but you will probably find the ride still isn't what you want. You will need to do bushings on all 5 rear links and likely the upper and lower front control arms. Do new OEM lower ball joints if it has been a while (like, over 100k miles).

That said, stock dimension shocks will not really be able to handle washboard roads had high speeds well. There just isn't enough control in the valving. If you can, lowering tire pressure will help smooth out low-amplitude roughness. I run 35psi normally (32" K02's), 22psi in mixed conditions (50/50 high speed fire roads and highway) and go lower if exclusively off road and going slower.

I've run 4600s, 5100s and King 2.5's - the 4600s and 5100s are basically equivalent if you are staying at stock height. The Kings are a whole new world. Along the way though, I have had to do every suspension bushing and bump stops to improve comfort and control at speed.

-Charlie

 

[fourwd1]

Some good points as well !