Leaf springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mxer77 · 10-06-2010, 06:24 PM

New here, just picked up 68 GMC. Anyone make lowering leaf springs?
Thanks

ChevLoRay · 10-06-2010, 06:30 PM

to the forum!

Leaf springs are usually an issue because of the shackles/hangers. On these trucks, there's an issue with the width of the spring. Check out www.earlyclassic.com. Bell Tech is another that makes lowering components. There are vendors on here who sell what you need, too. Go to the home page and look for the vendor link.

mxer77 · 10-06-2010, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the info!

292farmer · 10-06-2010, 10:30 PM

how much u looking to lower? my buddy did a axle flip, put leafs from top to under the axle lowered...3-4inchs i think. this does require some welding, his was a 75' but i believe the set up is close to same, maybe something to consider

ZKinZ · 10-07-2010, 01:32 AM

I have the lowered leafs and shackles from ECE on my '71 Chevy. Great product and not too difficult to install.

mxer77 · 10-07-2010, 05:57 AM

Thanks, all. My son's 96 GMC has a flipped axle, ride is poor, housing hits the frame often, without a load in bed.
The vendor on the homepage, POL, has a mono leaf spring w/ a 4 or 6 inch drop. I like the sound of that, nice and clean.
At some point, I plan on installing a 572" or equivalent. Anyone had experience with these springs and hi-torque motor.

New ride:

292farmer · 10-07-2010, 06:43 AM

wow that truck looks awesome! i haven't used those springs so cant say i know they offer them for muscle cars too so i guess they could handle some high hp.

ChevLoRay · 10-07-2010, 01:23 PM

When the F-body Camaro came out for the '67 intro, it had a single-leaf spring on each side in the rear. Seems like the performance models got multi-leaf, but I wouldn't swear to it. I know that the Firebird had traction bars attached to keep the spring from wrapping-up, in the Sprint/HO 350 and the 400-engined bars. So, there has to be an issue with single-leaf springs and performance potential. Corvette also has used a single-leaf fiberglass spring.

*lghtng2* · 10-07-2010, 01:31 PM

WHY!?!?!? Trade someone with 2wd coil overs! I'm tired of not being able to find any truck frames with 4x4 or 2wd rear leaf... its driving me loco!!!

GASoline71 · 10-07-2010, 03:15 PM

I instaled 2" lowering shackles on my '72 GMC. Also removed the thick overload spring under the srpingpack. It was good for almost 3" or drop in the rear.

Gary

mxer77 · 10-07-2010, 03:52 PM

The existing leaf springs have 9 leafs. They may be from a 3/4 ton. I was thinking of taking out bottom 4, then 2" drop shackles. Anyone with a 1/2 ton,
how many leafs is factory? (or is it leaves?)

Fesser · 11-16-2010, 02:31 PM

My 72 half ton has five and I'm pretty sure they are the originals. The leaf closest to the axle is a real fatty, the others are thinner.

10-06-2010, 06:24 PM	#1
mxer77 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norwell, MA Posts: 10	Leaf springs New here, just picked up 68 GMC. Anyone make lowering leaf springs? Thanks

10-06-2010, 06:30 PM	#2
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Leaf springs to the forum! Leaf springs are usually an issue because of the shackles/hangers. On these trucks, there's an issue with the width of the spring. Check out www.earlyclassic.com. Bell Tech is another that makes lowering components. There are vendors on here who sell what you need, too. Go to the home page and look for the vendor link. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-06-2010, 06:40 PM	#3
mxer77 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norwell, MA Posts: 10	Re: Leaf springs Thanks for the info!

10-06-2010, 10:30 PM	#4
292farmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: stoddard nh Posts: 693	Re: Leaf springs how much u looking to lower? my buddy did a axle flip, put leafs from top to under the axle lowered...3-4inchs i think. this does require some welding, his was a 75' but i believe the set up is close to same, maybe something to consider __________________ 1972 gmc c25 292/sm465 dana 60 w/5.13s 1973 vw super beetle 1600cc/4spd(baja bug) 1974 chevy c60 351v6/np-540+2 speed eaton rear 2005 chevy cobalt 2.2l

10-07-2010, 01:32 AM	#5
ZKinZ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 40	Re: Leaf springs I have the lowered leafs and shackles from ECE on my '71 Chevy. Great product and not too difficult to install. __________________ ~Zack '71 Chevy C10 LWB '01 Harley Softail

10-07-2010, 05:57 AM	#6
mxer77 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norwell, MA Posts: 10	Re: Leaf springs Thanks, all. My son's 96 GMC has a flipped axle, ride is poor, housing hits the frame often, without a load in bed. The vendor on the homepage, POL, has a mono leaf spring w/ a 4 or 6 inch drop. I like the sound of that, nice and clean. At some point, I plan on installing a 572" or equivalent. Anyone had experience with these springs and hi-torque motor. New ride: Attached Images

10-07-2010, 06:43 AM	#7
292farmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: stoddard nh Posts: 693	Re: Leaf springs wow that truck looks awesome! i haven't used those springs so cant say i know they offer them for muscle cars too so i guess they could handle some high hp. __________________ 1972 gmc c25 292/sm465 dana 60 w/5.13s 1973 vw super beetle 1600cc/4spd(baja bug) 1974 chevy c60 351v6/np-540+2 speed eaton rear 2005 chevy cobalt 2.2l

10-07-2010, 01:23 PM	#8
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Leaf springs When the F-body Camaro came out for the '67 intro, it had a single-leaf spring on each side in the rear. Seems like the performance models got multi-leaf, but I wouldn't swear to it. I know that the Firebird had traction bars attached to keep the spring from wrapping-up, in the Sprint/HO 350 and the 400-engined bars. So, there has to be an issue with single-leaf springs and performance potential. Corvette also has used a single-leaf fiberglass spring. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-07-2010, 01:31 PM	#9
lghtng2 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 179	Re: Leaf springs WHY!?!?!? Trade someone with 2wd coil overs! I'm tired of not being able to find any truck frames with 4x4 or 2wd rear leaf... its driving me loco!!!

10-07-2010, 03:52 PM	#11
mxer77 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norwell, MA Posts: 10	Re: Leaf springs The existing leaf springs have 9 leafs. They may be from a 3/4 ton. I was thinking of taking out bottom 4, then 2" drop shackles. Anyone with a 1/2 ton, how many leafs is factory? (or is it leaves?)

11-16-2010, 02:31 PM	#12
Fesser Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 519	Re: Leaf springs My 72 half ton has five and I'm pretty sure they are the originals. The leaf closest to the axle is a real fatty, the others are thinner.



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