Suburban vs. truck rear springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kevinr1970 · 02-27-2015, 10:26 PM

On my crew cab that is going to be a short bed, I have a 8-leaf pack, plus the "overload" on the bottom, PLUS an overload above the spring pack (camper special?). I was planning on replacing them with the 6-leaf pack (plus the "overload") from my parts 3/4 ton Suburban.
What I am wondering is, is a leaf pack, a leaf pack, a leaf pack? Meaning, as long as it is the same length (56") eye-to-eye, is the capacity the same? Or are the leafs themselves different from trucks to Suburbans?

This truck will never haul anything near a ton again, and at most it will tow a car trailer a few times a year. Reducing some of those leafs should help the ride quality I would think?

kevinr1970 · 02-27-2015, 10:31 PM

Also, I just bought another Suburban for parts, an '88 1/2 ton.
It was lowered using "de-arched" springs in the back, probably close to 20 years ago. These leafs are a 5-leaf pack plus the "overload".
If the springs are the same eye-to-eye (they are also 56"), and the same width, I was thinking maybe these instead of the 3/4 ton leafs with some helper bags for when I tow.
Anyone see any problems with that?

bdiamond · 02-28-2015, 11:30 AM

The individual leafs are slightly different thicknesses. I had a link to a vendor that had individual leaf thicknesses posted in the spec sheet but can't find it. Heres one that may help though http://thesuspensionking.com/catalog/index.php

y5mgisi · 03-01-2015, 12:09 AM

I have a 78 k25 pickup with rear suspension that feels like the axle is solid mounted to the frame. Im going to go with 1/2 ton 56" pickup springs in the rear instead. My thought is, Imagine you owned the truck that you are getting the rear springs from. Would you be satisfied with the ride and payload capacity? I think the springs i'll be using will be just right.

Damien · 03-01-2015, 09:48 PM

The spring rate of a leaf pack is determined by the number of leaves, thickness of the leaves length and width. So yes, the spring rate of the spring packs you have is different. Changeing the spring rate will change the ride height and load capacity of the truck.

02-27-2015, 10:26 PM	#1
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Suburban vs. truck rear springs On my crew cab that is going to be a short bed, I have a 8-leaf pack, plus the "overload" on the bottom, PLUS an overload above the spring pack (camper special?). I was planning on replacing them with the 6-leaf pack (plus the "overload") from my parts 3/4 ton Suburban. What I am wondering is, is a leaf pack, a leaf pack, a leaf pack? Meaning, as long as it is the same length (56") eye-to-eye, is the capacity the same? Or are the leafs themselves different from trucks to Suburbans? This truck will never haul anything near a ton again, and at most it will tow a car trailer a few times a year. Reducing some of those leafs should help the ride quality I would think? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

02-27-2015, 10:31 PM	#2
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Suburban vs. truck rear springs Also, I just bought another Suburban for parts, an '88 1/2 ton. It was lowered using "de-arched" springs in the back, probably close to 20 years ago. These leafs are a 5-leaf pack plus the "overload". If the springs are the same eye-to-eye (they are also 56"), and the same width, I was thinking maybe these instead of the 3/4 ton leafs with some helper bags for when I tow. Anyone see any problems with that? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

02-28-2015, 11:30 AM	#3
bdiamond Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 459	Re: Suburban vs. truck rear springs The individual leafs are slightly different thicknesses. I had a link to a vendor that had individual leaf thicknesses posted in the spec sheet but can't find it. Heres one that may help though http://thesuspensionking.com/catalog/index.php

03-01-2015, 12:09 AM	#4
y5mgisi Second Chance Program Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,642	Re: Suburban vs. truck rear springs I have a 78 k25 pickup with rear suspension that feels like the axle is solid mounted to the frame. Im going to go with 1/2 ton 56" pickup springs in the rear instead. My thought is, Imagine you owned the truck that you are getting the rear springs from. Would you be satisfied with the ride and payload capacity? I think the springs i'll be using will be just right. __________________ 90 Chevy Suburban 2500 5.3 swap/th400/np241/14bltSF/10blt. 77 C20 crew cab Silverado. 396/th400. In work.

03-01-2015, 09:48 PM	#5
Damien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Farmington, MN Posts: 928	Re: Suburban vs. truck rear springs The spring rate of a leaf pack is determined by the number of leaves, thickness of the leaves length and width. So yes, the spring rate of the spring packs you have is different. Changeing the spring rate will change the ride height and load capacity of the truck. __________________ I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands.



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