I have read a ton of threads on the conversion from air to coil.seems like there are bunch of different paths people have taken with mixed success. I tried maintaining my air bag system and it continued to ride poorly so I went with the Strutmasters coil conversion on my 2008 GX. It seems to lift the truck a bit and and the ride was improved a lot over how poorly it was handling prior to the conversion. I have notice more recently that running over small bumps it does not handle them as well as the air ride once did. My question is are there other adjustments or replacements I need to make to the sway bars or the lateral torsion bar in the rear to achieve a smoother ride? Both the sway bar links and lateral bar look pretty crusty / rusted. Wondering if the bushings are worn out. I had read that I should consider putting the truck onto a lift and getting it to neutral and loosening the sway bars and lateral torsion bar,

This gives you a look at the ride height


Rusted torsion bar
then retightening while neutral. Any suggestions appreciated Hoping someone has done this with the Strutmasters kit and knows what I am referencing.

 

You want to tighten the control arms and lateral rod bolts while the vehicle is on the ground, so the rubber in the bushings is at it's normal state. If you do it while it's on the lift (2-post style) then when you lower it there is going to be a twist applied to the rubber all the time, and that will wear it out prematurely.

I still have the air springs, so I don't have an opinion on the Strutmaster conversion. But you can certainly check the condition of the bushings yourself with a strong flashlight.

It looks like your shocks are dry, so they're not leaking. But they still might be worn out - if you bounce your weight on each corner, how many rebounds before it comes to a stop?

So far as the rust - that mostly looks like surface rust. It can be cleaned off with a steel brush, then use a rust converter like Corroseal on it. Protect afterwards with an underbody coating. Someone from a northern state will have a good recommendation.

Chip H.

 

Thanks Chip. I think the struts should be good. The pics were actually taken during the conversion so you may see that one side still has an air bag and another has the spring. Both struts were replaced. Does the ride height look higher in the first pic? If so I read that I would want to get Dobinson sway bar links and extent them 1/2 the amount that the truck is higher than stock. So in other words if it is lifted 2” above stock to extend the sway bar links 1”. I didn’t lift the truck but it does seem to be sitting higher. Not sure what stock height is or how to determine where it is now.

 

To determine ride height, measure from the center cap of the wheel to the fender lip. This takes tire size & inflation out of the equation.

My front is 19-3/4" and the rear is 21" (stock air springs)

Chip H.

 

Chip:

I assumed you meant center of the center cap, so here are my Truck’s measurements

Front

Rear

 

Yes, that's what I meant.
That looks to be within spec.

Chip H.

 

Good to know. So I drove it again yesterday. The issue with the ride is that it porpoises a little bit and doesn’t stay 100% level over small bumps that happen in succession if that makes any sense.

 

Chip H:

So trying to determine if I am unhappy with the performance of the springs and struts or if the sway bar adjustments might take care of it. Any tips on diagnosing or finding a solution? Feels like trial and error and now.

 

Just so I'm clear, you say you've installed the strutmasters coil conversion kit, and you also mention that "both struts have been replaced" in another post? So new coils and shocks in the rear, front suspension is still all stock, is that correct?

The symptoms you've described as "porpoising" and "doesn't stay level" over small bumps in succession. I want to clarify if that means side to side, or front to back, or a bit of everything?

 

All new Strutmasters struts and coils all around, at the same time, about 6 months ago. Side to side when going over bumps in succession, and at times also porpoising (boat term) front to back also.

 

Again, I have no experience with the Strutmasters conversion. But the steel springs will have a firmer ride than the air springs. And the Strutmasters shocks do not have adjustable valving like the factory ones did, so they're going to dampen bumps at whatever rate they do it.

Chip H.

 

Do you happen to know the spring rates for the kit you used? Front and rear if you can get them.

 

I will ask

 

Called Strutmasters. They claim they do not know the spring rate.

 

Yikes, that's not confidence inspiring.