trailing arms vs leaf springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

424shee · 07-05-2007, 04:41 PM

I have a 70 gmc and awhile back I bought a trailing arm setup out of a longbox.I plan on putting airbags on this truck and after reading another post I'm wondering if I screwed up by buying these.will the trailing arms off a longbed work or are they longer than the shortbox ones.also would I be better off using the leafspring setup?what's the pros and cons?thanks

1969k10stepside · 07-05-2007, 04:42 PM

The trailing arms are the same regardless of whether it was a long bed or shortbed

Truckstr · 07-06-2007, 09:42 AM

Did you just get the truck arms or did you get the rest of the brackets, etc., from the other truck frame? It's going to be a lot of work to change over.

As for which is better - leafs or coils - it depends on your intended use. For heavy laods in the bed, the leafs would be better, IMHO. Now, I've had 2 and 1/2 rick of wet hickory firewood in the back of my '72 w/ the heavy duty coils, but I didn't have hardly any spring left. I wouldn't recommend it.

chevydog66 · 07-09-2007, 10:27 PM

You'll be able to drop it lower and easier with the trailing arm/coil spring set up. I am going that route with my 72 GMC longbed.

07-05-2007, 04:41 PM	#1
424shee Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: kelso,wa Posts: 55	trailing arms vs leaf springs I have a 70 gmc and awhile back I bought a trailing arm setup out of a longbox.I plan on putting airbags on this truck and after reading another post I'm wondering if I screwed up by buying these.will the trailing arms off a longbed work or are they longer than the shortbox ones.also would I be better off using the leafspring setup?what's the pros and cons?thanks

07-05-2007, 04:42 PM	#2
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,019	Re: trailing arms vs leaf springs The trailing arms are the same regardless of whether it was a long bed or shortbed

07-06-2007, 09:42 AM	#3
Truckstr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Lebanon, Tennessee Posts: 1,372	Re: trailing arms vs leaf springs Did you just get the truck arms or did you get the rest of the brackets, etc., from the other truck frame? It's going to be a lot of work to change over. As for which is better - leafs or coils - it depends on your intended use. For heavy laods in the bed, the leafs would be better, IMHO. Now, I've had 2 and 1/2 rick of wet hickory firewood in the back of my '72 w/ the heavy duty coils, but I didn't have hardly any spring left. I wouldn't recommend it. __________________ Jeff '67 short Fleet; my ongoing project. '66 long Fleet; my original "baby." Live life or bust trying.

07-09-2007, 10:27 PM	#4
chevydog66 GM ONLY BABY!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fort Wayne, IN. Posts: 1,998	Re: trailing arms vs leaf springs You'll be able to drop it lower and easier with the trailing arm/coil spring set up. I am going that route with my 72 GMC longbed. __________________ 2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do. 66 Chevelle Malibu 406ci, 573hp, 10.99@121mph 96 Chevy Silverado Z71 72 GMC 1500 Super Custom LS 6.0/4L65 on airride http://www.cardomain.com/ride/707879...mc-c-k-pick-up



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