Swapping Control arms for Leaf Springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nixon · 09-19-2004, 01:38 AM

I have a friend who says the 71-72 Chevy Truck will have a better ride if you remove the control arms and install a leaf spring conversion. He also said that especially if I was going to add posi trac to the rear end that it would help control wheel hop also. Any truth to this? What do you guys think?

Oh yeah, I plan on lowering the truck also. Does that matter?

RON WOODGEARD · 09-19-2004, 02:33 AM

The control arm suspension is a much smoother ride and the suspension has far better smoother, quicker, articulation. The Control arm suspension is what Nascar uses..

I have leaf spring and will at some time in the future changing it over to Control Arm...

68LSS1 · 09-19-2004, 05:51 AM

Your friend is nuts.

Longhorn Man · 09-19-2004, 06:44 AM

Nixon... first of all, welcome to the forum.
Your friend has it totally backwards.
The trailing arms act like traction bars, while the leaf springs just wrap up and jump like mad.
The coils, if you were to look, have 2 different spring rates, the center coils are closer together, this is the comfort portion, then, when those colapse, the stiffer portion takes over.
As far as lowering, you are again, better off with the coils. With the leafs, you need a flip kit and a C notch kit to do anything over 3 inches. The coils, all you do is replasce the springs with readily availible drop coils, and a new panhard bar....which is also availible.

ChevLoRay · 09-19-2004, 07:45 AM

Yep, better heed what you read. Your friend is gonna make you mad, if you follow his advice. These guys are telling you correctly. And, as already stated, the style of rear end set up on these trucks are what NASCAR uses for their race car setups. If it's good enough for NASCAR, it's good enough for me!

krue · 09-19-2004, 08:01 AM

Don't fix it if ain't broke!
Welcome to the board BTW

Nixon · 09-19-2004, 10:51 AM

Appreciate it guys. I don't know the world about this stuff but it just didn't make sense to me. Instead of gettin in a pissin contest with my friend since I was sure what I was talking about, I figured I poll some people I thought would know. Thanks for the info.....and glad to be here.

gmc67swb · 09-19-2004, 03:32 PM

Don't Listen To These Guys...your Friend Is Right... I'll Tell You What, I Have A '67 Gmc And I'll Swap You Even My Leaf Spring Set Up For Your Trailing Arm Set Up.. And I Won't Even Charge Ya!!

No, For Real Though, Keep What Ya Got. I Too Believe It Is A Better Set Up...one More Thing, Ya Better Make Sure He Doesn't Have A Leaf Spring Truck Sittn' In His Back Yard. :d

Don't Want To Steal The Thread, But How Hard Is It To Swap From Leaf To Control Arm Suspension..

Longhorn Man · 09-19-2004, 05:00 PM

Hey nixon...your signiture rocks man!

09-19-2004, 01:38 AM	#1
Nixon Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Burnet, Texas Posts: 53	Swapping Control arms for Leaf Springs I have a friend who says the 71-72 Chevy Truck will have a better ride if you remove the control arms and install a leaf spring conversion. He also said that especially if I was going to add posi trac to the rear end that it would help control wheel hop also. Any truth to this? What do you guys think? Oh yeah, I plan on lowering the truck also. Does that matter? __________________ My girlfriend caught me cheatin on her with another woman and now she's threatening to tell my wife! ____________________________________ 71 Chevy lwb Rough and Ready Baby!! Last edited by Nixon; 09-19-2004 at 01:40 AM. Reason: added info

09-19-2004, 05:51 AM	#3
68LSS1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,191	Your friend is nuts. __________________ '68 Short Step LS1/T56, Hydratech, Fatman Fabrications Stage III, Baer, Hot Rods to Hell, US Body, S&W, etc

09-19-2004, 07:45 AM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Yep, better heed what you read. Your friend is gonna make you mad, if you follow his advice. These guys are telling you correctly. And, as already stated, the style of rear end set up on these trucks are what NASCAR uses for their race car setups. If it's good enough for NASCAR, it's good enough for me! __________________ 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.

09-19-2004, 08:01 AM	#6
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Don't fix it if ain't broke! Welcome to the board BTW __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

09-19-2004, 10:51 AM	#7
Nixon Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Burnet, Texas Posts: 53	Appreciate it guys. I don't know the world about this stuff but it just didn't make sense to me. Instead of gettin in a pissin contest with my friend since I was sure what I was talking about, I figured I poll some people I thought would know. Thanks for the info.....and glad to be here. __________________ My girlfriend caught me cheatin on her with another woman and now she's threatening to tell my wife! ____________________________________ 71 Chevy lwb Rough and Ready Baby!!

09-19-2004, 02:33 AM	#2
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	The control arm suspension is a much smoother ride and the suspension has far better smoother, quicker, articulation. The Control arm suspension is what Nascar uses.. I have leaf spring and will at some time in the future changing it over to Control Arm...

09-19-2004, 06:44 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Nixon... first of all, welcome to the forum. Your friend has it totally backwards. The trailing arms act like traction bars, while the leaf springs just wrap up and jump like mad. The coils, if you were to look, have 2 different spring rates, the center coils are closer together, this is the comfort portion, then, when those colapse, the stiffer portion takes over. As far as lowering, you are again, better off with the coils. With the leafs, you need a flip kit and a C notch kit to do anything over 3 inches. The coils, all you do is replasce the springs with readily availible drop coils, and a new panhard bar....which is also availible.

09-19-2004, 03:32 PM	#8
gmc67swb Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesquite, Tx Posts: 396	Don't Listen To These Guys...your Friend Is Right... I'll Tell You What, I Have A '67 Gmc And I'll Swap You Even My Leaf Spring Set Up For Your Trailing Arm Set Up.. And I Won't Even Charge Ya!! No, For Real Though, Keep What Ya Got. I Too Believe It Is A Better Set Up...one More Thing, Ya Better Make Sure He Doesn't Have A Leaf Spring Truck Sittn' In His Back Yard. :d Don't Want To Steal The Thread, But How Hard Is It To Swap From Leaf To Control Arm Suspension.. __________________ GM 330HP/350, Magnuson 122HH, Tremec TKO 5spd

09-19-2004, 05:00 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Hey nixon...your signiture rocks man!

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