Ride height change when adding a leaf spring?

[Nuckingfuts]

Our 73' shortbox currently has a DJM suspension kit that includes 3" drop spindles, 2" drop coil springs up front, flip kit in rear (including shock extenders), and new twin tube shocks all around. The overall truck ride height is about 3/4" lower in the rear, resulting in a stance that looks slightly 'sagging' in the rear. I'd like to level the truck out by raising the rear with either a) lifting shackles which give about 1" rise or b) adding a leaf spring to the pack. I'm leaning towards adding a leaf to both stiffen up the rear and hopefully raise the ride height, only problem is I'm not sure how much static ride height I would gain from it.

Any input or thoughts on this one?

[SkinnyG]

Why not lightly trim the front springs to bring the front down?

[MikeB]

Sometimes just adding a leaf doesn't change the static ride height, but only reduces the amount of sag under load. However, if your truck currently has a 52" 4-leaf pack, I've read where a new 5-leaf pack (Dayton 22613) will raise it about 1". You might want to check with Dayton, TruckSpring.com, or SDTruckSprings.com.

Obviously, a shackle that raises the truck 1" at the axle (2" down on the shackle) would be less expensive.

[Nuckingfuts]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Why not lightly trim the front springs to bring the front down?

I would but I'm already at a 5" drop which leaves only about 2" of travel before the tire rubs the fender well (which has happened a couple of times) so I'd have to stiffen up the front with that route. Not sure if heavier coil springs are an option out there?? Thoughts?

Changing out the shackle seems the simplest route at this point but I lose some of my lowered stance.

[Nuckingfuts]

I'm just spitballing here but wondering if I took a set of C20 coil springs, which I would assume have heavier spring rates, and chopped them to make a 3" drop (remember my current springs are 2" drop). This would both stiffen the front and level out the stance. Just not sure if they would be stiff enough to control 1"+ of travel. Thoughts?

[SkinnyG]

I never ran lowering springs in my C10 because it has been my experience on other vehicles that most lowering springs are too low and too soft.

I am running BellTech spindles and a flip, and I cut a coil (or was it a coil and a half??) off the stock springs, but it was too soft and the tires rubbed the underside of the fenders.

I bought some Moog #6454 1-ton springs, and initially cut a coil, but kept cutting 2" off the end until I got the ride height I wanted. WAY better ride, and no tire rub at all (that I notice).

[Nuckingfuts]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

I never ran lowering springs in my C10 because it has been my experience on other vehicles that most lowering springs are too low and too soft.

I am running BellTech spindles and a flip, and I cut a coil (or was it a coil and a half??) off the stock springs, but it was too soft and the tires rubbed the underside of the fenders.

I bought some Moog #6454 1-ton springs, and initially cut a coil, but kept cutting 2" off the end until I got the ride height I wanted. WAY better ride, and no tire rub at all (that I notice).

That's good feedback!
Since you have some experience comparing the two let me ask you this, could you get away with taking off 2.5-3" with that Moog 1T spring?

[SkinnyG]

With 235/70R15 tires up front (28" tall), I have about 26" from ground to the fender edge, with 3" BellTech spindles and heaven-knows-how-much I cut off the 1-Ton springs.

I am running full-height factory bumpstops as well.

I think the rear fender edges are a tick higher.