Leaf Spring Help

[Car'n'Guitars]

Okay so if you put 3/4 ton springs under a 1/2 ton but keeping the 1/2 ton axles, how much will it effect payload wise?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Look up big ten trucks.

The issue with this is you can load more but you can overwork the half ton brakes easily if your not carefull. So upgrade to the bigger brakes as well.

Me and my freind did this once, going down hill with 1800#s in the back of scrap steel and we couldn't stop but luckily his suspension was able to get us out of trouble and away from the ditch lol
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[Car'n'Guitars]

Can you put the 3/4 ton brakes on a 1/2 ton axle?

[MalibuSSwagon]

I'd like to put Big Ten or 3/4 ton springs on my 1/2 ton short bed. I will be towing trailers with brakes on them mostly.

Are Big Ten and 3/4 ton springs the same?

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

I'd like to put Big Ten or 3/4 ton springs on my 1/2 ton short bed. I will be towing trailers with brakes on them mostly.

Are Big Ten and 3/4 ton springs the same?

Do not think so. Big 10 or the F44 option made the truck a 5/8 ton. I have the heavy duty springs in the rear of my 1/2 ton and while they are a lot more beefy than the 1/2 ton springs (mine has 8 leafs, standard trucks I think have 4-5) I'm not sure if they are as good as 3/4 ton springs.

[Axle]

Payload is determined by axle as well (ie: bearing capacity).

I have 7+1 springs in my 1/2 ton. (rated at 2900 pounds each). It takes a lot to make the truck squat, but its nice to toss in whatever I want and not have it become a tail dragger.

Alex.

[Car'n'Guitars]

Originally Posted by Axle

Payload is determined by axle as well (ie: bearing capacity).

I have 7+1 springs in my 1/2 ton. (rated at 2900 pounds each). It takes a lot to make the truck squat, but its nice to toss in whatever I want and not have it become a tail dragger.

Alex.

Have you put bigger brakes on the 1/2 ton axles?

[MalibuSSwagon]

Yes my 1/2ton has 4 leafs per side. I will look around and order up some Big Ten springs.

[74 stepside]

There are light duty 1/2 tons and heavy duty 1/2 tons. There are light duty 3/4 tons and heavy duty 3/4 tons also. Light duty 1/2s have 4 shorter leafs. The hd option is 8 longer leafs which are the same as light duty 3/4 trucks. Even says so in LMC catalog when you look at replacement springs. So the answer to your question is yes. The longer 56" 8 leafs will fit your truck. Both of my c10 shortbeds came stock with the 8 leaf hd springs.

[frog210]

My 74 c10 shortbed
Has 8 leaf springs on each side
So I guess that makes it a hd half ton?
I have 12 bolt axle and 5 studs
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[MalibuSSwagon]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

There are light duty 1/2 tons and heavy duty 1/2 tons. There are light duty 3/4 tons and heavy duty 3/4 tons also. Light duty 1/2s have 4 shorter leafs. The hd option is 8 longer leafs which are the same as light duty 3/4 trucks. Even says so in LMC catalog when you look at replacement springs. So the answer to your question is yes. The longer 56" 8 leafs will fit your truck. Both of my c10 shortbeds came stock with the 8 leaf hd springs.

SO I will have to move my spring hangers? I did look at my frame a bit while doing my brakes this weekend, The holes in the frame are there to move the rear spring hangers.

Thanks.

[74 stepside]

Originally Posted by frog210

My 74 c10 shortbed
Has 8 leaf springs on each side
So I guess that makes it a hd half ton?
I have 12 bolt axle and 5 studs
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Correct you have a hd spring optioned 1/2 ton.

[74 stepside]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

SO I will have to move my spring hangers? I did look at my frame a bit while doing my brakes this weekend, The holes in the frame are there to move the rear spring hangers.

Thanks.

Yes you will need to move the rear hangers back into the next set of holes.

[Axle]

If you don't need more than 2700 pounds per spring, you can stay with a 52" leaf, no need to move hangers unless you want the longer leaf spring and 3500 pound capacity.
randomn spring seller;
http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_...987_s/1823.htm

Alex.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Can you put the 3/4 ton brakes on a 1/2 ton axle?

To answer your ignored question yes. Find a 3/4 truck or suburban and they will have the wide brake shoes. You will need to pull your axles and pull your backing plates off. But really if you find a 3/4 ton 10 bolt such as off a suburban they are usually geared better for towing or heavier vehicle weight
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[74 stepside]

Ive owned a 1975 3/4 ton truck and a 1989 3/4 ton suburban. From those and every other 3/4 squarebody truck I have ever seen they had a 14 bolt rear end. Never heard of a 3/4 ton 10 bolt. Since 14 bolt rears are 8 lug, they are completely different than 1/2 ton 5 lugs. I seriously doubt the brakes are interchangeable.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

Ive owned a 1975 3/4 ton truck and a 1989 3/4 ton suburban. From those and every other 3/4 squarebody truck I have ever seen they had a 14 bolt rear end. Never heard of a 3/4 ton 10 bolt. Since 14 bolt rears are 8 lug, they are completely different than 1/2 ton 5 lugs. I seriously doubt the brakes are interchangeable.

The suburban had wider brake drums and shoes this is as far as I know. Either way there is more brake and that will def help for heavy loads

Also the 1-1/4 thick rotors and spindles up front will work great as well. Brake fade from heat is your enemy here. Since with a heavy load+slow speeds that means that the heat does not dissipate. My friends rotors turned blue when we overloaded his. We changed his boiling brake fluid his rotors and pads after that.
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