leaf springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stenbrin · 02-13-2009, 10:29 PM

what year did gm start putting leaf springs in the back of their trucks?

stenbrin · 02-13-2009, 11:01 PM

like 71?

Longhorn Man · 02-13-2009, 11:34 PM

assuming you are talking about 67 - 72...
all 4X4 trucks
all one tons
all longhorns
ONLY came with leafs. No way around it.
On the C/10 - C/20 series, most years GMC came with leafs standard and coils optional...
all C/10 - C/20 chevys came with coils standard and leafs optional.
After the 73 model started, they've all been leaf spring ever since.

tommyd241 · 02-14-2009, 07:33 PM

Guess mine were an option chosen by the original owner. 68 C10 SWB with rear leaf springs. I wish they were coils. Would be a lot easier and cheaper to drop.

**leddzepp** · 02-14-2009, 07:40 PM

Its even easier to drop leafs. Just pull a leaf or two out. You can also purchase dropped shackles that will lower it 2".

tommyd241 · 02-14-2009, 08:03 PM

Don't really want to remove any leafs and I cant find hangers for the 2 1/4" springs. I want at least a 4" drop in the rear.

Bob 68327 · 02-14-2009, 08:07 PM

Flip it.

**leddzepp** · 02-14-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob 68327

Flip it.

x 2

Bob 68327 · 02-14-2009, 08:16 PM

It should be as low as mine if you flip it . I cut the org spring perches off carefully and flipped it new u-bolts and presto !! Bob

jbristo67 · 02-14-2009, 08:55 PM

Just flip it. That will give you 5 inches and it will ride way better.

tommyd241 · 02-14-2009, 10:39 PM

Yeah, thanks guys. I totally agree. Looks like a flip kit is in my future and it's much cheaper than some drop leaf springs. I would like a 3/5 static drop. Looks like I'm gonna have to do a flip kit and 3" drop coils up front. To poor for a drop spindle/lug conversion or dropped LCA's.

jbristo67 · 02-16-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyd241

Yeah, thanks guys. I totally agree. Looks like a flip kit is in my future and it's much cheaper than some drop leaf springs. I would like a 3/5 static drop. Looks like I'm gonna have to do a flip kit and 3" drop coils up front. To poor for a drop spindle/lug conversion or dropped LCA's.

You could do drop spindles for a lot cheaper than you think about 250. Rotors could be had cheap from a junk yard as well I got mine for 20 dollars.

tommyd241 · 02-17-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbristo67

You could do drop spindles for a lot cheaper than you think about 250. Rotors could be had cheap from a junk yard as well I got mine for 20 dollars.

Hmmm... Yeah, but then I still need brackets, calipers, and booster/MC. Definitely something to consider though. It would be nice to have drop spindles and front disk brakes.

jbristo67 · 02-17-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyd241

Hmmm... Yeah, but then I still need brackets, calipers, and booster/MC. Definitely something to consider though. It would be nice to have drop spindles and front disk brakes.

If you buy drop spindles you dont need brackets. Calipers are 13 dollars each. Brake pads 20 to thirty dollars. Booster master cylinder 100 at orirelys

tommyd241 · 02-23-2009, 01:47 PM

Anyone using dropped rear leaf springs? I'm looking at some 4" dropped leafs.

truckintexas · 02-23-2009, 06:33 PM

I saw some on ECEs website today on sale for $299. 4" Drop leafs.

Michael

tommyd241 · 02-23-2009, 07:54 PM

Yeah, those are the ones I saw. I just haven't seen much positive feedback on them. Everyone seems to say, "just flip it!". LOL

truckintexas · 02-24-2009, 12:31 PM

When you look closely at that, all they did was remove a couple of springs in the stack and replaced them with spacers (I think).

I'm thinking of removing one leaf (not the overload, but the next one up) and installing the drop rear shackles. I think this will give me about 3.5" to 4" drop.

I wonder if anyone has done this before...........

02-13-2009, 10:29 PM	#1
stenbrin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 128	leaf springs what year did gm start putting leaf springs in the back of their trucks?

