softer ride c20 -72 leaf springs

[Arctic c20 -72]

Would it give me a softer ride if I remove the bottom leaf?

[demian5]

Put a small block with a 400 bolted to it in the bed.

[Arctic c20 -72]

... or a VW Beetle?

[sick472]

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!

[Red71gmc]

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.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Red71gmc

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.

Another suggestion following that line of thinking would be to look closely at leaf springs for half-ton trucks and copy them as closely as possible. Or just try to source a pair of half-ton leafs and swap them in.

[Mike C]

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.

[Steeveedee]

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.

[71threequarterton]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

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.

Just curious: how often would you do this?

[72c20customcamper]

If you don't plan on loading up your truck with gravel or firewood the overload spring can be removed. Been done thousands of times on trucks. But it does serve another purpose, helps prevent wheel hop or axle wrap .So if your running a strong engine and or towing you may experience it.

I removed the overload and one leaf. Much softer ride. But I am going with a set of lowering springs and drop spindles this winter . Truck needs another 2 inches at least.

[toolboxchev]

Just get a 1/2 ton with a coil spring rear end and go waddling down the road!

[Mike C]

Sourcing parts in Sweden just a LITTLE more complicated and expensive than getting parts in the US...

Tires are the easiest. Google about setting correct tire pressure based on load, the chalk method specifically. I run the 33 12.5 15's on my CJ-5 at 20 psi on the road. The 35 12.5 16.5 BFG AT's on my Jimmy are set at 26 and could probably go a little lower.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 71threequarterton

Just curious: how often would you do this?

There is nothing in the maintenance manuals about this for our trucks. Back in the day ('50s), kerosene was used. But that can collect dust, so I use a dry lube. I think that it was when lubing the rest of the vehicle, at oil change time. On my '56 Chevy wagon I pulled the springs apart and put in thin Teflon spacers to soften the ride. If you look at really big trucks, they don't even have shocks, because inter-leaf friction on those heavy duty springs provides the damping.

[Arctic c20 -72]

Might try that! I never put anything really heavy on the bed1

[Arctic c20 -72]

Yes! I've thought about that too. Will figure out if I can compare them - perhaps at LMC-truck webpage

[Arctic c20 -72]

Engine is orinal 400 - 173 hp. How much did it drop in height? My rear could "afford" 1 inch or 1 1/2 lower without loosing stance

[Arctic c20 -72]

That's on option I guess!

[Arctic c20 -72]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

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.

Thats definitely one thing I'll do!!

[Arctic c20 -72]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Sourcing parts in Sweden just a LITTLE more complicated and expensive than getting parts in the US...

Tires are the easiest. Google about setting correct tire pressure based on load, the chalk method specifically. I run the 33 12.5 15's on my CJ-5 at 20 psi on the road. The 35 12.5 16.5 BFG AT's on my Jimmy are set at 26 and could probably go a little lower.

Correct - we pay a lot for shipping and customs!
Reading all the experienced advise I'll definitely will put lube between the leafs.Might also try to remove leafs and see what happens. Probably would a new set of softer springs be the best idea. The ones I have are "heavy duty". There should be a softer set for C10 - but C10 has coil springs. But there should be softer c20 leaf springs available??
Great Forum !!

[Andy4639]

My C 20 ramp truck is way to harsh of a ride when empty. I've been thinking about taking the leafs off altogether and bagging it.

It has like 15 leafs in each side. Those coil spring shocks are not doing a thing for it either.

This winter I hope to change some of that.

[Arctic c20 -72]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

My C 20 ramp truck is way to harsh of a ride when empty. I've been thinking about taking the leafs off altogether and bagging it.

It has like 15 leafs in each side. Those coil spring shocks are not doing a thing for it either.

This winter I hope to change some of that.

I guess air is the best!!