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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 2,463
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Coil or leaf preference?
I know the differences between the coil and leaf spring rear suspensions but which would you rather have and why?
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-Scott- Last edited by sjarrett71; 06-21-2009 at 01:01 AM. |
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#2 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Coil. My truck is for cruising, Much more comfy ride than leafs.
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Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! |
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#3 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
coils. They ride better, hook up better, and virtualy no wheel hop
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Tejas
Posts: 691
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
^plus you can fit wider tires easier
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'72 cheyenne super step, '05 long bed gmc |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 2,463
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
I knew I liked coils better for a reason. Thanks guys. I might have come upon a frame 72 frame that has leafs but he has another 70 I think with coils. I think I'll stick with the coils.
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-Scott- |
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#6 |
Phone's ringin Dude.
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,426
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
I have a leaf rear and wouldn't suggest it. Pain to lower, rides like crap, ect...
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![]() ![]() 2003 SILVERADO SS--THE NEW GIRL 1972 GMC--THE OLD GIRL |
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#7 |
Fat Fendered Fleetside
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: WPB, S. FL, USA, Earth
Posts: 718
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Coils will def ride better, very easy to bag, etc etc.
but if you ever do any hauling, you'll want leafs. I've carried two cubes of paving bricks, full loads(top of bedsides) of soil, rock etc. my truck is a half ton with leafs, and it hauls alright. If I could have my cake and eat it, I'd make the c-10 a coil set up, and find an old c/k-20/30 for hauling...
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71 GMC lwb 56 Big window swb 93 GMC Sonoma (dd) radiused fiberglass fender project for 67-72 |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: colorado springs colorado
Posts: 737
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Definetly coils for all the reasons posted above. As for hauling the factory leaf over loads could be added to a coils truck pretty easy. You know the ones the mount to the frame behind the axle with a half leaf that contacts a pad on the rear of the trailing arm?
Just my thoughts though Frank
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70 chevy lwb c10 454/th400 and a 9" rearend suicide doors, marker light fuel fill, 4" cowl , mini tub |
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#9 |
Confirmed Truckaholic
![]() Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sarver,PA 16055
Posts: 732
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
When I bought my 70 short cst chevy, I thought cool leafs, that's kinda different. After driving it for a few years, I wish it were springs.
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1968 50th STEP SIDE SHORTY, 350/350, a/c, ps, p,b Daily Driver, 1970 Cst short fleet, all black, 350/350, 1970 2wd Blazer, 2wd, 6 cyl. 3 spd, original, now a 454, 350turbo, 3.73 posi, on the road 1971 2wd fleet shorty, 454, 700r4, 3.73 posi, SOLD to 67OLDSTYLE72 "My rig's a little old but that don't mean she's slow" - SAWYER BROWN's Six Days On The Road SEMPER FI "I use to be a lean mean fighting machine, but now I'm a huffin, puffin, over stuffin love muffin" |
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#10 |
GEARHEAD
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MN
Posts: 6,122
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Even if you use the truck to haul heavy loads, unless you're doing it all the time, the coils are still the better way to go. You won't sacrifice the ride for the small percentage of time you haul stuff, and you can still haul stuff. I've pulled a 3000 lb boat, plus the weight of the trailer, with mine and it has 3.5" lowering springs. I've also had big loads in it, weighed it down a lot and never had any problems with the way it felt on the road.
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If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 ![]() 72 ![]() HG's Plow Truck '78 ![]() Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff |
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#11 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
the coils are rated the same as the leafs, and while leafs are better for marginal overloads, coils are still better when you overload them in an insane way.
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#12 |
Fat Fendered Fleetside
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: WPB, S. FL, USA, Earth
Posts: 718
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
^ interesting. So if GM rated them the same, why did they even put leafs in some trucks? or coils for that matter.
There has dot to be some reason. Wasn't the leaf suspension an option? on my SPID it lists rear leaf suspension along with other stuff. do you know GM's reasoning for the leaf option? just curious you're the guy to ask, so I'm askin!
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71 GMC lwb 56 Big window swb 93 GMC Sonoma (dd) radiused fiberglass fender project for 67-72 Last edited by Mordachai; 06-21-2009 at 11:00 AM. |
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#13 |
Old Skool Club
![]() Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas"
Posts: 10,880
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
I prefer coils, because that is what it came with....and because of my '96 having leaf springs I have come to appreciate the ride quality of the coils. It handles better, takes bumps in stride and in comparison, the leaf springs on the '96 make my bride fuss about how rough the street is when she didn't with the '69.
