leaf springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigd65 · 06-08-2003, 05:33 PM

well i got a set of leaf springs from the wrecking yard. i am go ing to swap them out and see if that is what is causing the popping in the rear. it seems there are 3 different sizes. 65 in, 56 in, and 52 in. these i got from a suborban, i think it was around 85. it was a 4x4 and are 4 leaf and an extra load leaf. the ones on my truck now are 3 leaf with a load leaf. i am going to strip them down and replace all the plastic spring pads first then i am going to replace them, i believe mine are popping due to no spring pads in there. i am thiinking of leaving the load leveler out but not real sure yet. BTW all the different sizes come from all the way up to the 91 burb. i was thinking of keeping the 65 in ones and moving the rear hanger, maybe that would give a better ride in the rear, but i desided naaaaaaa, i aint going through all that. anyways any one know where i can get the pads from other than the dealer. they can get them but they have to order them. also do yall think there will be a big difference in the ride between the 3 leaf and the 4 leaf, they are the same 52 in. (those measurements are from boly hole to bolt hole on the hangers.

**swervin ervin** · 06-08-2003, 06:00 PM

Good luck, I hope it works. As far as springs for our trucks, there are only two sizes I know of, 56" and 52". What in the world did you get 65" leafs from?

Russell · 06-08-2003, 08:00 PM

I wouldn't know, my truck has 12 leaves on each bundle, but I too need to replace a bundle, so tell me what you figure out. My truck came stock with 10 leaves, but my uncle had two more added, and both of those added ones have cracked since on the right hand side. I can only assume that the other ones are gonna break too, so I want to replace all of them.

TX_Mudder · 06-08-2003, 08:38 PM

The four leaf should ride better than the three leaf, assuming the leaves themselves are thinnen.

Jeff, if you want you can go to Pruitt Spring. They are in south Houston. Sorry, I don't have the # handy but I'm sure you can get it from information or the yellow pages. If you can't find it, lemme know and I'll look.
They do all custom leaf springs so they would surely sell you the part you want. If you take them the leaf springs, they'd even do it for you. I had them do some spring work for me and it was reasonable - and local, so quick.

-- Mike

BigAlVB · 06-09-2003, 07:22 AM

I don't know how relevant this post is but here goes... I just replaced the front springs on my '91 Sub which has a 2-2.5" lift. The front springs had eight (8)! leaves and they were going into a negative arch and you could see light through them, they were shot. The truck rode like sh#@! My friends' '91 with a 6" Superlift only had 5 leaves up front and rides like a dream. I ordered up a set of Superlift Softride springs and they came with 4 leaves only. Plus they are tapered on the ends and the other ones were not. Bottom line--HUGE improvement! These new springs are just barely positive arch, almost flat.
I also replaced all my ball joints and tie rod ends at the same time because my steering was awful. The ball joints (all non-greasable) were frozen up. It's like a new truck now.
I'm just using blocks in the back, I'm not sure what length they are. After a dozen Michigan winters, we didn't feel like trying to remove the shacle bolts which are probably naturally welded (rusted) to the frame

bigd65 · 06-09-2003, 09:36 AM

Mike the 65 in came off a 91 suburban. the kid that worked there said they would fit. well i took them home. being they were from a 91, all the pads looked good even the black paint was still on them. well i took off my wheels and said man they dont look right, so i measured them. man was i upset. anyways i took them back and got the 52's from the 4x4. i took them apart last nite and scrubbed them and just got the new spring pads from the dealership. the new ones are round and the old ones are square, that shouldnt make a difference should it. well i gotta work tonite so i wont be getting them put on til wednesday. would coating them with some sort of grease before i put the back together have any benefit.

bigd65 · 06-09-2003, 09:38 AM

BTW , other Mike, the same suburban had the front drive train from the 4x4 suburban. i thought about getting the whole front axle and converting mine to 4x4, but i desided against that. to much work and just really dont have much use for a 4x4, although i wouldnt mind having one to play in the mud with, but not for a daily driver.

