Leaf spring question
 

On a 1/2 ton I want some more lift in the rear so I can do some towing. Its a 2wd. am I able to use a 1/2 ton 4wd rear spring for this or does anyone know what I can use or am I just stuck with helper springs?

Thanks Guys
Happy New Year!

Re: Leaf spring question
 

i put 3/4 ton leafs in mine 8 pack and it tows anything

Re: Leaf spring question
 

i would think about doing a beg ten conversion. in 77 (and other years also) chevy built a big ten which had beefyer 3/4 ton rear springs and bigger brakes over the stock half ton. it was perty much the ultimate towing package for a half ton. the big ten had the 3/4 ton springs, 1.25 inch wide front rotors compared to the stock 1 inch, had 11-5/32x i think 2 1/2 inches wide shoes in the rear, and came standard with a 3.73 gear ratio in the back. my truck and trailer weigh about 6000 pounds and we put a 6000 pound john deere crawler on it and it didnt have a bit of trouble. but i do also have helper springs on my truck now and they help some to.

Re: Leaf spring question
 

I was told I cant put 3/4 ton springs in mine without moving the mounting brackets on the frame...........is that true, because this is going to be a junkyard swap so I need to know what I will have to grab etc

Re: Leaf spring question
 

Thats a good idea, but I think where I would run into the problem is I m going to try and junkyard the springs etc and the sources I have up here have no Big Tens in them, but it is a really good idea if I come across one. Saw you have a Duster. Thats actually what I am building this truck for is to tow my show Duster 340

Re: Leaf spring question
 

Yes 3/4 ton trucks have longer main leafs than 1/2 tons. You can buy a set of 3/4 ton springs and build a set of spring packs using your original main leafs.

Re: Leaf spring question
 

This may be a good time for a chevy lean poll. I just lowered the rear of mine and found a 3/4" lean to the right. If everyone is leaned to the right I'd be looking to get left side springs. It may take dismantaling a lot of spring packs to get what you really want. I was thinking of getting a pair of new springs to straighten mine out. But having a custom built pack would be nice too.

Re: Leaf spring question
 

Buy the HD springs, move the rear hangers back to the cotrrect mounting holes (they are already on the frame), and call it a day! :)

Re: Leaf spring question
 

i once helped a friend put new springs on a 82 4x4, he kept cracking 1/2 ton leafs i think he said they were heavy half springs or 3/4 springs regardless they went right on fairly easy, lifted the rear end of the truck a bit but he still uses the truck fairly hard to this day

Re: Leaf spring question
 

it would be about the best thing to just switch the rear springs but you would probly want to upgrade the brakes and engine and maby a front sway bar to help handle the weight of the duster and you trailer


BTW could you post up some pics of the duster maby?

Re: Leaf spring question
 

The other upgrades are already planned I have a pretty good source for parts locally so I am good for most of that stuff just wanted to be sure of what I needed before I go looking for stuff because my source is 4 hours away from where I live LOL
Attachment 675302


This is the only pic I have on this computer of my Duster its a 72