02-13-2009, 11:01 PM	#2
stenbrin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 128	Re: leaf springs like 71?

02-13-2009, 11:34 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: leaf springs assuming you are talking about 67 - 72... all 4X4 trucks all one tons all longhorns ONLY came with leafs. No way around it. On the C/10 - C/20 series, most years GMC came with leafs standard and coils optional... all C/10 - C/20 chevys came with coils standard and leafs optional. After the 73 model started, they've all been leaf spring ever since.

02-14-2009, 07:33 PM	#4
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: leaf springs Guess mine were an option chosen by the original owner. 68 C10 SWB with rear leaf springs. I wish they were coils. Would be a lot easier and cheaper to drop. Last edited by tommyd241; 02-14-2009 at 07:34 PM.

02-14-2009, 07:40 PM	#5
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,022	Re: leaf springs Its even easier to drop leafs. Just pull a leaf or two out. You can also purchase dropped shackles that will lower it 2".

02-14-2009, 08:03 PM	#6
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: leaf springs Don't really want to remove any leafs and I cant find hangers for the 2 1/4" springs. I want at least a 4" drop in the rear.

02-14-2009, 08:07 PM	#7
Bob 68327 72 Chevelle Club Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Newton , Iowa Posts: 2,052	Re: leaf springs Flip it. __________________ I Have The Right To Remain Silent,But Lack The Ability 1972 Chevelle ... Mine 2006 Trailblazer... Hers 2002 Buick century ... Kids 2002 K1500 Z-71 EXT CAB ... Daily Driver 2005 Rockwood Roo ... For Camping 1974 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 84'' stroker

02-14-2009, 08:16 PM	#9
Bob 68327 72 Chevelle Club Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Newton , Iowa Posts: 2,052	Re: leaf springs It should be as low as mine if you flip it . I cut the org spring perches off carefully and flipped it new u-bolts and presto !! Bob Attached Images __________________ I Have The Right To Remain Silent,But Lack The Ability 1972 Chevelle ... Mine 2006 Trailblazer... Hers 2002 Buick century ... Kids 2002 K1500 Z-71 EXT CAB ... Daily Driver 2005 Rockwood Roo ... For Camping 1974 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 84'' stroker

02-14-2009, 08:55 PM	#10
jbristo67 resident oilfield trash Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock TX Posts: 1,465	Re: leaf springs Just flip it. That will give you 5 inches and it will ride way better. __________________ 1967 SWB C10 396/400 factory air factory tach (sadly had to send to a new home) 1986 Honda 70 Fourtrax 1991 Chevrolet K5 blazer 2wd 1982 Mastercraft Pro Star 190 Stars and Stripes 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe 2011 Nissan Armada Last edited by jbristo67; 02-14-2009 at 08:56 PM.

02-14-2009, 10:39 PM	#11
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: leaf springs Yeah, thanks guys. I totally agree. Looks like a flip kit is in my future and it's much cheaper than some drop leaf springs. I would like a 3/5 static drop. Looks like I'm gonna have to do a flip kit and 3" drop coils up front. To poor for a drop spindle/lug conversion or dropped LCA's.

02-23-2009, 01:47 PM	#15
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: leaf springs Anyone using dropped rear leaf springs? I'm looking at some 4" dropped leafs.

02-23-2009, 06:33 PM	#16
truckintexas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Weatherford, TX Posts: 225	Re: leaf springs I saw some on ECEs website today on sale for $299. 4" Drop leafs. Michael

02-23-2009, 07:54 PM	#17
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: leaf springs Yeah, those are the ones I saw. I just haven't seen much positive feedback on them. Everyone seems to say, "just flip it!". LOL

02-24-2009, 12:31 PM	#18
truckintexas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Weatherford, TX Posts: 225	Re: leaf springs When you look closely at that, all they did was remove a couple of springs in the stack and replaced them with spacers (I think). I'm thinking of removing one leaf (not the overload, but the next one up) and installing the drop rear shackles. I think this will give me about 3.5" to 4" drop. I wonder if anyone has done this before...........

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