How do I know if my rear springs are worn out?

[jrblanke]

I have been trying to decide which lowering kit to put on my truck (3/4 or 4.5/6). I was ready to place the order for the 4.5/6 kit and thought that I should actually measure what height the truck is at now. I am glad I did, because I think I discovered that my rear springs may be sagging. The truck has factory style P235/75R/15 tires.

Here are the measurements I took from the lip of the finder to the ground.

Front right (pictured) - 31 5/8"
Front left - 31 3/8"
Rear Right -(pictured) - 30 7/8"
Rear left - 31 3/8"

I thought the rear of the truck would be higher. Does anyone know what the stock rear height should be? Based on these measurements and the picture below, do you think the springs are worn out?

I don't want to order the kit until I know if I need to replace the springs. 3" spindles, removing 1/2 a coil on the front springs and a rear shackle/hanger kit would put all 4 fender lips at about 27" from the ground. I measured the tires to be roughly 28" in diameter. I don't want the rear of the truck to look like it sits lower than the front.

Shifting from looks to practicality, would some Big 10 springs be good to replace the stock springs? (Truck will see light duty, maybe some mulch every now and then, or towing a small trailer).


Her is a picture of it as it sits.




These pictures show the springs. I took these after I got the truck just to document it's condition at the time of purchase.

[J Knight]

The rear spring look fine to me. I can stilll see the factory rake in the side shot. You might as well do the 3.5/5in drop, everybody wants it lower after a 2/4 or 3/4 drop.

[86c20]

where did you measser from? most times you want to measer form a spit on the frame. if you have a good alingment shop they can give you the factory ride hieght and where to measer it from

[jrblanke]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I had the 4.5/6 drop kit in my "cart" and was about to click buy, and that is when I decided that I needed to confirm what I had went out to measure. I want to be absolutely sure that my springs are OK before buying. I intend to use my truck as a light duty truck and so if my springs are worn out, now is the time to relace them. I don't want the truck to look like it has a load of gravel in it all of the time, haha.


Do any of your stock ride height guys with stock tires have a measurement to the fender lip? I am looking for a ball park measurement. Should it be closer to 34"?

[J Knight]

You can go ahead and click to buy what's in your cart, you will need them weather your springs are worn or not.
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[canadian 4x4]

i bought a 4.5/6 drop and installed it, the rear is a little lower than the front but the more i drive it the more the front settles and is starting to look even. i talked to the belltech techs and they said my rear springs are probably worn. and they offer a 1/2" lift shackle for the rear, to compensate instead of new springs

[88Jimmy4x4]

if you plan on towing and/or hauling things in the bed you should plan on a notch too

truck looks level in pics to me

[Keith Seymore]

Here's stock (when new in 1987) vs lowered:



Your's looks like the stocker to me.

K

[88Jimmy4x4]

hey Keith, not to hyjack the thread...but what year did trucks offer the spare in the bed like yours?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

hey Keith, not to hyjack the thread...but what year did trucks offer the spare in the bed like yours?

All the years, as far as I know.

RPO "P13" is the option for the sidemount spare.

K

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

All the years, as far as I know.

RPO "P13" is the option for the sidemount spare.

K

Thanks.....sure wish mine had that option

[greatdane]

Nice truck, If I had it to over again I would've gone 4/4 or 4/5. Your rear springs look fine to me. I think that is why mine ended up lower in the back is cause my rear springs were saggy? So 3/4 might work for you even.

[sethv]

Rear springs look okay to me too. If you want to see worn out leaf springs, check my truck out when I first got it

[jrblanke]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate it.

I believe I am going to take a couple more measurements, and then I'll order the kit. If the rear end is too saggy, I will just add a leaf to the spring pack.

[killthewabbit]

Your truck is 25-30 years old. They're worn. As long as they aren't broken or anything, you should be OK. That said, it looks like you have dual tanks so they probably aren't as bad as they could be. Mine has only one tank same side as the driver, which tends to sag the leaf on that side. When I did my flip kit, I was well over an inch lower on the driver's side than the passenger. It was very noticeable when parked on flat ground. I swapped springs side to side after, and it's much better now.

[74 stepside]

Trucks usually have a 2" rake from the rear. To compensate a truck load in the bed. Which is why lowering kits are more in the rear than the front. Ive never measured a truck thats perfect from side to side. When you measured the rear, did one fuel tank have more fuel than the other? Also remember the rear fender edges are lower on the body than the fronts. I always measure the fender edge to the wheel center to get more acurrate measurements. Lastly, trucks with factory dual tanks seem to have less lean than single tank trucks. Good luck, Matt.

[cmyc5575]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

Trucks usually have a 2" rake from the rear. To compensate a truck load in the bed. Which is why lowering kits are more in the rear than the front. Ive never measured a truck thats perfect from side to side. When you measured the rear, did one fuel tank have more fuel than the other? Also remember the rear fender edges are lower on the body than the fronts. I always measure the fender edge to the wheel center to get more acurrate measurements. Lastly, trucks with factory dual tanks seem to have less lean than single tank trucks. Good luck, Matt.

Another reason why i think that i need to replace the whole driver side suspension because my leans badddddd!!

[jrblanke]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

Trucks usually have a 2" rake from the rear. To compensate a truck load in the bed. Which is why lowering kits are more in the rear than the front. Ive never measured a truck thats perfect from side to side. When you measured the rear, did one fuel tank have more fuel than the other? Also remember the rear fender edges are lower on the body than the fronts. I always measure the fender edge to the wheel center to get more acurrate measurements. Lastly, trucks with factory dual tanks seem to have less lean than single tank trucks. Good luck, Matt.

Matt,
You bring up some good points. The truck does have duel tanks, but I only use the one on the passenger side. I have had the truck since February, and the previous owner had it for 18 years before that. He said he never used the drivers side tank because it didnt have a cap on it, so he just didnt use it.

Also, I did not know about the fender edge being a different height on the rear than on the front, but after looking at it, I do see that. That would make sense why when I measured the height from the fender lip to the ground on both the front and rear, they were within 3/4" of eachother.

I took some more measurements and it looks like I would have to get some exhaust work done if I were to go with the flip kit. After seeing greatdane's truck, I am confident that the truck will have the look I am going for.

[1LowToy]

I took three sets of springs apart and matched yp each leaf and made a pair, beafed up by two springs. After more spring education I wished I'd just added the ongest #2 spring to retain the ride. I haven't driven min much but it is stiff and the height is just to my liking and no mre lean.