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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 36
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Leaf vs Coils
my truck currently has leaf springs. I have ben trying to decide on converting to coils. Am i correct to assume this would give me a better ride and allow for a wider wheel/tire combo?
Anyone know of a link to doing this? Let me know of any more pros and cons to doing this. THanks, Brandt
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67 GMC LB (all in parts for now) |
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#2 |
Navel Inspector
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, Ks
Posts: 1,373
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I don't have any information to offer, but I'd like to watch this thread. I'm curious myself about the questions you have asked.
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1948 Chevy Aerosedan GONE! I think. 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Coupe WANTED 1967 IMPALA 1967 CST C10 Long Bed with a 283 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Washington State
Posts: 8,834
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Welcome from the Pacific Northwest.
Too bad the search isn't working, seems like this has been addressed before. My 72 GMC has leafs and does ride harder than my 70 with coils. But I don't think it's enough to tell the difference on long hauls.
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1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: West Des Moines, Ia
Posts: 3,233
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i personally prefer the rear coils, i really dont know why, i think they just look cooler, i have had both and have no complaints about either, i think what you are looking for is going to be all opinions because alot of it depends on what you use the truck for.
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Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 36
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Basically it will just be a toy/money pit, maybe a little light hauling.
To lower it 4-5" is gonna cost around $400 with lowered leafs & shackles. So would it really cost much more to convert. What else would i need beside new spring perches, retainer cups, trailing arms?
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67 GMC LB (all in parts for now) |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 36
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Any opinions on the lowered leafs? I have seen the bolt in & weld on frame notches, is that really necessary?
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67 GMC LB (all in parts for now) |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Magnolia, Texas
Posts: 336
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I have 4" lowering coils in the back and the frame notch is not a necessity. Coils are the only way to go, if you ask me!
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'72 Chevy Cheyenne Super, '56 Chevy Bel Air,'56 Chevy Nomad, '61 Chevy Impala, '64 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1966 Thunderbird Convertible |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Beeville, Texas
Posts: 1,943
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Leaf springs can handle more weight without sagging, that's probably the only good thing about 'em, but I like coils better. They're easer to remove/install and they ride a helluva lot better. When I'm going 70 down the road it rides great for an old rusty truck.
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RJD 1984 Chevrolet C30 welding truck 454/SM465 1977 GMC C15 pickup 350/TH350 1970 Chevrolet C20 pickup 350/TH400 1970 Chevrolet K20 Suburban 454/TH350 1969 GMC 8500 478M V6/5 spd winch truck |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: arkieland
Posts: 1,070
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I believe the coil spring frames are different from leaf spring frames. Brian
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NB
Posts: 3,367
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Ya I gotta hear this!
Might be the first one! 4 way coils on a 67 - 72 frame is the best ride ever!Ever! You have a base to work with, that is KRAZY awesome!
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1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Boston
Posts: 311
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bgunther......you talking front or rear?
or both?
I think it can be pretty diffucult to retrofit the rear trailing arms to a leaf rear truck..........I know, at least on Blazers, the frame is different...... |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 36
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sounds like I should just deal with the leaf springs.
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67 GMC LB (all in parts for now) |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,534
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Frames are different, and I personally don't think the end result would justify going through the trouble.
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'72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#14 |
Back from the Dead
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 522
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From my experience the coil trucks seem to ride a bit better than the leaf trucks, but its not really a big deal to me...
Yes, the frames are different where the rear coilspring mount is compared to a leaf-spring truck. The trailing-arm trucks frame actually makes an inward bend above the rear coil mount and then straightens back out and is actually a bit narrower from there back. (see pic) I believe the Leaf-spring trucks frames stay in the same straight line from the rear of the cab till the end of the frame because the leafspring mounts need to be parallel to eachother. At least its this way on my 70' 4x4 chassis....so I'm assuming it would be the same on the other leaf trucks... If I had my choice i'd rather my 72' SWb be a leaf truck because of what I want to do with my airbag setup...that way i could use a universal step notch kit instead of having to fab one up myself...also a cool triangulated 4-link setup would be cool too...but I'm stuck with my coilsprings...either way i'll get my truck on the ground soon enough!
