Rear Air Bag Assist ? - K2500

[Billhilly]

So. My truck is going to be a daily driver work truck. I am a welder so it could easily be hauling 1500lb plus with engine driven welder and gear. Other days just tools and a single phase mig. Maybe one day a slide in camper. You get the picture. Sometimes full, sometimes just me and the chickette's.
I want it to drive as good as you can get a 4 wheel drive leaf spring to drive/ride. I have a variable ratio steering box, front/rear sway bars, uprated shocks etc. I have got 2” lift Ezi Ride springs front and rear so I can run 33’s. I ordered ½ ton springs for the rear ‘cause I am going to run airbag assist. Seems they only do a ¾ ton rear spring. The ones I have have have five leaves plus the overloads (standard 3/4ton?).
So my question is how many leaves on a standard ½ ton set up, and if you were trying to get mine to ride better which (and how many) leaves would you take out? By which, I mean do you take out the overloads or for example a couple of the bottom leaves.
The bags I have are Firestone #6781’s. I was going to run them like in the first photo. (Do you think the block of 2X3 will hold up ok?). To confuse the issue I now think I need to get my exhaust pipes behind the diff to quiet things down a bit (Flowmaster 44’s) and can’t run them inside the chassis (build thread here http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=217490&page=2 ) so want your opinion on putting the bags like in the second photo so I could run the pipes straight through . None of this answers where to put the bump stops but we will cross that bridge later!

Sorry about the novel.
Bill.

[Billhilly]

Ok, so could someone with a K10 just tell me how many leaves are in the rear of a stock truck then? I know when loaded what I have will be fine, but as a daily driver sure would be nice to ride a bit smoother empty.

[ERASER5]

I only have a 1/2T 2wheel drive but it is a GMC so I have leaves. I have 4 leaves. Some people have 6 leaves. I have a 2 inch block under my springs right now, but I don't like it. I am going to mill them down 1 inch on the one side and what ever it takes to make the truck not lean on the other.

I am also going to do lift bags. The two versions that are on the short list mount on the springs and the outside of the frame. Kevin did much the same thing on Low Buck. I looked at helper springs, but the good ones cost more than good bags. A compressor setup is about the same price as the bags, but if you are a good scrounger at the junkyard, you could get away with less coin.

[special-K]

The TuffCountry springs aren`t comparable to factory springs.EZrides achieve a softer ride and lift by using less leaves that are thicker and have a duplex arch.Rather than the traditional continuos arch,EZrides flatten out in the center over the axle to so the flexing is compound.I don`t consider any spring in the pack to be an overload,but a second stage for loaded.This is what you want.I think you`re on track with wanting to lighten up on the leafs and suppliment with bags.I`ve used them and they add "true" added capacity and do nothing when aired down.

[Billhilly]

Thanks Tim, I appreciate your thoughts. I am hoping to have some time off during the next month and get alot further along with this truck. I'll let you know what I end up doing.

[Billhilly]

For now I am going to go with the path of least resistance. Trying not to over think this whole deal, or I will never get it on the road, so will leave it as is for now and see how it rides. If I hate it after I get it going I can always take the time and dismantle and remove a leaf or two. I think getting it going first is a heck of an idea!