Deaver and SVC Adj Bump Install & Review

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Loufish

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On Sunday Oct 9th my son and I installed my new set of +3 Deavers and the SVC Adjustable bump kit with the 2” IFP bumps. I also installed a set of SDHQ 2” longer shackles.

The Deaver install was straight forward, replacing the dreaded 2” factory blocks. The SDHQ shackles are well made and had high quality welds.

The bump kit was pretty impressive, lots of metal where it seems to need it, a strong design, and also very nice welds. It included very nice hardware, using Gr8 bolts and flanged nuts on the frame bracket and tidy 12 pt bolts including AN washers on the can attachment. Everything fit, with just enough tolerance to bolt together without being too loose. I was a little concerned about the strike pad thickness, but if it’s too thick it won’t fit between the axle tube pad and the springs, and there are several gussets underneath for additional strength.

The install is on video at SVC’s website, you might want to watch it several times. The only real thing I did different from the video was to assemble all 3 main pieces loosely first before tightening anything. I also found out it was easier to insert and adjust the actual bumps in the cans before tightening the 3 per side attachment bolts. The bumps were pre-charged.

OK…and this is important for anybody doing suspension work!...don’t tighten springs or control arms until the truck is sitting down at actual ride height. I see this mistake so often on the internet it’s not funny…we dropped the truck on the ground (after rotating tires and doing an oil change) then tightened up everything including the spring “U” bolts…

REVIEW

Even with the longer shackles it raised the truck about 1.25”, but I think it will settle down after the springs get a little broke in. I plan on running a chase racks with spare tires in the bed, so I.m fine with that.

The new “ride”…The initial spring rate is very close to stock, but as soon as you start using the spring you can tell it’s way more progressive, the stock springs can get blown right thru too easy. On the freeway with the stock rear springs when you hit some of those big smooth dips the truck would compress and then gently over extend slightly above ride height and then come softly back to normal ride height, giving that floaty boat like ride (I kind of like it ) but the rear end would over extend farther the front and that’s an unnatural feel…The Deavers compress but really don’t overextend, making the front end feel a little light which is what I do like. The truck is better turning with the ripples in the road, almost all the skiddering across the ripples is gone. And yes it seems to corner just a little flatter…

The Dirt

Only had a short time to run the truck up at Gorman yesterday, but the rear end really behaved and did nothing wrong!....did some dips, hit a few ditches (front end didn’t like the speed I was going, but the rear – perfect!) and several “G” outs…all good.

The Bumps

SVC highly recommended these small softer 2” Fox bumps, they claimed they will come in soft and smooth but will still prevent excessive stiff bottoming.

Well they were correct, I never heard them hit, and it was so smooth and transitional. Used about 1” of the 2.5” of travel and it was totally progressive. I was also pleasantly surprised at how well the factory shocks worked with the new springs and bumps.

OVERALL

Very happy with package, well matched. I don’t need to go crazy fast and I always drive my trucks within their limits and have done so for years and haven’t tore up my trucks. This is not a Trophy Truck and I’m not trying to turn it into one, but you can travel very comfortably at a reasonable speed without beating up the truck or myself..

BTW

I have nothing to do with SVC/SDHQ other than being a regular customer. On anything I would review I call it as I see it

Sorry for long post...

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Sharkus29

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I'm planning on ordering the Bump Stop Kit with Deavers from SVC pretty soon here as well. Glad you like it! Now I'm even more excited to get them.
 

mezger

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@Loufish, looking through this as I'm about to install my Deavers + SVC. I don't see the stock retainers reused on top of your Deavers. Are you running without them?
 

mezger

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Thanks, thought it was required due to other DIYs reusing them, but I'm not a leaf spring expert.
 

Wfo

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I just ordered the same rear setup from SVC. I will be getting the Geiser bros springs for the front. Thanks for the write up / review! I’m excited to get my parts.
 

mezger

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I just installed my SVC IFP kit, starting on the Deavers in a few mins. Will have an offroad review soon; with the exception of the fit of the cans, I liked the overall fit and finish of the parts, and the IFPs have promise for my moderate application.

IMO, my bumpstop cans had too much clearance where they interface with the wings; the width of the mount was 0.2" narrower (as per my caliper) than the inner dimension of the can's mounts (where the three bolts connect), and that's a lot of bending for a short radius arm. It's as though someone used an incorrect jig when assembling the cans. Both cans were this way; I could find no documentation aside from a youtube video that isn't linked to the site and doesn't call out the required torque, so I torqued down the grade 8 bolts to the spec for their size, and as expected, they bent into place.

I found the hardest part of the install to be the front bolts going into the frame, for this, the included bendy wrench was a lifesaver.
 

mezger

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Regarding the SVC strike pad thickness, with the wire tie metal tab removed from the diff, it has supports which mate with the axle tube directly below where strikes should occur; IMO, this portion of the design looks well engineered. I did a shakedown run on mine yesterday evening, and there is a noticeable improvement in skittishness (Deavers). I will say that I do notice when I get into the bump stops, but I have no experience with hydraulic bumps so I don't have a reference whether or not they're harsh.

I summed the weights of what went in and what came out, accurate to my bathroom scale's error:

SVC bump stop kit (includes hardware): +43.9 lb
Stock springs, blocks, bumps: -136 lb
Deaver springs: +204.8 lb

Overall, these add 112 lbs to the truck.

Height at fender with OEM springs: 42.0". Height at rear fender with Deavers +2 (non HD) and SVC pads immediately after installation: ~42.25", most of the 0.25" is the SVC pads. Effectively, I saw no change in ride height. Height after a couple days and driving ~100 miles: 42.0", but this is with fuel added, so I claim no 'settling'. Will measure again with ~1/4 tank of fuel to see if it changes, but I'm not expecting it to.

FWIW, I ended up contacting both SVC and Deaver for documentation on torque specs and installation details. Deaver didn't respond to an email inquiry, but they picked up their phone on the second ring. Both were very helpful.
 
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