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#1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Joppa, Maryland
Posts: 4,408
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Rear end ?
Why did GM make 2 different types of rears for these trucks? That is, why are some leaf spring, and others are coil spring. Mine is leaf. What is the mounting of choice, and why? This is something I'm curious about......
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1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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GMC came with leafs standard with the coil option. Chevy came with coils standard with the leaf option.
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Delta,Pa
Posts: 14,950
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not completely sure why they did it but the coil sprung trucks handle a ton better and are much better for planting the power to the ground dont have problems with spring wrap or wheel hop
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Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Garland TX Dallas area
Posts: 658
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I think it was the coil road and handled better and the leaf can handle more load.
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1998 Pontiac Grad Prix GTP 1969 C10 396 TH400 3.08 posi |
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#5 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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leafs and coils in 10 and 20 seriews are both rated for the same amount.
Not ALL GMC's of the era came with leafs standard, my old 69 Short/Fleet had coils, and no mention of it on the listing...I've seen quite a few GMC tru7cks with coils and not being listed...and even a leaf sprung GMC, that had it listed in the option list. The coil set up that actually started in 60 if I recall, was put into use so GM could use that set up on the stock car circuit. Back then, stock cars had to be pretty close to stock. (go figure) Your typical car wasn't really long enough to handle those huge trailing arms, so they said stab them under a truck. I think it's the bush cars, still have this set up today. In all reality, for what most of the ppl on this board are looking for (good ride, lowered ride height, added morse power) the coil spring set up is WAY more desirable. Those trailin arms act like traction bars... so wheel hop is pretty much not going to be an issue. One day, I may just have to slap the coil spring set up under the old longhorn. I do like the idea of being able to load what ever I want in the back and pretty much not worry about it, however, in all reality, it is a bit on the overkill side. One draw back on the coils... in my observations, mine didn't tow worth a dam. True, it was a 1/2 ton, SWB truck, however, above 55 even with U-haul's smallest closed top trailer, it became a white knuckle ordeal. Granted, that is the ONLY coil spring truck I have towed with, and it did have 500,000 miles on it and from the looks of the rotted and partially missing bushings... they looked original. |
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Joppa, Maryland
Posts: 4,408
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So, is a coil spring rear a direct replacement to a left spring rear?
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1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang |
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#7 |
67 is sold
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 6,738
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It is if you weld on the rear trailing arm mounting brackets
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 5,543
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I've heard that since leaf springs are farther apart on the axle than coil springs, the leaf springs do a better job of handling tall loads that want to tilt side to side (like big campers).
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