Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Hello All,

First post here.

I've finally gotten around to rebuilding my Dad's 71 GMC K15 4x4. I've come to the front leaf springs and he bought a Superlift 2500 & 2509 add a leafs to give the truck a slight lift. When I pulled the front leafs off (which are 2 leafs and mounted above the axle) I put it beside the add a leaf and it looks WAY off. It doesn't seem possible to get this extra leaf in the pack because of the length and arch difference. Am I missing something here? Do I have the correct "add-a-leaf" set? Summit and Jegs both said it will but i'm doubting it now. I feel at this point it would be easier to go with new lift leaf spring packs like the Tuff Country ez-ride. As you can see in the picture, the existing leaf is almost flat and the add-a-leaf has a significant arch.

Has anybody else run into this problem? I apologize if this is redundant.

Thanks in advance

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Sorry about the sideways view, not really sure what happened there..

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Very well may fit, appears it needs to be compressed. I purchased a set of Helwig Progressive overloads. Over the course of 10 years using them and then taking them off my truck sits a bit higher in the rear.

Hellwig is a great company to deal with and have been doing this for decades.

No install instructions with those? Send em back, in my mind.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

That's how the Add-A-Leaf lifts the truck. They serve to pull a bigger arch out of existing springs. The springs will also serve to straighten the Add-A-leaf some. You have to clamp them and the spring pack together to assemble. If you want a better ride then certainly go with the Ez-Rides

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Did the add-a-leafs come with any instructions? Looks like it should install directly under the main leaf. What I have done in the past is clamp existing spring pack and then remove the center pin, disassemble pack. Assemble spring pack with new leaf in proper location using a long bolt that will reach through all the leafs. Bolt should be fully threaded. You could also use a piece of all thread double nutted at one end to create a bolt. Draw the pack together using the bolt and a nut. Clamp pack, remove bolt and replace with new center pin. Will probably have to trim excess off of new center pin bolt.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Perfect description for an easy way to do it.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

It did come with the instructions but they’re pretty generic.

I picked up a piece of all thread rod, nuts, and washers about 10 minutes ago to do just that. I’ll tackle that tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Great. Post an update on how the install went!

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Update:

Pulling the springs together with all thread and clamps worked like a charm. I appreciate the help!

Here's a comparison picture of the spring with the add-a-leaf and the stock spring. Quite a difference.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

I would have put the add a leaf between the 2 stock leaves so that they are in order longest to shortest.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

When I rebuilt my leafs, I cut the extra length off the bolt, leaving a small bit, and peened the end of the bolt. The nut will still come off, but not of it's own accord.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

They are in order from shortest to longest, the middle leaf (bottom stock leaf) tapers at the end, the picture doesn't do a great job detailing that.

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

I did end up cutting a considerable amount off the new bolt, peening might not be a bad idea!

Re: Leaf Spring "Add-a-Leaf" Help
 

Glad everything went well. The center pin just locates the axle once the spring is installed on the vehicle. Not really any sort of load put on it.