06-08-2003, 05:33 PM	#1
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	leaf springs well i got a set of leaf springs from the wrecking yard. i am go ing to swap them out and see if that is what is causing the popping in the rear. it seems there are 3 different sizes. 65 in, 56 in, and 52 in. these i got from a suborban, i think it was around 85. it was a 4x4 and are 4 leaf and an extra load leaf. the ones on my truck now are 3 leaf with a load leaf. i am going to strip them down and replace all the plastic spring pads first then i am going to replace them, i believe mine are popping due to no spring pads in there. i am thiinking of leaving the load leveler out but not real sure yet. BTW all the different sizes come from all the way up to the 91 burb. i was thinking of keeping the 65 in ones and moving the rear hanger, maybe that would give a better ride in the rear, but i desided naaaaaaa, i aint going through all that. anyways any one know where i can get the pads from other than the dealer. they can get them but they have to order them. also do yall think there will be a big difference in the ride between the 3 leaf and the 4 leaf, they are the same 52 in. (those measurements are from boly hole to bolt hole on the hangers. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

06-08-2003, 06:00 PM	#2
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Good luck, I hope it works. As far as springs for our trucks, there are only two sizes I know of, 56" and 52". What in the world did you get 65" leafs from? __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

06-08-2003, 08:00 PM	#3
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	I wouldn't know, my truck has 12 leaves on each bundle, but I too need to replace a bundle, so tell me what you figure out. My truck came stock with 10 leaves, but my uncle had two more added, and both of those added ones have cracked since on the right hand side. I can only assume that the other ones are gonna break too, so I want to replace all of them. __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

06-08-2003, 08:38 PM	#4
TX_Mudder Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 126	The four leaf should ride better than the three leaf, assuming the leaves themselves are thinnen. Jeff, if you want you can go to Pruitt Spring. They are in south Houston. Sorry, I don't have the # handy but I'm sure you can get it from information or the yellow pages. If you can't find it, lemme know and I'll look. They do all custom leaf springs so they would surely sell you the part you want. If you take them the leaf springs, they'd even do it for you. I had them do some spring work for me and it was reasonable - and local, so quick. -- Mike __________________ http://home.houston.rr.com/chevy73/

06-09-2003, 07:22 AM	#5
BigAlVB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 74	I don't know how relevant this post is but here goes... I just replaced the front springs on my '91 Sub which has a 2-2.5" lift. The front springs had eight (8)! leaves and they were going into a negative arch and you could see light through them, they were shot. The truck rode like sh#@! My friends' '91 with a 6" Superlift only had 5 leaves up front and rides like a dream. I ordered up a set of Superlift Softride springs and they came with 4 leaves only. Plus they are tapered on the ends and the other ones were not. Bottom line--HUGE improvement! These new springs are just barely positive arch, almost flat. I also replaced all my ball joints and tie rod ends at the same time because my steering was awful. The ball joints (all non-greasable) were frozen up. It's like a new truck now. I'm just using blocks in the back, I'm not sure what length they are. After a dozen Michigan winters, we didn't feel like trying to remove the shacle bolts which are probably naturally welded (rusted) to the frame __________________ "When this car hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious s*&$!" Back To The Future

06-09-2003, 09:36 AM	#6
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	Mike the 65 in came off a 91 suburban. the kid that worked there said they would fit. well i took them home. being they were from a 91, all the pads looked good even the black paint was still on them. well i took off my wheels and said man they dont look right, so i measured them. man was i upset. anyways i took them back and got the 52's from the 4x4. i took them apart last nite and scrubbed them and just got the new spring pads from the dealership. the new ones are round and the old ones are square, that shouldnt make a difference should it. well i gotta work tonite so i wont be getting them put on til wednesday. would coating them with some sort of grease before i put the back together have any benefit. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

06-09-2003, 09:38 AM	#7
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	BTW , other Mike, the same suburban had the front drive train from the 4x4 suburban. i thought about getting the whole front axle and converting mine to 4x4, but i desided against that. to much work and just really dont have much use for a 4x4, although i wouldnt mind having one to play in the mud with, but not for a daily driver. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)



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