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

muscletruck · 10-15-2002, 07:42 PM

does anyone know where i can get some? i ve seen 4 inch drop springs for about 300 some dollars....anyone know where i can get some any cheaper...if not i will end up doing a flip kit, i just dont want to do the whole c-notch thing....thanks all

my new 72 · 10-15-2002, 08:50 PM

I know one of the vendors on the board sells them. I think it is gmcpaul. Personally I wouldn't do a flip, take the time and do the springs. If money is an issue, then save for a bit longer and do it right. Don't rush and do a half a$$ed job you will regret later.

canso · 10-15-2002, 09:36 PM

I had my springs de-arc'd 3 inches. They measure the lift from the centre of the eyes to the top of the main leaf. It makes your springs about a 1/4 inch longer which centres the springs in the wheel well better.

muscletruck · 10-15-2002, 10:47 PM

how do yo lower the rear the correct way? de-arcing?....shackles?....what?....where do you take the springs to get de-arced? and how much does it cost?

crazy longhorn · 10-16-2002, 09:32 AM

I did a flip on the longhorn, using direct connection spring saddles,& had a new set of u bolts made to accept a set of ford pu plates. the spring mount brackets were then knocked off the frame & moved down 1 1/4" to give roughly a 5" drop. this mod involved a little welding, & grade 8 bolts/pinch lock nuts for the spring mount brackets(7/16"). At the rear, I beefed up the hanger brackets by adding a short pc of 3x3x1/4 angle(bolted to the bottom of the frame,& the insides of the hanger). I also added a set of slapper bars to handle wheel hop. this wasnt the easiest route to take,but cash wise about $100 in parts & hardware. good luck.....crazy AL

Mike C · 10-16-2002, 02:31 PM

If you go Crazy Longhorns route, make sure on what size springs you have. IME, the Longhorns have the same leaf springs that the 4x4 had, they are 2 1/2" in width. The other 2 wheel drive trucks (at least half and 3/4 ton) have 2 1/4" wide springs. Eaton Detroit spring can build you new springs and you can have them de-arched at the same time.

my new 72 · 10-16-2002, 05:14 PM

the right way do do a four inch drop in the rear with leafs is to save and buy new springs. If you wanna go a little lower get shackles, but if you go the extra drop with the shackles, a c-notch will be required, and I just don't like notches. Here is a pic of my truck with 4 inch drop leafs and 2 1/2 drop spindles on 17x8 1/2 with 255/55/17 nitto rubber.

Ackattack · 10-16-2002, 05:18 PM

I just removed one of the middle springs to lower mine. I realize this isn't the proper way to do it, but it cost a total of $20 (new u bolts). I would think that if you got lowering shackles, that would probably be the best economical way to do it.

Luckily I don't really haul anything in my truck, so it's capacity isn't really an issue. I to think that I'm having issues with axle wrap, but I'm planning to get some traction bars to help with that issue.

my new 72 · 10-16-2002, 05:23 PM

For some reason it won't let me post the pic. Send me you email address and I' send it to you that way.

crazy longhorn · 10-16-2002, 05:39 PM

Mike C brought up a good point there......the direct connection saddle mounts are 2 1/2" wide, just like the longhorn spring. I hadnt thought about the 1/2 ton spring being 2 1/4" wide. Its too bad nobody offers a front hanger along with a shackle......I did a 2/4 drop on a 90 GMC with bell tech parts.......slick as hell! I also dont like notches, & dont have one......the final drop on my longhorn was on the body.......3/5 suspension, + 1 1/2" on the body& nothing scraps on the road, not even the full lenght headers! good luck.....longhorn

10-15-2002, 07:42 PM	#1
muscletruck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: anahiem,ca,usa Posts: 201	drop leaf springs??? does anyone know where i can get some? i ve seen 4 inch drop springs for about 300 some dollars....anyone know where i can get some any cheaper...if not i will end up doing a flip kit, i just dont want to do the whole c-notch thing....thanks all __________________ i think i found me truck! 78 Crew Cab Dually 454/TH400, Dual Flows, Edelbrock Intake, Cam, Lifters, Billet Grill, K&N Airfilter, Grant Steering Wheel, A/C, soon to be power windows and locks, lots of plans for this... ....gas prices go down please

10-15-2002, 08:50 PM	#2
my new 72 faster, faster, faster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA Posts: 1,354	I know one of the vendors on the board sells them. I think it is gmcpaul. Personally I wouldn't do a flip, take the time and do the springs. If money is an issue, then save for a bit longer and do it right. Don't rush and do a half a$$ed job you will regret later. __________________ I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice.

