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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: sweden
Posts: 11
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softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
Would it give me a softer ride if I remove the bottom leaf?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Posts: 2,177
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
Put a small block with a 400 bolted to it in the bed.
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"Work hard, use your vacation days." 1970 C15 GMC Long Bed 1986 C20 Scottsdale 1983 K2500 Sierra Classic Suburban 6.2 Instagram: C10sofOC |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: sweden
Posts: 11
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
... or a VW Beetle?
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Sedalia Mo.
Posts: 1,131
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
If you are talking about the thick one that barely touches the others...don't do that!
Let's talk hypothetically, I am not qualified to advise anyone on modifying there suspension components. I can just talk theory at this point. That lower thick leaf looks to be a back up for heavily loaded situations or big potholes. Removing it would not be noticeable wrt the ride until you needed it and it would not be there. That lower thick one also keeps your other springs from bending backwards (or downwards). That leaves the next leaf up, it's a shorter one compared to the other 4 leaves above it which tells me that it contributes to a bit less than 20% of the support (maybe as little as 10%). I believe your ride would get softer if you removed that one from both sides. You would also loose some ride height (IDK how much, certainly the thickness of the spring and then some more for the loss of support). The scary part is that removing any of the springs also reduces the support that the springs above would have which sounds dangerous to me, maybe life threatening. I would leave the spring designs/mods to the spring engineers!
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He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20 |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Brookston, In
Posts: 482
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
I believe the correct way would be to leave the base spring and remove every other spring after it till what you want. One or two would make a lot of difference on ride but of course at the cost of payload capacity. If never used as a 3/4 ton for payload it would not make a lot of difference for you.
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#6 | |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,643
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
Quote:
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,720
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
If you don't run the truck loaded, tailor the ride with air pressure. If you have load range D tires that specify 65 psi, try running them at 45. Even on my Duramax with it's load range E tires that spec 80 psi, I only run them at that level if I am loaded or pulling HEAVY.
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#8 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,431
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
If you want a little more softness in the ride, raise the truck up by the frame and spray a dry Teflon(R) lube in between the leaves. Interleaf friction is a real thing. If you look at really big truck, you won't even see shocks, because interleaf spring friction reduces the bounce that much.
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: sweden
Posts: 11
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
Yes! I've thought about that too. Will figure out if I can compare them - perhaps at LMC-truck webpage
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: sweden
Posts: 11
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Re: softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs
Might try that! I never put anything really heavy on the bed1
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