1 broken leaf spring. What to do with the suspension? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

79vette · 03-22-2021, 01:42 PM

Sorry, this became a long post with a lot of questions. Please feel free to jump in with any opinions or experience on any of the questions.

While doing some axle and brake work, I discovered what looked like a small crack in my driver side rear leaf spring. I tapped the spring with a mallet while cycling the suspension with my forklift, and discovered 2 of the 6 leaves have through-thickness cracks.

The local spring shop is quoting $200 to repair this spring, which doesn't seem unreasonable to me. That said, at the point I'm spending money does it make sense to go to something better/newer? I don't want to do links/coils, but am thinking about some higher end leaf springs.

These springs are of unknown make/model off a parts truck I bought to get air lockers. That truck was wheeled really hard by the PO and then I totalled it in a high speed desert rollover. At the point one spring is bad the others may not be far behind, and these are the wrong springs for my application anyway (fronts from a gas truck, I now have a diesel, heavy front bumper and winch).

I've heard good things about ORD springs, but I don't know if I need them. I am on 33s with 4" lift and can already put the front tires into the fenders and the rears into the sides of the tub at full compression, so I don't know if more travel would be useful for me. Do the ORD springs improve ride quality? People claim they give more wheel travel, but how does that help me if the tires are already hitting the body? I guess I could trim fenders in the front, but what do you do about rubbing the tub in the back? Add more wheel spacers (I already have 1" spacers to help minimize rubbing)?

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crazy longhorn · 06-27-2021, 01:42 PM

Well, you already know that you need to replace the springs....my thoughts, no rebuild(if that many have broken,there will be more to come)

I can not advise you on aftermarket parts on a lifted truck....but will send your post TTT. best of fun,crazyL

79vette · 06-27-2021, 02:08 PM

I got the spring rebuild and reinstalled. It's been running great, and the shop that did the rebuild did a very good job.

No pics unfortunately, I just reinstalled it and got the truck back on the road

03-22-2021, 01:42 PM	#1
79vette Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 195	1 broken leaf spring. What to do with the suspension? Sorry, this became a long post with a lot of questions. Please feel free to jump in with any opinions or experience on any of the questions. While doing some axle and brake work, I discovered what looked like a small crack in my driver side rear leaf spring. I tapped the spring with a mallet while cycling the suspension with my forklift, and discovered 2 of the 6 leaves have through-thickness cracks. The local spring shop is quoting $200 to repair this spring, which doesn't seem unreasonable to me. That said, at the point I'm spending money does it make sense to go to something better/newer? I don't want to do links/coils, but am thinking about some higher end leaf springs. These springs are of unknown make/model off a parts truck I bought to get air lockers. That truck was wheeled really hard by the PO and then I totalled it in a high speed desert rollover. At the point one spring is bad the others may not be far behind, and these are the wrong springs for my application anyway (fronts from a gas truck, I now have a diesel, heavy front bumper and winch). I've heard good things about ORD springs, but I don't know if I need them. I am on 33s with 4" lift and can already put the front tires into the fenders and the rears into the sides of the tub at full compression, so I don't know if more travel would be useful for me. Do the ORD springs improve ride quality? People claim they give more wheel travel, but how does that help me if the tires are already hitting the body? I guess I could trim fenders in the front, but what do you do about rubbing the tub in the back? Add more wheel spacers (I already have 1" spacers to help minimize rubbing)? __________________ 1988 "Crane Truck" C30 - 350, SM465, with a 15' knuckle crane - thread 1986 M1009 - 6.2 Diesel, SM465, 2 speed aux trans, NP205 - thread 1979 Corvette - 350 T5 1977 Jimmy - 350, TH400, NP203 1982 Blazer - 350, 700R4, NP208 - Totalled, now a parts truck Scratch built 16' flatbed trailer - thread

06-27-2021, 01:42 PM	#2
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Re: 1 broken leaf spring. What to do with the suspension? Well, you already know that you need to replace the springs....my thoughts, no rebuild(if that many have broken,there will be more to come) I can not advise you on aftermarket parts on a lifted truck....but will send your post TTT. best of fun,crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

06-27-2021, 02:08 PM	#3
79vette Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 195	Re: 1 broken leaf spring. What to do with the suspension? I got the spring rebuild and reinstalled. It's been running great, and the shop that did the rebuild did a very good job. No pics unfortunately, I just reinstalled it and got the truck back on the road __________________ 1988 "Crane Truck" C30 - 350, SM465, with a 15' knuckle crane - thread 1986 M1009 - 6.2 Diesel, SM465, 2 speed aux trans, NP205 - thread 1979 Corvette - 350 T5 1977 Jimmy - 350, TH400, NP203 1982 Blazer - 350, 700R4, NP208 - Totalled, now a parts truck Scratch built 16' flatbed trailer - thread



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