10-15-2002, 10:47 PM	#4
muscletruck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: anahiem,ca,usa Posts: 201	doing it right? how do yo lower the rear the correct way? de-arcing?....shackles?....what?....where do you take the springs to get de-arced? and how much does it cost? __________________ i think i found me truck! 78 Crew Cab Dually 454/TH400, Dual Flows, Edelbrock Intake, Cam, Lifters, Billet Grill, K&N Airfilter, Grant Steering Wheel, A/C, soon to be power windows and locks, lots of plans for this... ....gas prices go down please

10-16-2002, 02:31 PM	#6
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	If you go Crazy Longhorns route, make sure on what size springs you have. IME, the Longhorns have the same leaf springs that the 4x4 had, they are 2 1/2" in width. The other 2 wheel drive trucks (at least half and 3/4 ton) have 2 1/4" wide springs. Eaton Detroit spring can build you new springs and you can have them de-arched at the same time. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

10-16-2002, 05:14 PM	#7
my new 72 faster, faster, faster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA Posts: 1,354	the right way do do a four inch drop in the rear with leafs is to save and buy new springs. If you wanna go a little lower get shackles, but if you go the extra drop with the shackles, a c-notch will be required, and I just don't like notches. Here is a pic of my truck with 4 inch drop leafs and 2 1/2 drop spindles on 17x8 1/2 with 255/55/17 nitto rubber. __________________ I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice.

10-15-2002, 09:36 PM	#3
canso Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 92	I had my springs de-arc'd 3 inches. They measure the lift from the centre of the eyes to the top of the main leaf. It makes your springs about a 1/4 inch longer which centres the springs in the wheel well better.

10-16-2002, 09:32 AM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	I did a flip on the longhorn, using direct connection spring saddles,& had a new set of u bolts made to accept a set of ford pu plates. the spring mount brackets were then knocked off the frame & moved down 1 1/4" to give roughly a 5" drop. this mod involved a little welding, & grade 8 bolts/pinch lock nuts for the spring mount brackets(7/16"). At the rear, I beefed up the hanger brackets by adding a short pc of 3x3x1/4 angle(bolted to the bottom of the frame,& the insides of the hanger). I also added a set of slapper bars to handle wheel hop. this wasnt the easiest route to take,but cash wise about $100 in parts & hardware. good luck.....crazy AL

10-16-2002, 05:18 PM	#8
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,524	I just removed one of the middle springs to lower mine. I realize this isn't the proper way to do it, but it cost a total of $20 (new u bolts). I would think that if you got lowering shackles, that would probably be the best economical way to do it. Luckily I don't really haul anything in my truck, so it's capacity isn't really an issue. I to think that I'm having issues with axle wrap, but I'm planning to get some traction bars to help with that issue. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

10-16-2002, 05:23 PM	#9
my new 72 faster, faster, faster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA Posts: 1,354	For some reason it won't let me post the pic. Send me you email address and I' send it to you that way. __________________ I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice.

10-16-2002, 05:39 PM	#10
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Mike C brought up a good point there......the direct connection saddle mounts are 2 1/2" wide, just like the longhorn spring. I hadnt thought about the 1/2 ton spring being 2 1/4" wide. Its too bad nobody offers a front hanger along with a shackle......I did a 2/4 drop on a 90 GMC with bell tech parts.......slick as hell! I also dont like notches, & dont have one......the final drop on my longhorn was on the body.......3/5 suspension, + 1 1/2" on the body& nothing scraps on the road, not even the full lenght headers! good luck.....longhorn

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