leaf vs coil rear suspensions 67 - 72

[1969K10]

So, been driving the g/f's '68 C10 w/ coil springs. I've only ever owned/driven leaf spring rear end vehicles. It seams to me that her coil rear is exceptionaly willing to spin tires. Got caught in a killer rain storm yesterday, and going up a hill, the back tires picked up and started spinning. I really don't think that would have happened in my leaf sprung rear ends. Anyone got anything that would help me understand why? the rear end of her coil truck was supposedly all replaced about 1-2 years before she got it ~18-24months ago, so it's not old and mushy. I also seems really willing to let loose in corners when I know my leaf springs don't.

THX

[68K20 x Drill]

The tires don't know what kind of springs you have, its all weight vs. friction vs. torque.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by 68K20 x Drill

The tires don't know what kind of springs you have, its all weight vs. friction vs. torque.

Exactly.
Does her truck have narrow tires?
More power?
more torque?
bald tires?
better throttle response?
less weight?

[69C10@16]

i just think its funny that your talkin about your g/f's "rear end" in a forum. lol. I know thats bad but thats wut popped into my mind. Im tired. Dont judge me. lol. Anyways I have a 69 C10 with coils out back and i will admit that it likes to let em loose in rain and corners. it will not, WILL NOT, spin on dry pavement without a corner being involved. But when it rained here a couple days ago i went through first and second and the first part of third before they grabbed. That was probably only because i let out so i didnt slide off the road. I have a 307, mild imo, with a th350 if that helps u any. My tires r good too. Brand new 3/4 ton springs and shocks too by the way. No tailgate but i wouldnt think that would affect the weight portion enough to make a difference. Dont know if that helps anybody with anything but there it is. Have a good'n. Take Care.

[69halfton]

i have a 69 with coils.

bald rear tires, oops

it does tend to slide around when wet. but thats becasue they are bald.

my 383 make 450 hp and 430 ft-lbs of torque, through a T350 with a 12 bolt.

i have to really whomp down on the gas to get em to spin, but once she spins, it will light em up all the way through second gear.

if i floor it like normal, maybe 5 feet of spin.

its a posi too.

[8696steve]

I just ran my truck with leafs around today in the rain and had no problems with spinning, actually was pretty impressed with how well it stuck to the road.

[lukecp]

I've never really noticed a traction difference between leafs and coils...however, leaves have bad wheelhop on most trucks I've driven, while coils have none at all.

[Cannon007]

My 2000 Camaro wheel hops a lot when I'm at the track tryin to get the best 60' I can, and its got coil springs, I think it really has a lot to do with the tires though. Tires on the rear of the camaro are 315/35/17. My 68 truck has some jimmy riged lowering job (cut springs) from previous owner and basicaly has no suspension except the tires bouncing around 275/50/15 and I can light them up easily and surprisingly it stays perfectly straight and doesnt wheel hop.

[Longhorn Man]

the reason trucks with coils don't bounce when you spin the tires is the trailing atms act like 5 foor traction bars. They don't give enough to cause an violent wrap up.

[ChevLoRay]

My '96 GMC with a V-6 and leaf springs will spin them on wet pavement. My '69 with coils and a V-8, does it, too. I think it has more to do with the "loud" pedal than the springs. Tires figure in that equation, too. Both trucks are running 275-60's, and knee-deep in tread.

[OrangeCrush1970]

Originally Posted by 68K20 x Drill

The tires don't know what kind of springs you have, its all weight vs. friction vs. torque.

I agree. Her 'rear end' may be set up different than yours...gear ratio, etc. I have a long bed, rear coil set up w/ a 4.10 rear end. It will break loose in the rain whether Im going up a hill or not if you get on the gas a little too much and Im running brand new 265/75r15's on 10" wide rims...plenty of rubber on the ground. My advice is to just be carefull!!! Our trucks are all torque monsters! I will say however. a good set of shocks will 'help' keep that rear end on the ground.

[66skylarkpost]

Originally Posted by lukecp

while coils have none at all.

except in reverse !

[crazy longhorn]

After driving both leaf & coil, IMO, the leafs sit flatter in the corners than the coil setup. The only other advantage I see is space to hang the exhaust. The coils have the advantage in the traction department "hands down".....no wheel hop, & also a better ride. L

[Huck]

Look undar a NASCAR vehicle--rear suspension looks like our coil rear trucks!! However, as trucks go, leafs perform the TRUCK tasks better. They take heavier load, they handle trailering better, but will wrap up under heavy acceleration. Leafs mount further out on the axles which give better stability on curves expecially when loaded---that's why custom campers were leaf and current production 88-98 are all leaf rear suspension. Want to improve your wet traction?? Load about a dozen sand bags over the rear axles--You can cut them open and use on ice too!! Huck

[scatesracing]

I have owned several trucks like ours. its all in the rear end, posi , gears , tires. more so than the springs... my 99 with leaf springs sucked in the rain right off the lot......... new tires fixed that after a couple years of cussing at it. came with goodyears who knew I would have never thought goodyears would be worse than the offbrand i put on when i burned those off