Should I change my leafs to trailing arms?

[chevydog66]

I have a 72 GMC Super Custom with rear leaf springs. It is about as low as I can go doing a static drop. I have 3" drop spindles in front and 1 round or coil cut. In the rear I have 2" drop shackles and have removed 2 leafs out of the spring pack. I eventually want to go lower and add Air Ride. How much $$ and would it be worth it to convert it over to the trailing arm/ truck arm style like most Chevy trucks are?

[gringoloco]

You could probably find all the stuff to convert pretty cheap here on the board. I think I have maybe $200 in used parts.

Here's one if Rok still has it: Linky

It's mostly a bolt-in deal. All the holes should be there already. I was going to do this with my '70, but ended up using the suspension stuff on my Blazer. They probably won't get you any lower than an air-over-leaf setup, but make bag mounting stupid easy.

-Chris

[leftcoast66]

Depends on how low you want the truck to go once you go w/ air. If you want it to lay on the ground, I'd just wait and save up for one of the custom 4 links and just go that way rather than messing w/ the factory parts and making them fit, but if your only going with a mild drop, then its no biggy and I'd definately swap in one of the trailing arm setups.

[Chops_by_Chase]

depending what kind of money you want to spend you could do a tubular kit and it would include just about everything you need, or i just converted my truck from a stock trailing arms kit to a tubular, and i should still have the stock crossmember, and trailing arms. your frame should have most of the holes already for the trailing arm kit. the main difference is the leafspring pads on your rearend. you would have to source a rearend out of a coil spring truck, or cut your pads off and get a set to weld on.... or I may even have a rearend laying around.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by chase@ridetech

depending what kind of money you want to spend you could do a tubular kit and it would include just about everything you need, or i just converted my truck from a stock trailing arms kit to a tubular, and i should still have the stock crossmember, and trailing arms. your frame should have most of the holes already for the trailing arm kit. the main difference is the leafspring pads on your rearend. you would have to source a rearend out of a coil spring truck, or cut your pads off and get a set to weld on.... or I may even have a rearend laying around.

Several companies sell the trailing arm 'pads' to convert later model leaf rears to the trailing arm set-up. Try www.stockcarproducts.com for some cool trailing arm related stuff.

[dirtball]

You will need to consider panhard bar mounting also if you start with a leaf rear.

[roj2323]

it would be just as much work to add t-arm suspention as it would be to just put a 4 link on it so why bother. save some bucks and get a tianglated 4 link. you'll be much happier.
ondrew

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by roj2323

it would be just as much work to add t-arm suspention as it would be to just put a 4 link on it so why bother. save some bucks and get a tianglated 4 link. you'll be much happier.
ondrew

The factory trailing arm suspension would bolt in, the aftermarket 4-link won't. That's a pretty good reason to consider.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by roj2323

save some bucks and get a tianglated 4 link.

I've seen stock trailing arm parts as cheap as "free to good home." Last I checked, triangulated 4-links are hard to find at a similar price.

[IvelDesigns]

i think he meant to "save up a few bucks" and get a 4 link

[lilpup69chevy]

my 69 gmc has the coil springs and trailing arms just like all my chevy's

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lilpup69chevy

my 69 gmc has the coil springs and trailing arms just like all my chevy's

They could be ordered w/either type of suspension.

[70stroker]

i also was thinkin of changin my leaf rear to chevy trailing arms. would i need to change th crossmember the arms attach to??

My main question is about a pan hard bar (tracking bar) what would i do, i have to have something to keep my rearend stayed put.? my rear diff is a 12 bolt but doesnt have the tab for a pan hard. if you know about the pan hard bar would you please email me were to find it. thanks

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by 70stroker

i also was thinkin of changin my leaf rear to chevy trailing arms. would i need to change th crossmember the arms attach to??

My main question is about a pan hard bar (tracking bar) what would i do, i have to have something to keep my rearend stayed put.? my rear diff is a 12 bolt but doesnt have the tab for a pan hard. if you know about the pan hard bar would you please email me were to find it. thanks

You would have to use a weld on style like what ***************** offers or a CPP or ECE 'super' style bar that mounts to the trailing arm.

-Chris

[SCOTI]

12bolt truck rears are plentiful.... Just find one from a board member that's upgraded to something new (or different).

[chevydog66]

Do I absolutely have to install a panhard bar if I convert my leafs to the truck/trailing arm style rear suspension?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by chevydog66

Do I absolutely have to install a panhard bar if I convert my leafs to the truck/trailing arm style rear suspension?

You absolutely have to install some sort of locating device or it will shift side-to-side & rub; but it doesn't have to be a panhard bar. There's a couple of options on aftermarket 'watts links' which is basically 2-pivoting panhard bars that keep the rear centered regardless of height.

Is there something you don't like about them?

[chevydog66]

Will I be able to staticlly drop the truck more if I install the trailing arms, versus the leafs that I have now? I have 2" drop shackles and have removed 2 leafs. I am considering the C notch install, also. I will eventually install airride on it but I only want to buy the airride once. Meaning, I might put the "air over leaf" on my springs now or buy some trailing arms and install some "shockwaves". I am undecided.

[SCOTI]

For all the work involved, you'd be far ahead of the game to just do the weld-on 4-link style kit.

As far as static ride height (coil vs. leaf) when dropped, If you did a flip kit w/leafs it would be equal to 5" dropped coils....

[XXL]

Originally Posted by chevydog66

Will I be able to staticlly drop the truck more if I install the trailing arms, versus the leafs that I have now?

There's no yes or no to this question. It's sort of a "how big is a hole?" question. Trailing arm and leaf suspensions are two different methods of suspending the rear of the vehicle. Each has its pluses, each its minuses. You could just as "easily" drop the leaf spring setup to any given ride height as you could the trailing arm configuration. Both take a given amount of work, and both have their own set of obstacles. Some questions to consider--

• Do you want static or adjustable (usually air) suspension?
• How low do you want it?
• How much are you willing to spend (time, money, inconvenience, etc)?

SCOTI mentioned the flip kit. Toss in some spring de-arching and relocating the spring perches and you can put a leaf spring setup on the ground. Or... switch to the stock trailing arm suspension and you can do the same (after you clearance the frame for the arms, modify the hoop on your center xmember, etc.).

OK, I'm tired of typing

[chevydog66]

Should I get the parallel or triangulated 4 link kit. I only know of the Airride Tech brand. Anywhere else I could purchase the 4 link kit?

[SCOTI]

Triangulated if you don't want a panhard bar . . .... parallel if you do. Try www.*****************.

[rancid]

i just installed a set of trailing arms from a 72 chevy into my 72 gmc longbed that is now a 67 chevy shortbed. i used everything but the axle and it was a very easy install. i still need to put on some bags and mounts as well as a panhard. but i got the parts for free and i know i cant mess it up on the install, since it came on our trucks and i can tuck 22,s with a nice notch and bags in front of the axle and off the trailing arms.

[chevydog66]

Thanks for the info guys!! Man, you Chevy guys have it made. But, personally I like the GMC front ends better. I guess my search is on for some used trailing arms from a Chevy truck. I'm sure I should change all of the bushings, but anything else I should know? Maybe the leaf spring to trailing arm swap should be a "sticky" in the suspension section.