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The only Carb that matters to me is the one under my hood! Salem, Oregon |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 2,746
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I don't know if the frames are different or not but I do know it is not that difficult to switch. You might give Early Classics a call they have a frame in their showroom with leafs on one side and trailing arms on the other. They would also have all the parts you would need for the conversion.
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#16 |
The oddest Todd around
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 1,418
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http://www.earlyclassic.com/techarti...tjun03pg1.html
And there you shall find your answers. Todd (Picture is from above link) Last edited by toddtheodd; 09-04-2004 at 06:52 PM. |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,981
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For 2wd trucks, the frames are the same whether coil or leaf. The difference between the 2 is only in the bracketry for the suspension attaching points. Coil trucks have a different crossmember that stiffens up the frame where the coils attach, leaf trucks have bracing farther up where the front eye of the leaf attaches @ the hanger. Both have different shock mounting points/styles. 4wd leaf trucks do have straight frame rails vs. 2wd frames that are curved above the rear end.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. Last edited by SCOTI; 09-04-2004 at 08:08 PM. |
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#18 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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As far as load copacity, they are the same. If you are going to over load the truck, coils are awsome. I habe well over 2200 pounds of red brick in the back of my SWB, and the coils went into coil bind at about 3/4 of that load. Each loop of the spring just stacked up on the one under it. I basicly had no suspention back there. This would have posibly broken or damaged leafs rated for 1/2 ton.
Another bonus on the coils, is those long trailing arms work as traction bars and make axle hop a non issue. However, you can modify leafs to not wrap...but ladder bars are a PITA on the street. I have only towed with 2 trucks, one leaf (longhorn) and one coil (SWB GMC). Now the two are totally different, and it is really apples to oranges...but the SWB can't tow for crap. I don't know if that is the 500,000 mile chassis/rear/trailing arms talking, or the bushings that were suposedly replaced 250,000 miles ago...or if it is the smaller wheel base, or if it is the coil set up its self...I have no friggen clue which is to blame, or what combo of the above did it. I DO know that my Longhorn was a towin SOB and it was stable with a car trailer loaded with an 85 Crown Vic that had a 460 big block in the trunk, a complete 302 in the back seat...or at least where the seat had been...and the complete running car too. All this was on the HD trailer and I was towing it at about 80 - 85 MPH for 60 miles, tracking straight and handling great. |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,086
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Longhorn Man, What were you towing with the SWB? My SWB is a leaf spring rear and it is real bad going over decent size speed bumps (box empty), if my truck was a bike it would be a hardtail for sure!!! My shocks need replaced though, Doug
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#20 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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I have towed a Ford Ranger on a tow bar, and an S-10 pick up, and an S-10 Blazer...both also on tow bars. It did fine dragging the weight, how ever a small U-haul trailer with a standard sized fridge, a washer from the 60's, a recliner and a little assorted crap had me down to 55 MPH. Anything over that and the rear wouls start to sway like the tires were low.
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#21 |
Grand PooBaa Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 5,302
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Ok this cancels out what I just posted. Featherly Park truck show, although its a link to a nice truck, I asked this same question, leaf vs coils.
Thanks peeps. |
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#22 |
Saving 1 truck at a time!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 6,465
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Wheel base is a big factor, everything else being equal. The shorter the wheel base the worse it will feel...much like going into one of those deathly "tank slappers" on your bike...LOL! Loose suspension components will just make it worse...you know the routine!
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'68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary) |
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#23 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Yeah, I'm just saying i don't know if the couls had anything to do with it.
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#24 |
67 is sold
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 6,738
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Everything I have read/heard on the rear trailing arm coil setup on a 2wd truck is that is the way to go. Overall a much better ride and setup. Many have said they wish GM kept that design up
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#25 |
The oddest Todd around
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 1,418
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My lwb coil setup towed one of the uhaul car haulers with a 72 ltd (
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