Leaf spring length

[RodnRudy]

My 77 SWB C10 Silverado has a weak spring on the pass. side. I went to the local spring shop and they measured my springs at 56" long, 26" from the front spring eylet to the center bolt, 30" from rear spring eye to the center bolt. I've been told the spring on a 1/2 ton SWB is 52" long and 56" for the LWB 1/2 ton. This is a factory SWB frame and the hangers are riveted to the frame, haven't been moved, and the frame hasn't been shortened. The spring shop can make me new ones no problem but I'm curious if any other guys out there have the same length spring on their SWB 1/2 ton. Could one order the heavier springs back in the day? It is a puzzlement to me. I hope Keith Sizemore, the square body guru will chime in

[sweetk30]

seen them both ways in 1/2 ton .

atleast you had them measured before you tore in to it and found this .

good news is if you wish to convert to 52" rears there prob cheeper and easy to do . remove rear hangers and slide them up the 4" and rebolt with new 7/16" grd 8 hardware and go as normal as can be . no other changes should be needed .

[RodnRudy]

I appreciate the response sweetk30. I'm inclined to have the shop tweak the spring or add a leaf for now and in the winter months do as you suggested and move the rear hangers forward. After closer inspection it looks like the holes in the frame are already there. It's always something with these old squares.

[Axle]

Find a new spring shop 26" x 30" is a factory spring size, not as common as 26 x 26, but 26 x 30 is in any spring catalog. Leaf count and pack thickness will tell you what the capacity of the springs you have is. (gotta be accurate with the pack thickness measurement, get under it and measure it where its clamped in the spring hanger).

[kwmech]

Don't worry about it-- a longer spring will give you a smoother ride

[cadillac_al]

Like kwmech said, I thought longer springs were preferred.

[K25alive]

I am under the impression a half ton BIG 10/HEAVY HALF have 56" rear springs. Is your truck a BIG 10? A Heavy Half is the GMC version.

[RodnRudy]

Originally Posted by K25alive

I am under the impression a half ton BIG 10/HEAVY HALF have 56" rear springs. Is your truck a BIG 10? A Heavy Half is the GMC version.

My truck is a Silverado. It does have a later bed on it I think as the trim is stuck on with double sided tape and it has square gas doors which I think are not 77? From what I'm learning one could order a 1/2 ton with the longer springs. I'm looking at Ride Tech's leaf spring conversion kit, Street Grip, and may convert it this winter.

[K25alive]

Your Silverado may have the F44 Heavy Duty Chassis option, also called a BIG 10. Here is some info on it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=155294