What are some good aftermarket:

- shocks

I know there are the "ride kings" but they're pricey at about $2100 per truck to do 8

- kingpins

I seem to remember someone suggesting kaiser

- spring bushings
- front axle springs

I remember seeing some funky "carbon" springs for big trucks, but I do not recall what they were called. Don't know if I'd be too interested in these.

- polyurethane bushings

Bruce Mallinson from PP talked about these.

- anything else you guys can suggest.

 

I'm running a set of Ride Kings on the front. They are a superior shock, the question is, does a superior shock make enough difference to justify the cost? I'm creeping up on the point where I changed my last set of steers, so I'll have a good indication of the affect on tire wear; the steers don't seem to run quite as hot. The front end definitely doesn't hop as much on bumps but that's an individual preference as to how much that's worth. As far as savings do to less wear-and-tear on other front-end components, I can't quantify them. If you just laid out the hard numbers, it's difficult to justify the cost. Having said that, I'll probably add them to my rears and my next trailer. Oh, and the sleeper.

I asked my buddy at KW about the carbon-whatever springs once. He said that he'd heard there were durability issues. They were easily nicked which weakened their integrity and often meant they had to be replaced. I never looked into them much so I don't know how much stock I put into that explanation.

 

Kaiser kingpins for certain...severe duty model. They stand up great under tight manuvering under load.

 

I have the Kaiser king-pins, they are in around 200,000 miles, so far so good, easy to put in, no reaming.

The company runs the composite leaf springs on a lot of the new trailers, they hold up OK, but no warning they just snap, don't think I would mess with them.

I run the shocks KW sells, can't remember who makes them, I change shocks at every tire change, never had a problem.

Remember it IS a truck, and it will ride like a truck, expensive shocks will NOT change that.

 

Thanks for the response guys, I really appreciate it.

Does anyone have experience with roller bushings?

 

If you mean on the springs, my buddy has them on his Pete, seems to we working out nicely.

My KW uses screw in bushing, which seldom wear out.

 

bumpity