better rear suspension coil or leaf?

[67GreenBean]

I am going to be converting my 67 Longbed to a short. I have a friend who said I could have one of his trucks for my conversion. One is a 71 Stepside GMC/ 5 lug / disc brakes/ and rear Leaf springs. The other is 67 stepside Chevy/ 6 lug / drum brakes. I want the 5 lug and the disc front brakes my problem is the rear suspension. Which is better. I need some pros and cons.

Thanks
Luke

[wibilly]

i personaly think leaf is better for hauling and towing but coil is better for a hot rod

[Sport/Truck]

I feel your pain……my preference is the GMC! Disc brakes are a plus. The leaf springs aren’t my cup of tea though. I think the ride is smoother with coils + its easier to lower….if that’s what you want.
Get them both you can’t have to may parts…..
s/t

[cdowns]

nascar racers think the trailing arm coil is better for handeling thats why every team uses it

[Boog]

Leafs for hauling. Coils for much better ride. I was just reading in classic trucks today on bolting in a coil rear for the 73 to 87 trucks which only came with leafs.

[Frizzle Fry]

Not sure why everyone always says leafs are better for hauling.

The only function in which I think they can be made superior is in axle articulation ie. rock crawlin. Otherwise coils are the way to go IMO.

[crazy longhorn]

Leafs are more stable with a load on them than coils, they also tend to sit flatter in a high speed curve (unloaded). The only other plus I see is exhaust routing......you have lots of room with a leaf setup, nothing is in the way The coils will ride better, hook better, & are easier to lower. Just depends on your useage..... crazyL

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by Boog

Leafs for hauling. Coils for much better ride. I was just reading in classic trucks today on bolting in a coil rear for the 73 to 87 trucks which only came with leafs.

I just read the same thing -- they also stated that using leafs on a 1/2 ton was basically a cost saving measure back then, as the trailing arm setup cost a lot more to make

[WorkinLonghorn]

From Petersen's " 4Wheel & Off-Road";

Coils vs. Leaves

Sorry, but we aren’t going to declare a winner in the world of springs because there is no clear cut advantage to either coils or leaves. Coil springs cost less to make, are lighter, have no internal friction, and take up very little space. The downside with coils is that they do not locate the axles. A three- or four-link suspension must be constructed to work with the coil springs to do the same job that leaf springs alone can do. Leaf springs, on the other hand, are completely modular (if you want to add or subtract lift or load capacity, just add more leaves), do locate the axles, and can also help to reduce sway. The best leaf packs will use multiple thin leaves to provide load control yet still move freely. Yes, leaf springs are heavy, prone to axlewrap, and can require a lot of mounting space. But keep in mind that a suspension’s characteristics have more to do with how the whole system is set up (and the spring rates that are used) than it does with whether the springs are leaves or coils. Hey, as low-tech as leaf springs may seem, they can be made to work with maybe just a weight penalty over the coil spring.

[89 crew]

I personally prefer the coils, even though I drive leafs at this time. It seems to me that the coils allowed the truck to sit a bit lower and carry the same or more weight. one other thing is I didn't notice the side sway I get out of leaf springs when I have a 500 gal water tank in the truck with coils.

[short69]

I used top notch stuff when I re-did the suspension on my 1/2 ton w/ coils and it rides pretty darn smooth when the bed is empty, but if I'm hauling anything bigger than a transmission the ride quality is noticably poorer. However my 3/4 ton w/ leafs rides smoother when there is a lot of weight in the back and rides rough when its empty so I guess it depends on how much you plan on haulin stuff.

[72BlckButy]

I prefer coils vs. a leaf suspension. To me the ride quality is vastly improved and lowering the truck will be easier as well.

[MercPowered]

My mason brother bent the trailing arms in a 68 3/4 ton. Overloaded? Certainly. He reinforced the replacements but I'd guess leaves are better for overloading.

[corn]

Its like asking which year is better. Whatever you have is the best...

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Well what are you going to be using the truck for??? I have a 50 with leaf springs (added a 7/8 chrome moly sway bar) to keep it from going all over the place. My 70' has coils, I love it and it makes driving with leafs a drag. Never hauled anything in either.

esll.

I borrow or rent a truck if I want to haul something.

[mnunn454]

Maybe this is too simple, but if they're both 12-bolt rears with the same length axles, is it possible to go with the 67 coil spring axle hardware to get the better ride and stuffing it with the '71's 5-lug rear axles? If not, then 5-lug 12-bolt rear axles are only about $250 a pair.

I'd definitely grab the 71's front disc setup. But when you do, be aware you'll need it's master cylinder because its piston is different size than the earlier models. Oh yeah, grab the proportioning valve too.

[ChevLoRay]

I would love to have the same type of suspension my '69 has, in my '96. But having one broken leaf in the right spring pack isn't enough motivation to make the change. Still, it would be a much better ride.

[67GreenBean]

Thanks for all the input. My only problem is I will have to pick between one of the trucks. I think I will go with the Trailing arm. I'm gonna go look at it right now.