Check out Early Classic Enterprises website. The had customer truck pix and used to have one of a '60-66 LWB that was loaded and didn't have any issues and it was coil sprung. Besides, and it has been mentioned more than once, NASCAR uses the same basic geometry and trailing arm rear set up for their racecars. If it is good enough for NASCAR to adopt, it's good enough for me to keep.
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Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. |
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#14 |
high-Tech Red Neck
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Livingston, MT/On my boat WA/BC/AK
Posts: 2,294
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
*raises hand* Um... Air bags all the way!
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"He used to be a pretty nice feller, now he's a welder!" |
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#15 |
1972 C/20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca
Posts: 273
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Kind of related, I hope I'm not hijacking.
How easy is it to convert to coil / trailing arm setup from leaf springs? |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 2,463
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
If I ever do bag it, it won't be for a long time due to financial reasons. I will probably static drop it before I drive it though.
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-Scott- |
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#17 | |
*************
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 17,846
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Quote:
I wouldn't say it's hard, but it will take some time. There's several crossmembers and braces that you have to add. It's pretty much bolt on, but you will have to drill holes. The best way to do it is find a donorr chassis, that way you will have all the parts and something to reference for the necessary drilling. I like coils because of the smooth ride. Does anyone have an opinion on the factory overloads that you find on some coil spring trucks? Would this be the best of both worlds?
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Surrey B.C
Posts: 432
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Yeah? Well I like my leaves. Nice ride too, when there's 1,000 or more lbs back there that is. Anyway I hate a truck with a smooth ride. I prefer the bouncy stiff ride of a real truck.
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#20 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca
Posts: 586
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Im going to be the odd ball here about this. I have leafs in my 69 SWB and I like it. The ride doesn't bother me, it doesnt seam that bad at all, although I have removed 2 of the leafs form the pack of 5.
The coil spring and leaf spring debate has gone on for a long time. Each set up has its own draw backs and benefits. I prefer the simplicity of leaf springs. Coils spring set ups require more fabrication to dial in the suspension geometry correctly (pan hard bar & ladder bars etc.) The draw backs to the leaf spring design is the springs weight, size and twist. Accelerating and braking makes the axle hosing to want to twist and distort. To Counter this effect You add more springs but in doing so you also raise the spring rate. The solution to this is to add half springs to the front section of the leafs. I think that its rally a mater of what one is after when someone asks whats better. To me a leaf spring set up is better because I like simplicity.
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My build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456220 Best 1/4 mile time 12.1 @ 111 w/traction issues 1969 GMC SWB 1964 chevy II Nova ht |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Porter Ranch, CA
Posts: 978
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
I've had a '69 C/20 coil spring and now a '69 c3500 leaf set up. The coil spring set up had that funky looking overload spring the went from around the rear bumper toward the axle. GREAT set up.
I don't mind a firm ride, but the leaf's I have now really bounce me around. I just drove about 75 miles to a Cars n Coffee cruise. Riding the truck lane through Burbank on I-5 is horrible. The back end actually skips around a little... Go with coils unless you're going to put a cab over camper on it. Hell, even then the coils will take it... |
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#22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Shelbyville, KY
Posts: 3,269
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Leafs are more stable especially under load. (all newer trucks are leaf---why?) Coils give a car like ride but need help on curves or with heavy load--thus 3/4 ton use leafs. So big truck type usage--leaf, car like ride--coil.
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#23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Terrell, TX
Posts: 1,967
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
Not true actually. I have 3/4 ton coils and helpers on mine and would much rather haul with coils than leafs. Much more stable ride than the 73 I had with leafs.
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Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps. Last edited by Gray Ghost; 06-21-2009 at 09:42 PM. |
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#24 | |
I really hate wet sanding!
![]() Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Brookfield, MO
Posts: 601
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Grande Prairie Alberta
Posts: 261
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Re: Coil or leaf preference?
i havent driven or ever ridin in a coiled truck. but the leafs on my C20 do toss me around, and i feel every bump in the road. but they actually ride pretty good on dirt roads. in my opinion they are good for hauling and simplicity. the reason the newer trucks have leafs is because its cheaper, simpilar, allow the use of air bags to increase payload capability, and allow for more space for the gas tank and exhaust. but it seems coils are coming back, take a look under the 09 dodge ram
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